you would think i'm just saying that to make this ministry sound bigger than what it is....
no lie.. this outreach was the best ever...
That's the business that God specializes in - BIGGER AND BETTER!
Prior to anything starting... i picked up my buddy Steven Sutton. We met John Walsh of OPERATION NEW HOPE to get insight on resources available to help people find a job (who have recently been released from jail).
He prayed for us and a positive outcome for the outreach.
Tonight was really crazy...
you had every news station at city hall as the new budget was being heavily debated...
the team met up at the piano that's right outside the library.
I was joined up by Jared, Ronny, Dustin, Amanda, Steven Nolan, Steven Sutton, and a guy named Adam that saw us "preparing for something" and just wanted to join us.
"I don't know what yall about about to do, but I want to do it too!"
It was our highest Jacksonville attendance in Jacksonville since we started!
That was really a TRIP!!
We had TWO CASES of bottled water, materials for PB&J's, and a FRACTION of the clothing donations.
We split up in teams and hit up Hemming Plaza.
We ALL had opportunites to reach out to people. No one was really 'shadowing' anyone else.
Everyone was ACTIVE.
USUALLY, the park closes to the public at 8pm.
However, I presume, because of the fuss at city hall, police officers were barking that the park was closed at 7pm....
...which was kind of good because we hit the plaza quickly.... LITERALLY gave out a case and 1/2 of bottled water in about 10 minutes... a hat.... shirts... socks... a pair of women's shoes... lotion.... and mouthwash.
it was like a BLITZKRIEG!
we then went to location B
Which is located by the Sulzbacher center... which is RIGHT by the jail....
as we approached the location... we heard this RAUCUS....
it was guys in the jail playing basketball...
in a way... it was a beautiful sound...
very acoustic.. energetic...
.. no profanity... just pure recreation....
.... in a jail house.
In this small area was the sulzbacher center and the jail...
after going to Haiti... nothing really surprises/scares me about experiencing "raw humanity"...
In a courtyard area near the center were picnic tables where people can commune 24/7
there were some guys freestyling to a beat.
they were having a good time. ..
Adam was on a bike and beat us to this location as we all drove.
He was freestyling with the guys and was just having a good time.
There were homeless people sitting on the curb outside this center.
A fire truck and ambulance was at this center because there was some sort of health emergency.
There was a DCHD (Duval County Health Dept) Motor Home station outside giving HIV tests and just closed as we got there.
On the quest for knowledge (and how we can possibly partner with sulzbacher to help the community) I went into the main entrance of the woman's dormitory to ask information.
A lady at the desk gave me a lot of good information.
We went outside and kinda felt like 'that was it' for the night.
We went back to the corner where we originally stood and all talked.
I'm REALLY impressed by Steven as he was SO personable with people. he stayed WAY beyond anyone's expectations with people and REALLY REALLY sat there and shared the love of Jesus with the homeless..
VERY VERY inspirational.
(afterwards he and I really started brainstorming on many many things)
I always like to flip the script and ask people who participate...
"well, what's your prayer request?"
That always catches people off guard because they're so mission-minded that their own requests are wayyyy in the back of their mind at that point.
We prayed for Adam and it was awesome!
You could tell that he had SUCH an awesome heart for God...
He was even wearing a necklace that had the last supper on it... (very cool).
However, his mentality was one that he felt that he had to get himself right before he comes before God to live for him.
The ENTIRE group really gave great input on living for God.
It was awesome!!!!!
Meanwhile Steven (sutton) was STILL praying for this other group.
[Adam busted out an awesome Christian freestyle that was SICCCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!]
The night wrapped up.
Jared and Ronny rode in the same car so they went home first.
Everyone else rode in my car (from Hemming plaza) so I asked them THEIR prayer request.
Requests were spoken, including my own, and I did something a little special tonight.
I drove them to the top of my parking garage.
The night was perfect, breezy, and the sky was clear.
We held hands and prayed for the person to the left of us.
The icing on the cake for the entire night is that we ushered in the spirit of God by worshipping Him to this song....
going with the flow in this ministry is paying off....
we're doing all we can at this point in time... and He's doing the rest.
I had more fun on the streets then at my first day at work... (crazy right?)
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