Archive for August, 2009

13
Aug
09

homeless? not anymore

By wbradfor 1 Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

IMG00006 In May of this year, we opened up a 28 bed facility for men returning from prison and those who were homeless on the streets of Baton Rouge. When we started, there was a lot of uncertainty. Where would we get 28 beds? What about materials and labor for repairs? How would we feed 28 men? The questions went on and on. We refused to allow these questions to stop us. We moved on what we knew, people are sleeping on the streets, in abandoned buildings, and under bridges. We acted in faith and gave the unanswered questions to God. What has happened in the last three months is nothing short of a miracle. The beds that we needed? Well, someone in the community donated BRAND NEW box springs and mattresses.  The materials we needed for the repairs in order to pass the occupancy inspection? They were donated as well, and the men that took up residence in the house have taken ownership of the home and provided the labor themselves. IMG_1442 Other churches have gotten involved and provided a meal once or twice a week. These churches have also brought their worship leaders over to the house to lead praise and worship, and share a life giving message with the men.

 IMG00007 What has happened in the last 90 days has far exceeded anything that my finite mind could conceive. I learned a valuable lesson. My lack of faith had me to petition God for any old used bed. I thought it didn’t matter where it came from or how old it was anything is better than the streets, but it mattered to God. What He had in mind was the very best … BRAND NEW never before used beds. Oh, and the men, they are doing so well. IMG_1430 Working, paying rent, faithfully keeping the house in order. They have taken pride in themselves and where they live. The countenance on their faces is priceless!

The house is not completely furnished and we still have needs (towels, bath clothes, a stove and refrigerator). some of the men coming into the home have nothing but the clothes on their back. They need shirts, shoes, socks, underwear,and pants, but we’re believing God for these items. Just like He provided the home, the beds, the material, and the labor He will also provide whatever else these men need to ensure that they live the life that He intended for them to live. I know He will provide, because the poor matter to God.    

 

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07
Aug
09

suicidal

By wbradfor 1 Comment
Categories: Uncategorized

The past two weeks have been a great awakening for me. I’ve witnessed three of the motmpA2st disturbing events. First, I was attending a resource fair at one of our state prisons. In between groups of inmates coming out, a trustee walked by my table and handed me a copy Straight Low Magazine (a LA prison magazine). What I saw on the cover caused my heart to fall to the floor.  There was a picture of a man with a tattoo of a pentagram on his forehead, another tattoo of a line dividing his face in half, and a third tattoo of the word suicidal on his throat.  I opened the magazine and began to read his story. At 3, his parents divorced, at age 7 he began smoking marijuana, at 11 he was addicted to heroin, and by the 8th grade he had dropped out of school. His mom later remarried a police officer who repeatedly physically beat him. His childhood was filled with various run-ins with the law, satanic worship, and numerous attempts at suicide. He hated himself, the world, and everyone in it.  I left that prison in disbelief.

funeral Later in the week, I received word that a man that one of my co-workers and I had just ministered to earlier in the month died as a result of alcohol. He literally drank himself to death. I’ll never forget the conversation we had with him back in July. As he opened up to us, he began to share that he started drinking at the age of 5. In his culture of Bosnia, this was very common.  He then opened up his heart and shared with us that his own father had raped him as a child, and had “passed him around” to his other male friends. He’s pain was so severe that the only reprieve that he could get was through death.

This week one of our clients came in the office and informed us that he, his wife, and their hudsonpantrychildren had not eaten in several days. We always keep canned food around the office for times like this, but as I was as I compiling a a box of  groceries,  I heard this voice inside my head tell me “you’ve never experienced what this is like … to be hungry and go without food.” How embarrassing and humbling that must be to have to tell someone that you have not eaten in several days, that there is no food in the pantry, and no financial means to get any.

 africa_map All the pain, hurt, and desperation that I saw in these stories just reminded me that I don’t have to go to Africa, or any other “far off” land to do missions. I can do missions right here where I’m at. There’s a mission trip waiting for me right next door, across the street, in the cubicle next to me, in the desk behind me, and very possibly under my own roof. Sometimes the only pain and heartache we see is our own, but the truth is the world is filled with pain, heartache, loneliness, and hopelessness. Jesus said, “The greatest among you must be the one who serves” Luke 22:26. One of the key values of the Kingdom of Heaven is servanthood. Opportunities to serve are all around us, if we’ll just be looking.