Why we do what we do each Sunday in the park

Below is an email I received from an amazing 16 year old who has experienced homelessness first hand. You see, we have served his father many times on Sundays.
By the grace of God, his father is now off the streets and is rebuilding his life, one sober day at a time. Praise be to God!
Please take a minute to read his paper. I promise it will bless your day.
Heidi


Heidi,

This is a paper that I had to write for my language arts class! It was a persuasive speech expressing whether or not higher-class society is responsible for the "poor" population!
I got a 100 on the paper and the teacher plans to publish it.
I hope you enjoy!


---A Poor Country with a Lot of Money---
People in the United States will argue for hours and tell others that our country is “bankrupt.” Even if our economy is struggling, is it really fair for people living in a nice home, with nice cars and a nice job to say that we don’t have “enough” money to support the poor people living on the streets with no home, no car and no job? I strongly believe that it is the higher-class society’s responsibility to support and help the poor people in our nation! Through sacrificing our time and money we can build support groups for less-fortunate people, and we can be an essential building block in turning their lives around.
Time is a very precious gift to every American. If you were to survey ten poor people in Georgia and ask them what they want most, I guarantee nine out of ten of those people would tell you they simply want people to interact with. Just taking a couple hours out of a weekend to care for other people could dramatically change someone’s life. Living life in poverty is based half off of the mindset that people have of themselves. If they live their lives thinking no one cares about them, they will most likely not care about what they do and where they go in life. When you spend time with people, they begin to believe that their life really matters. This belief will cause poor people to have a mindset towards changing their life, for the better. Time is a precious gift to all Americans, but we have to be careful with the way we spend it.
The biggest discussion between people these days is about where their money is going. We worry so much about how we spend our money, yet we never seem to worry about the people in our neighborhood who just lost their job or their only source of income. People who do not have money cannot really make a change in their life if they have no way of paying for certain necessities. Sponsoring a poor child, who lives in Kenya, only costs thirty eight dollars a month. These children have absolutely nothing. Now think about what just five dollars each month could do for the lower-class people in America. There are poor people in America who also need our help. Just a little bit of money can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
When I take time to think about a solution to our unequal country, the word people continually pops up. People can make a difference. People are the solution to our problem. Not just any kind of people; we need dedicated, hard working people, who are willing to give what is necessary in order to make a difference in someone’s life. When these people step forward and show that they want to help people change, lives will be altered. Poor people will have new lifestyles. We are the solution!
Though this economic problem may continue for many years, we have the ability to change the fate of our country. Our time and money are so valuable to others, and our commitment of these two resources will be what changes people’s lives. We need to stop thinking about how “poor” we are, and start thinking about the rich opportunity we have to help those who are truly in suffering. This country will change. Will you be a part of the change?

Exciting news to share!

Sooo much has happened since my last blog! I just have to write.....

16 days ago, I put out a plea to my friends to step up and out in serving God by helping out with the ministry I volunteer in each week. Every Sunday, I serve along side of some amazing people by feeding the needy. The number of people showing up to eat is growing every Sunday. We are up to approximately 300 people each week. Since that plea went out, God has moved many people. With the check the mail lady (I love that lady!) brought me today, a total of $550.00 has been given back to Jesus! I am BLOWN AWAY by the love so many have showered this incredible ministry with. You humble me.

Our youngest, Halton, came home with big news last week. He has decided he no longer wants to be a high school math teacher. God has been pulling at his heart strings to go to bible college! How cool is that? With our blessings, he withdrew from AASU and is currently getting all the admission paperwork together to start school next month, pursuing a degree in Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies. You can just imagine how we are beaming with pride for him being obedient to God's calling.

I am starting a new job next Monday! I will be working at my church, Savannah Christian, as Ministry Assistant to Local Outreach! How exciting to have a job that is right in line with my passion in life!

God does speak to us. He spoke to everyone who donated money to the park ministry. He spoke to Halton with direction He has for his life. He spoke to me when He gave me a job I was not even looking for, but I am sure I will love.
What is God trying to speak to you about, and are you listening for His voice?

Serving Him while I am waiting,
Heidi

Jesus in envelopes Part II

Back in July, I blogged about Jesus appearing in my mailbox. I had better polish up my mailbox because He seems to like the inside of it!

The number of people we are feeding in the park each Sunday has groooooown. The number of people I have cooking, has not. Last Sunday, we fed right around 300 hungry children of God. On one had, the increasing number excites me because that is a huge crowd to hear The Word. On the other hand, it concerns me that we will not have enough food to feed everyone. The past 2 weeks, we have run out before all were fed.

God spoke loudly to my heart on Monday:

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

And He did!
I posted a plea on my Facebook Monday asking for help in making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for this Sunday. Before the sun went down, I was contacted by four people in Ohio that I have not seen in years! Two of the people, I went to high school with thirty, (ouch!) years ago. The other two are cousins I have not seen in forever! How good is God? Since they are all out of town, they decided to send Walmart gift cards to help with this week's menu of PB&J, fruit, dessert and water. I was also contacted by a sweet eighty eight year old lady who had seen the article in the newspaper about the ministry. She said she was too old to come out and help, but that she wanted to send me a check to help out! What? How cool is that? She told me that she is going to ask all her Bingo ladies to write a check also! Too funny!
We will have more food than we need this week. Not only have long distance brothers and sister in Christ responded to the need, new local volunteers will be standing shoulder to shoulder with us this Sunday!

Jesus promises the desires out our hearts. His promises are always true. His truth brought $200 to my mailbox in the past two days!

I think I am going to kiss my mail lady tomorrow!