Some Help Today!

I had the privilege of having Bro. Scott Cambell with me today as I worked the streets. Bro. Cambell is a local pastor here in Knoxville, what a blessing it was to have him with me today. He fell right in to place handing out tracts and witnessing to others of Christ. I even had the rare opportunity to bring him into one of the "camps". Bro. Cambell said that he had no idea that this was going on right amongst us, he even mentioned that he would like to come back! We had a good time of handing out some tracts and witnessing. You never know what to expect working in this ministry, while we were talking to others a fight broke out just outside of the building we were in. We went out to see what was going on and I saw a man that I had witnessed to before, he was a middle aged Mexican man. He had several knots on his head and face and was bleeding. This area is a little like the Sea of Galilee, all may be calm and then all of a sudden a storm appears!

I thought about inviting other local pastors to come witnessing on these streets with me. If you are a pastor, preacher, or just want to do something for the Lord in this area of ministry, I encourage you to contact me. This ministry is Not for everyone, I do not encourage women at all, nor those who are not Physically and Spiritually fit. Just pray about it, we need the help.

A Place Called Home

Here is one of the "homes" that some of the people here in Knoxville live. I spent much of the day with this couple and had a good conversation with them while I visited with them. It is starting to get cold here in Knoxville and I gave them some blankets with Gospel tracts rolled up in them, please pray that the Lord will give me the opportunity to follow up with them and share the Gospel with them. Much of peoples days are focused on finding money some how to spend on alcohol or drugs. This couple is no exception. They are very nice and polite people, sin just has a hold on their lives. Christ can deliver, please pray.

Living amongst us

This is an update for Friday the 16th.

There are many homeless in Knoxville that do not come to the shelters, not even when there is bad weather. These are called "campers" you will find these people living in make shift shelters in the woods and secluded areas in the city. They usually operate some what like a small village. They look out for one another and frequently check to see how the others are doing. I had the privilege to go into a camp today that I have never been into before and I met a nice couple that have been living there for about seven years. They were using a run down semi trailer for shelter. They had an old mattress that they had found laying in the back, various pieces of scrap wood fabricated together to make a small table. The walls were even decorated with various trinkets that they have found among other peoples trash. I found these people with no coats and just a few thin blankets. They had no winter clothing and very little food. How thankful I was that individuals and supporting churches had donated blankets and other items to distribute. I even had a few cans of baked beans to give them, and of course plenty of Gospel tracts. Please pray for them. I wish that more could see how many people are living on the streets. I hope I can win their favor and be able to take some pictures of them and share them with you. There was also another lady living in another semi trailer not far from them who I got to meet also. This was the same lady I found last winter soaking wet on one of the coldest nights of the year living under a piece of plastic. She would have surly frozen to death had the Lord not directed me to bring some clothes before I left to go witnessing that day. Please pray for me and my safety as I continue to tell these about Christ and share the Gospel with them. Please also pray for Billy (one living in a semi trailer) we gave him some blankets but he has no coat. As I have requested in the past, please pray for me to use discernment in these situations and to be able to be a good steward of what the Lord has entrusted us to use for Him.

Tell me how to encourage them!

On Monday and today it was pretty much the usual. I was not there on Tuesday. Monday was a good day for handing out tracts. I handed several out to individuals, this has become a common routine for me and the people have accepted it and several even look forward to new tracts that I hand out! I saw a new face today at the mission, a young lady, 19 years old. She told me that she has been living in her car for 4 months and is looking to stay in the shelter since it is getting colder at night. I spoke to another man today, he has a testimony of Jesus Christ saving him but he has been homeless for some time now. I worked with him for a little while trying to find a job and contacting employers. It seems to me that once you are homeless for a few months, you lose all motivation. This is a terrible trap to fall into. You have and excuse for everything and you become content living in the environment at the shelter. It becomes so easy to lose motivation because you are being taken care of by those who are motivated. You become the taker looking for another giver. A great trap of discouragement seemingly perfected by the devil himself. So I am asking for advice from my readers, How can I or anyone motivate people in this situation? I can only go to the Scriptures and look at similar situations and one that I have found is in 1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. Here David was "distressed" and it seems to me that he was also discouraged because he "encouraged himself in the LORD his God." This is the only hope that I know of. But, another question to my readers is how does one "encourage" himself in the LORD? Any input would be appreciated!

Back in the groove

My family and I have been sick these past few weeks. I even had a trip to the emergency room and several doctors visits. Amy and the kids have all had the flu and bronchitis. But, thank the Lord we are all doing better now and getting back into the groove! Last night I preached at the mission and what a unusual service it was. These people need the Lord, but many refuse to come to Christ and stay with their sins! Or, they think that they can have both! Please pray for a lady that I saw after the service, she was drunk and her throat had been cut, she had a two inch cut going from just under her ear to her voice box. She had blood all over her face, hands, and clothes. She needed stiches and refused medical treatment! The insanity of sin! The good news is that the Gospel was preached to over one hundred people with an invitation to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ! Please continue to pray.