A big thing I’ve learned on the race is that ministry is where you are planted, God actually created a whole word for where he plants you, the word is Jezreel. I’ve learned to never underestimate ministry anywhere because it can be done everywhere. I took to my parents to explain the local homeless ministry they started years ago, and with the help of our church family has only grown more and more each year! I’m so thankful for parents like mine who taught me since I can remember, I am loved by the King of Kings and when I surrender my life for His desires my eyes will be opened to what the Lord wants to do through me!
Side note: my parents answered the questions separately so neither knew each other’s answers before this blog was posted! So cool!
Interview Questions:
1. What is your favorite part of working with the homeless ministry in Newport News?
mom: aside from sharing about how much I love them and Jesus does too, I love to hear their amazing stories. So many incredible people out there that have fallen on hard times but people look past them…see right through them…it is sad.
dad: Being able to provide simple things that people with homes consider routine but our homeless friends consider a luxury for example a fresh pair of socks really brightens the day of our friends!
2. What is one really hard thing about working in this type of ministry?
mom: Death, they die alone, mourning with their friends (other homeless friends). Or seeing one being beaten and offering a number for them to go and be rescued and they won’t call because they are too afraid of the one hurting them or to leave.
dad: Watching the people we have grown to care about go thru sickness or death of a friend with no one or no where to go. Another is probably the distrust they have for the”system”
3. How long have you been doing this specific ministry?
mom: winter 2014
dad:We started this about 4 years ago late 2014
4. What does a homeless outreach day look like – feel free to explain moment by moment or just sum it into a few words
mom: there are a variety of ways this can look. Street Ministries: we go out with blessing bags, blankets, clothing, shoes and any requested items as well as food and drinks and we stop wherever we see our homeless friends on the street and check on them. We ask how we may pray for them, we provide whatever they need. They know us so well they will flag us down and if they have a friend on another street that needs help they send us there way so we may help them also. The city has been very hard on our community recently. Sometimes they come by and throw away all their belongings and we have to help them start over. It is sad. And they are sad they everything they had is gone.
dad: A typical day is anything but typical ! But we gather our “blessing bags” bags with water and snacks and a few toiletries! Then we gather some clothing and blankets and load the van. Our driving route varies based upon input from others or based on our observations during the week of where we have seen homeless individuals. When we see homeless people we pull over and first introduce ourselves and ask if they need anything ( they are people and have some dignity which is why we ask) if they need something we try to give it to them and if we don’t have it we write it down and tell them when we will return next trip! When we promise to provide something we make sure to get it because these people get lied to daily and if we are going to witness for Christ the truthfulness is essential!
5. Could you share a favorite moment you’ve had over the years? *Names may be changed*
mom: About two years ago we met a lady who was elderly and sitting by a light pole. It was freezing, we stopped and we provided many many things to the point she said I am good, I can’t carry anything more. I remember sitting on the ground with her and just listening to her amazing stories. She accent told me she wasn’t from our area originally, I could have listened to her talk all day. She worried for her family for her children and for the crimes that were happening. We prayed and as I got up and we all walked back to the church van, she walked with us and she said “You have done so much for me, but I have nothing to give, but I do have my voice”. And with that she began to sing the song “Amazing Grace” like I have never heard ever and probably never will. When she finished, there was not one of us without a tear rolling from our cheeks. (There was 7 of us in our crew that day). Never again did we see her and each time we pass by the pole we talk about her. Fast forward to this year at our winter Port I saw her! No one knew or understood the excitement. I immediately ran to her. We prayed together. I was able to share our incredible experience in front of church members and other homeless friends and the sheriff that was on duty. What an amazing testimony to share and she beamed with so much joy as I repeated how she had impacted my life. The sheriff was so moved by the story….the next morning the sheriff asked her if she would sing her “Amazing Grace”. (Mind you, a morning at POrT and almost one hundred folks checking out is loud and busy. She stopped right there and began to sing and the entire PORT building became so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Not only did she bless me several years ago…she blessed the entire homeless community, the workers and that sheriff that cold winter morning. She then proceed to put on her coat, gather her bag and out she went and I have yet to ever see her again. We now call her an angel from God. ??
dad: There have been many but one that stands out in my mind was when we stopped for a older lady and gave her some things when we were going to leave she came up to the van and said she wanted to give us something in return! She had no money so she sang the most beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace”. There was not a dry eye in the van! Most moving encounter so far but looking forward to the next one!
6. Was there a specific revelation from God about going into homeless outreach? Was there a special verse or a word from the Lord you heard? Would you share the verses that have continuously encouraged you?
mom: I can remember being so sad…I didn’t want to leave women’s ministry because I loved it with a passion. But the Lord kept speaking to me and telling me I have something more for you to do. I can remember going reluctantly into the pastors office thinking. Lord, you are going to have to speak these words through me if this is your will for me. I knew I needed to be obedient to it…but wow, that was fully relying on the Lord. I had never done anything like that before and in the beginning we made many mistakes. But with God and prayerfully asking for him to guide the way it has become more than I could have ever imagined. We now feed the homeless, provide assistance for them, help with flu shots and check ups once a year, help folks find jobs, find household items once housing is provided. Currently the Lord has put two of our folks in our path that are terminally ill and we have been able to build relationships and share lots of Jesus! I am thankful for the opportunities. I would have never witnessed someone take the coat off their body and give it to another man who did not have one. I would have never witnessed seeing a homeless man give up the last sleeping bag we handed out to give to another homeless man that needed it more, I would have never seen how so many of these folks live out the love of Jesus everyday. They don’t hoard-they only take what they need and can carry. They are kind and love to talk. They are people who want to still work and be helpful to others, they are people who have faith like I can not even imagine having—they have taught me how to live by faith. They have taught me to love the unlovable. They know which ones have mental issues and they look out for them on the streets so they do not get taken advantage of. It is amazing to see how Street living can be a beautiful thing.
We have serval verses: Matthew 25: 35-45
Luke 15:4-6-oh to rejoice when the one who is lost repents and comes back into the fold of Jesus!??
Isaiah 58:7
Proverbs 14:31
dad: One of the reasons at least for me is I have travelled all over the world with the Army and have seen suffering beyond understanding and I felt inside that I couldn’t always help those people but I could help people here! I have discovered these special people really grabbed my heart! The verse that sticks with me and motivates me matthew 25:35-45 “ Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
7. If you could encourage just one person who might read this blog what would you want to say?
mom: Just because you may feel inadequate…God can use you. He used the ordinary to do the extraordinary. To share the Love of Jesus will bring you no greater joy. Go to the least of these, do not go in fear. God is with you and through you He will so many wonderful things if you open your hands up and fix your eyes on Jesus and faithful go where he calls you to go. He will call us all to different places. Be obedient to that calling. He will make it an incredible journey. More than you could ever ask or imagine! Only through Him has this grown and continues to be used for His Glory.
Final add on: God can use you anywhere. Some he calls overseas, some he calls to hospitals, or EMS, some he calls locally. All can be used for His Glory if we Take time to pray, to be still and listen to the still small voice that guides and molds us into His image.
dad: Do not pass the opportunity to do something for someone, homeless people are the same as you and I just a little different circumstances! We are all still God’s creation and Jesus told us “ Love your neighbor as you love yourself”
Thanks so much for reading, if this blog sparked an interest within you feel free to contact Marty and Kathy Pope for more information on the homeless outreach ministry through Seaford Baptist. You can reach them at [email protected] or you can contact me and I can pass you more information!!
