Yesterday was yet another incredible day of ministry on the streets of East Durham! We set out at about 10:30 and I received a text from Melissa Padgett saying that there was a mother and a 16 month old without food. We were only about 5 minutes from the location so we went straight there to see what was needed. We arrived at the house in the picture. When the mother opened the door she was holding the baby boy. The place was dark and without power. She had a little cooler to keep things cold. They did have an extension cord running from a building three properties down. The father of the child had left her for someone else. It was a very hard thing to see these two living in such poor conditions. Jose said "I was about to cry". I have seen these situations many times but it bothers me every time! I immediately told her that she needed to get the baby out of there. The baby and mother had not eaten anything yet. We found out what she needed then told mom that we would be back as soon as we could. I had a number of things that I had to get in order. A huge thank you to our office assistant Darlene Seger for coming quickly to headquarters to take over operations there! It was a huge blessing!
 | It was after noon before we were finally able to get back there! It was on my mind and I know Jose's also that we had to get back to get some food in that little guys belly! We supplied her well with food and other supplies including candles to light the place. Melissa is continuing to talk with her and we will also follow up to make sure she gets the baby into better living conditions. People, this is going on all over the place! Thank you to all of you that give to us so that we can supply the needs to people in these situations! |
When we were getting ready to leave the Food Lion a van pulled up and it was the mother of a homeless guy that I am working with. She was worried because he had not showed up at his grandmothers funeral. His mother was so hurt! This guy has so much potential but crack is his god and his life right now. He lives in an abandoned house that is a crack house, a place where some prostitutes take tricks and and hard telling what else goes on there. I told her that I had to shoot back to headquarters so I would go to the abandoned house to see if he was there. I was concerned also because I had not seen him for several days. Jose and I were able to head for the house after talking with some other friends that were at headquarters. One was also wanting to see the man in the abandoned house because she has been working with him because they both love art. The other friends were dropping off clothes and wanting to talk to me about other things. I told everyone to stay put and we would be right back.
When we arrived at the back of the house to go up the steps we startled one of the prostitutes who had a spoon of heroin all ready to shoot up! Her and others are shooting the heroin into their foreheads now. I have seen it where their foreheads look like they were a dart board! I have been around other heroin addicts and when they are at that stage of shooting up nothing is going to stop them because they want it so bad. We passed by her to enter the trash and whatever else infested house. It was really pitiful! Much worse than the last time I was in there! You can actually walk underneath the house and it is littered with beer cans, needles, condoms and trash! It is so pitiful so see where addiction will take these people. So many that have so much potential but the enemy has them trapped in the addiction! We got him over to Headquarters so he could meet with the person that came to see him then I was never able to get back with him to discuss things. He stays away when he is doing bad.
We finished there and then set out to deliver the food to the house above. When we arrived back the place was full with other people. I had a 19 year old girl with her 20 year old boy friend. I had ministered to the female a few weeks ago in the Durham County Jail. I was glad to see her show up because her life has been in a mess! The two of them have a baby together. I ministered to them and agreed to meet with them on a regular basis to help them get on track with their lives and most of all with Jesus!
Another situation came with a mother, daughter and a four year old. As many of you know, I have been dealing with many four year olds lately! It seems like every little one that walks in the door is a four year old. This just continues to stir the tragic death of another four year old just a short time back. The mother needed help but not near as bad as the daughter. Plus when someone shows me that they are doing everything in their power to help their circumstances I focus on them. Not too many fall into this category! This mother wept as she told me her situation. She told me that she was recently employed with Food Lion and that she had placed a deposit of $650 on a house but also needed the first month rent of the same. She had gone to Social Services to explain her situation. After telling them they told her that if she did not have a stable place for the kids to live by Monday that they would remove the kids from her custody. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to help her! I have so many of these situations come to me weekly and well over 90% get nothing because I know there are so many scams. I told Jose that I strongly believed that the money would come in for this before I went to bed and I finished up at about 10:30 p.m. I ministered strongly to this family about the importance of having a true and obedient relationship with Jesus! It was excellent!
Jose leads a young Hispanic man to Jesus yesterday!!! Jose and his newlywed wife Gretchen have started working in the ministry. They have a real passion for the lost. Jose has seen alot this week of what goes on in the streets of East Durham. This is very exciting for the ministry. We have been praying that we would have Hispanics on board with us to reach the many that are lost in the area.
It was a very awesome week of ministry with big things coming up next week! Next Thursday many pastors and leaders will converge onto Holloway Street with the GOspel! This will begin with prayer at 5:30 at Antioch Baptist Church at the corner of Holloway and Guthrie. Our team will be meeting at Headquarters at 5:00 then walking over.
We thank all of you that pray for this ministry and all that give financially to help our operations! You are a huge blessing! The Lord is using this ministry in so many ways to reach those that do not know Him. We invite you to come and join us on Thursday but if you can not make that event call and schedule your own time to come down and reach out to the lost. All that you have to do is come in and sit down and people will come in the door. Many are looking for a friend that they can talk to about their messed up lives. Hope to see you soon!
It was a very awesome week of ministry with big things coming up next week! Next Thursday many pastors and leaders will converge onto Holloway Street with the GOspel! This will begin with prayer at 5:30 at Antioch Baptist Church at the corner of Holloway and Guthrie. Our team will be meeting at Headquarters at 5:00 then walking over.
We thank all of you that pray for this ministry and all that give financially to help our operations! You are a huge blessing! The Lord is using this ministry in so many ways to reach those that do not know Him. We invite you to come and join us on Thursday but if you can not make that event call and schedule your own time to come down and reach out to the lost. All that you have to do is come in and sit down and people will come in the door. Many are looking for a friend that they can talk to about their messed up lives. Hope to see you soon!
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