5/13/07 Outreach Team Update

I just wanted to share an outreach moment, just to take a moment on Mother's Day, and this will relate, I'm sure. Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month we go up to Atlanta and feed the homeless, and every time we go it's different. It seems like we're going to the same places but we're not really seeing the same people and not the same people come all the time. Well, this past Friday night it was different again, and just what Steven was talking about God's grace is always there, His presence is always with us; sometimes we may not see Him, but I'll tell you how you can recognize Him. Jason was talking about putting things into perspective and he was talkign about the rain. Well, Friday night we loaded up all the food and all the things that we take up to the homeless, and started to drive up to Atlanta. We haven't had rain in a long time and here drops started hitting the windshield. And then we started caving a little bit, you know, our faith got a little weak, Oh no, what are going to do. Because when we go up there we set up the buffet right up on the street; we pull the tables off the bus, set them up right on the sidewalk wherever God leads us to go, and we set up the food line and start feeding people. We wondered What are we going to do? And I said that when we get up there we can ask the shelter-master if we can come inside. They've got a great big dining area but they don't let people come inside to feed the people due to city ordances and regulations. But we kind of bend the rules sometimes, it's raining, we've got 200 fried chicken dinners on board tonight, and somebody's got to say yes to that. Well, we got up there and there was nobody on the streets because ti was one of the heaviest rains I've seen. it was coming down hard. The water on the road was 6 inches deep and it looked like the cars were skiing on the water. The volunteers on the bus started to wonder "What are we gonna do?" And I said, "God will show us the way. Somewhere when we get up here we'll find an overhang and people will be clutched underneath it and those are the people we'll feed." When we got there I talked to the shelter-master and asked "Can we come inside?" He said "Absolutely not, that's the rules." I explained that we had 200 fried chicken dinners, and he said, "Well, let me ask the boss at home and ask him if you can come inside." And I thought "Here's hope! We might actually get inside." The awnings on the shelter from the storm actually blew off and went down the street it was so bad. He came back looking disappointed and said "No, city ordnance won't allow us to let you inside, but you can set up on the porch." It was raining on the porch, so we said no, and went to park close by. Men gathered there, and there's a bank beside the park, and I told Bobby the bus driver that we could under the overhang at the bank. But the new bus is a little too tall to get under the overhang, and there was only 12 men there, so we fed them off the back of the bus. And I looked at the over 180 dinners left and prayed, "Lord, it's time for you to do something here." And I said, "Let's just drive." And I thought of the Salvation Army, but they NEVER let us inside due to their rules. But we went there, and I talked to them and told them what we had, and the first answer was "Sure, come on inside." They had an overhang in the back with picnic tables sheltered from the rain, so we set up there and were instantly inundated with people. there were so many people... the line was like this row, as far back as we could see. I told the volunteers to pray over the boxes of chicken "because God's gonna have to multiply them if we're to feed all these people." But I wanted to come today and say "Thanks!" I don't want you to raise your hand and I don't want you to stand; this will be between you and God and you'll get the blessing when you get to heaven. Somebody in this church brought in a huge bag of stuffed animals and toys and put them out here for us to have. You know who you are, and I hope you get this blessing, because there were mothers in that shelter with little boys and girls who I'm sure when we gave them that little gift they could give to their child, even in the circumstances they were in, that they were blessed. And someone else gave some little teeny baby shoes, so small that they made me cry just to look at them. There was about 10 pair in the bag, and one of the volunteers said "Let's take them." Once in a blue moon we run into somebody on the streets with a tiny baby, but not too often, but they just had the feeling that we needed them. And we took them, and at the shleter we ran in to so many little babies, and the mothers were so grateful to get them. And somebody sent a bag of regular towels, and the people were so happy to get a towel to dry off with or take a shower with. And the last person was served that night. There was two pieces of chicken, potato salad, and soda, we put a towel on his shoulder, and I was feeling pretty good, but then somebody tapped me on the shoulder and said there was a man in a wheelchair that couldn't get down to us due to all the people. My heart sank because sometimes my faith isn't where it needs to be; but when I turned around one of the volunteers was handing me the last plate with two pieces of chicken, potato salad, and a soda, and it was a God-moment to know how God provides beyond our plans, beyond our coordination. We can count chicken all day long, stopping at a park here to hand out dinners, stopping at the bank to hand out dinners, and how it worked that we had one meal left when that man came in that wheelchair. His head dropped when he saw the last meal given out. It's just God. And it's just God when a church puts things together; you bring in a small bag of stuffed animals, a few baby shoes, some towels that were extra from work that they couldn't do anything with. There were two people from outside of this church that believe so much in what Harvest Point is doing that they donated $130 for this week's mission, and that was enough to pay for those 200 chicken dinners. I want you to start to believe in what this church does, and in the upcoming year we're going to really need your support. Harvest Point provides warehouse space to store the things we give out, a bus for us to go downtown and do these things, and as individuals you provide things. This church is really busy in the community. You may or may not attend every little thing that happens here, but we know when we're out there on the streets that we're not alone. And that not only is God leading us, but that you guys are supporting us. And I just wanted to say "Thanks!"

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Outreach News 12/24/2005

On Friday night, before Christmas, a group from the church gathered and loaded the big truck with about 2,400 Beanie Babies, one ton of Christmas candy, a pallet of games, about 7,000 sets of trains, and other toys and went up to Bowen Homes, on old Bank Head Highway, one of the roughest parts of Atlanta. We distributed these things from the back of the truck and literally were mobbed by children and adults alike. No matter what we did to try to organize these folks to receive these gifts they just acted as though they wouldn't get anything unless they fought for it. Repeated reassurances that there was enough on the truck for the entire community just went unheeded. I thought about recent events in New Orleans and what it might be like in the end times, when resources grow as short as patience. When I read about how Christ told some not to tell others about the gifts he gave them while on his earthly ministry, I contemplate the reason, this was certainly an example of his understanding of human nature.

We left with still lots to give out on the truck, the risk of staying to help those in need was too great. Instead of giving up, the group decided we would stopped at every church we could on the way home and leave portions of what was left on the church steps. Imagine the intrigue when they awoke to find all the candy and toys on their steps the next day. What would they think, who would they think delivered this stuff? Surely to God went the glory.

We stopped at one church, it was late on Friday night, about 9:00 pm and we found them practicing for their Christmas program. They were so appreciative, and helped to unload. This small poor church was only about five blocks away from Bowen Homes and what a difference in the folks we served there. What a blessing to be found at church, about the father's business. The group of teens and the directors were so thankful for the gifts, so orderly, and so peaceful.

I'm glad for churches, churches of all kinds, of all religious faiths, of all types of people. God has a great plan and his churches are a part of that plan. For its in the church that we truly become a part of His community, where our faith tells us that He will provide, to be patient, to care for others, to give as we would want to receive. My prayers go out for those living in Bowen Homes, that some how, perhaps just one would understand these random acts of kindness and might seek a better community in which to grow and come close to God, that he might bless them as he has blessed us.

Just my thoughts this Christmas as we end our outreach season. What a year it has been for our church, what blessings we have received. The blessing of being drawn together to serve and to be found giving. What might the next year bring?

Don Coffey
Outreach Coordinator
Harvest Point UMC