After 10 years of Downtown-Mother's Day, 2019

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10



So Sunday's trip, though somewhat uneventful, was quite a milestone for me.  It was the first Monday in May back in 2009 when I made the very first trip.  I was pretty clueless as to what I was going to do, but I felt called and I was going.  I figured that when I got to where I was going I'd know what to do.  Well sort of....  I just felt called to go to the least likely group of people I knew of and be a part of God working in their lives.  Little did I know or think about what God would be doing in my life too.  Somehow I totally underestimated that part of this adventure.  And what an adventure these past ten years have been.

Early on someone encouraged me to write about these trips.  So I obliged and began writing sort of a running diary of each trip.  They were pretty bland and bare (translate that--lame).  I made sure to try and get people's names and where they were from, but mostly the accounts went something like this, "I saw Fred from Louisiana on 5th St and Joe from Texas on 10th St."  Soon I started seeing some people repeatedly and got to know them.  Some would be living in an alley with  2-4 people and that got to be kind of cool to see them more often.  Eventually, that led to doing BBQs during the summer for these groups.  I loved it and so did they.  People started donating clothing as word got around about what I was doing.  That part has always been amazing.  Answers to prayer started happening that were truly unbelievable.  Early on I felt the need to provide blankets for people as winter was approaching.  I prayed about it one morning because I didn't know what to do and these people needed help.  A childhood friend, whom I hadn't seen in years, had been trying to get a hold of me because he had a gift for me.  He didn't tell me what it was, but he said I had to come and get it.  Needless to say, two and a half hours after I prayed for blankets I had twelve new ones in the back seat of my car.  I was stunned and overjoyed.  I would have to say answered prayer has been the most amazing thing that just continues to astonish and impact this ministry week after week.  And it's not just the answer to prayers for provision that surprise me either. The impact that prayer has on the homeless people themselves is sometimes surprising too.  I have had people months and years later tell me, "Oh, I remember you.  You gave me some burgers and prayed for me."  One guy told me he remembered me from a year and half earlier!  I didn't remember him.  I always feel like just giving someone food and water is good, but praying with them adds an eternal value to the encounter that lasts long after the food and/or clothing I give them are gone.  I imagine this person at night, when they are lonely and perhaps hungry and cold; they will think back to that 'crazy old white dude from the suburbs' that prayed for me right here."  Maybe it will lead to that ultimate question in their heart, "God, if you're there, will you help me?"

Often times an image of something I saw will stick in my mind or be a burden on my heart and will cause me to eventually pray about it when it won't go away, "Lord, what do you want me to do with this?"  Once this happened when a guy I saw had passed out by a curb and had thrown-up into the gutter.  There were too many cars parked to get close to him and a while later when I drove by he was gone. I just couldn't shake the image though in my mind.  That's when it was revealed to me the Father's heart for even people like that.  Every human has intrinsic worth to the Father.  I am not the one to judge who "deserves" help and who doesn't.  We start by helping the one in front of us.  Another time I witnessed a street fight with about twenty guys fighting in the street at 7th and Alvarado.  The image haunted me for a week.  I just couldn't shake it and I still remember it vividly.  A week later in church during a beautiful song sung by a young woman I finally pleaded with God, "What do you want me to do?"  The answer came quickly at that point, "Go back to 7th and Alvarado."  No additional instructions, just go!  So I went.  Now I have to say, "Old white dudes" from the suburbs kind of stick out there to say the least.  English isn't even the primary language there either.  I would later learn that in the 80's immigrants from Central America landed in this area.  The park, McArthur Park, was the border to three different street gangs there.  That's who was fighting in the street the week before.  What was I supposed to do here?  Well, I started prayer-walking in the park with a fairly large hard-bound bible.  I felt kind of invisible because no one wanted to talk to me.  There were some homeless people living in the park too.  I started praying-walking in front of stores in the surrounding area too. One store I noticed had obvious occult references (names and symbols) written on the door.  It took five months of prayer walking when one night something unbelievable happened.  I had noticed a group of Pentecostals preaching in Spanish with microphones every week by the corner of 7th and Alvarado.  There was actually a church that met on the other end of the park every week at 4 pm.  But on this weekend I saw a man reading from a big black book near the corner by where the Pentecostals were preaching.  Some other unexpected stuff had happened just before I saw this guy, but I walked up to him and asked if the book he was reading was better than the book I had (my blue Bible).  He said it was better.  He then showed me it was a Hebrew and Greek transliteration of the Bible.  I had to agree he was probably right about that.  We talked for a while and I asked about the group of people preaching there by the corner.  He told me they were Pentecostals and asked if I wanted to preach too. It was totally unexpected, but I said "OK" and a few minutes later this group of folks turned and handed me the microphone!  That began a 5 or 6 month period of preaching in the park (in English) and praying behind these others preaching in Spanish.  I think those months were probably the most alive I've ever felt.  I never saw that man with the big black book again after that one night.  There were some other really strange things that happened connected with this time in the ministry that you probably wouldn't believe if I told you, you'll have to trust me on this one.

 Another part that has really stood out for me are biblical principles and stories re-enacted right before my eyes.  Since I'm passionate about reading the bible, when something happens that is 'just like' a story I've read it becomes so much more real.  Early on in my first few months of going I met a man living in an alley just off Alameda.  He was dirty looking and had a bike with a 'mountain of stuff'' that he would carry with him.  But at night he would park it right there in this alley.  The buildings surrounding him were owned by one man.  One day the owner had driven down the alley on Easter with his wife in their Cadillac Escalade and given the homeless man a chewing out for being in 'his'
alley.  Now the homeless man is one of the few people (I could count on one hand) who have not wanted me to pray for them.  So instead of praying with him I told him the story Jesus told of a poor beggar named Lazarus living outside the compound of a rich man.  When both mdn died Lazarus (the poor beggar) went to where Abraham was and the rich man ended up in hell.  The story being a powerful reminder that not only will we pay for our sins, but that we are to be loving and caring for those in need.  The sin in this case was being uncaring of the neighbor's (poor man's) needs.

During the ten years of this ministry I've been thanked by grateful people in many different ways. Sometimes even rejected, yes it does happen sometimes, but it's rare.  Usually though, people will say "God bless you and thank you so much."  I've had people kiss my hand they were so grateful and I've had people say "Whoo Hoo" they were so happy for their good fortune in running into me.  Some people are so hungry that they immediately begin eating the food I've given them.  I always feel so blessed and happy to reach people when their situation is that critical or to give someone a jacket or pair of socks when there's a cold night ahead. A few times I've had the privilege of giving a blanket or two to a tearful husband and wife, fresh on the street after being forced to move out of their apartment.  Experiences like this change you.  You know there are others doing what you do, but they aren't there right now and what would these folks do if you hadn't shown up when you did?  You learn the lesson of Romans 1:21 through people's responses when the Apostle Paul, in indicting the whole human race of its sinfulness says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him...."  Yes it's great to give someone a "Whoo Hoo" day, yet there is a difference between being happy for the blessing of the good fortune of receiving something needed and being thankful to the person who brought it.  We teach our kids when they are young to say "thank you" to a person who has given them something or done them a favor.  It's always said to someone.  This is what the Father desires, to thank Him.  Now I'm not looking for praise, I am the sent one. Praise the one who sent me.  James 1:17  says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father".  It is to Him our thanks and praises are to go.  One brief story of an encounter I had with a man several years ago.  He spoke no English and I speak limited Spanish.  At that time I was giving out bags with a loaf of bread, cookies, a can of Chunky soup and a gallon of water.  I showed him what was in the bag and how to open the soup can.  He opened it and took a couple of spoonfuls and then offered me some.  I couldn't believe it.  In his abject poverty he was willing to share the food.  It was a very humbling experience.

Well, one last thing to cover before I close.  One day I pulled up to one of my 'regulars' at the time and before I even talked to him I could tell he was drunk.  Instantly, my mind was flooded with a series of thoughts.  Does this man even deserve help today in his condition?  Does God really forgive sin....repeated sin?  What about my sin issues and my own repeated sin issues?  Does God really forgive me too?  Seeing your own flaws as being just as manifest to God as we see other's flaws is one of the 'benefits' of being in this ministry.  Your theology is tested.  Does God really forgive us "seven times seventy"?  What if in your weakness you purposefully sin just because you rebelliously want to?  Well, you soon realize the 'sanctification' process is a lifelong deal.  You also realize quickly that despite outward appearances you are no better than the person your serving.  You just have greater resources.  I do believe God's favor generally rests on those who are obedient, yet there may be a testing in your life with a purpose beyond the temporary circumstances.  Remain faithful, abstain from sin and learn the value of perseverance.

Since it's now Mother's Day, I'll leave you with one humorous story from a Mother's Day several years ago.  For a brief time one spring/summer I went downtown in the morning.  The morning of Mother's Day I was reminding people what day it was and would ask them what their mother's name was.  One guy, named Robert, was quite elderly.  When I asked him his mother's name he said, "Why?  She's been dead for years."  Well......his mother's name was Mary.  Until next time.

PS.  Nine years ago, May 4th, 2010, I wrote a blog after going downtown for one year.  It tells about how this ministry started.  You can access that blog by clicking on the year 2010 then May and then "After one year of going downtown."  That blog concluded with the question of how long will I do this.  My response at the time was, "As long as I'm able."  That still holds true.  It is becoming more of a physical challenge, but I still love doing this.  Please pray for the folks I serve.  Thanks John