A Dream and a Reality

After the first couple of years of running the Blanket Ministry, I had a dream to see a transitional house go up in my community and also dreamed of a homeless outreach ministry that met consistently every week.  Greg was in on these dreams and we prayed about both together many times. A couple of months after Greg passed away, one of those dreams came true.

A couple of years ago, I met a lady at a homeless meeting named Rhondell.  We only spoke once a month at those meetings.  I decided to quit going as it was not going in the direction I was feeling led to go.  After Greg's death, Rhondell contacted me and said she also had a dream to have a homeless outreach in our community.  She had experience in that she had done this before where she lived before coming to Bowling Green.  By this time, she had also accepted the position of director of HOTEL, INC., a christian non-profit organization.  HOTEL, INC is an acronim for Helping Others Through Extending Love In the Name of Christ. Rhondell knew what she was doing and I saw a great, big, loving heart for people beating inside of her.  I wanted to be standing with her in this ministry.

We prayed for volunteers to show up to the first meeting, having no idea if anyone would show up or not.  We knew if this was of the Lord, He would bring the people.  He brought 24!  We were esctatic!  After two more meetings, we began to show up at the bridge every Tuesday starting at 5pm.  The first night five people showed up.  We gave blankets, bibles, toiletry bags, friendship and the love of Christ to all.  The next week, we had five.  The next week we had seven.  At the end of our first month, we had a cook-out for our guests of about a dozen along with music and communion.

After months now into the Homeless Outreach Ministry, here are the successes so far. . .

 

a couple moved out of their car and into an apartment. They have attended bible study each week at Hotel, Inc. and completed the budget/coupon classes.

a man under the bridge got a full time job and will be moving soon

another man from under the bridge has been getting many odd jobs and will be interviewed with the Veterans Employment Specialty Services about a full time job

 

another man from under the bridge decided he was ready for rehab and made it into one, ready to start a new life

 

a man living out of his car has an appointment for housing soon and he has decided he wants to be baptized

 

A mom and daughter that came the first week and were couch surfing are back in their own apartment and both of them got jobs.

 

Several have been coming to church and are rethinking about life

 

There is even talk of a wedding at the bridge

 

As I walk around watching the volunteers and guests fellowshipping, I think a lot about Greg.  This is what Greg wanted, for the public to begin to befriend the homeless, to see them as real people and love them they way Keith and I loved him. He wanted them to get the help they needed. I wanted this too. This is why I write their stories. I imagine Greg standing with Jesus, smiling, shaking his head in approval.

I wish he could be there with us, he would  love it.  But I believe he is there, sharing the moments with the One who orchestrates all the events, all the details, raining blessings down on the park by the bridge.  The transitional home is still a dream at this point, but the other is now a reality and I thank God for this.

Greg's story lives on and so do we.

Do you have a dream?  Have you told God? Want to share with me?  I will pray for God's leading in that dream with you.