Community Outreach

I have been challenged as a long time believer to become more involved in my local community doing outreach. It is time to do more than just $$ so now I am looking for places to “get down and dirty” for the kingdom of God. My employee Dyana, and I will be working around our community a couple hours at a time twice a month. We will keep you posted as to what is happening in our lives as a result and what amazing things we encounter being done in our community by others.
Yesterday I spoke at a local MOPS group about Teaching Preschoolers to Serve and had the most amazing input. I challenged all the preschool mothers that were there to take one of the $1 McDonald’s coupons I had brought and handed out to each willing to take the challenge. The stories of what happens when their families reach out to someone offering a food coupon will be posted as I get them but here is an amazing story I heard around our small group table:

A young man we will call Josh noticed a homeless young person sitting outside the Target store he was entering. He felt led to approach this young man and asked if there was anything he could get for him in the store. The young person, I will call Eric, said he needed socks so Josh purchased a package of socks and handed them to him as he left the store. He struck up a conversation with Eric and learned that because of drug abuse and disruptive and destructive behavior his family asked him to leave home over 3 years before. While on the streets he had been placed in rehab and was now drug free but was too embarrassed to go home because of his past behavior and the fear of not being welcomed. Josh was so touched by the story he asked Eric to get into his car and began driving to the airport. There he bought him a ticket home and convinced the airport security that Eric, who had no ID, should be allowed to go. As they waved goodbye at the security checkpoint Josh gave Eric his phone number and told him he expected a phone call letting him know he had safely arrived. 4 hours later he received a call and on the other end of the line was a sobbing mother thanking him for returning her son that they had been trying to find for the last few years.

How great is our God. Everyone can have stories just like this. Let me know how you have been used in ways to help the less fortunate. Nothing happens by coincidence and if we are open to the leading of God’s Spirit to direct us to where the needs are and follow by responding He will be entrust us with even more ministry opportunities in His kingdom.
I can’t wait to hear the stories and to post them if you will allow.