04-05-2008, 11:02 PM
Wow! What a rewarding time we had today. We only fed about 300-350 homeless but, they were very thankful for our food. We had about 5 more to feed and we ran out of food. We also gave away a lot clothing. We also had 40 helpers. Today was a unique day because there were about 25 young people from a United Church in Richmond who came to help. They did a great job! I'll be posting pictures tomorrow.
I met one gentleman at our short worship service who is one on the committee that oversees the feeding program. He is Anglican and in talking with him before our program began, he was telling me that the feeding program is a good one but that they will be reviewing it's effectiveness. He also told me that the United Church whose building is used is no longer a functioning church because their membership went down to about 20 and the people base in that area is too small to build it up since that area is mainly business now. So, time will tell what will happen there.
Today there was one young lady from one of our churches interacting with the people who came. She was very loving, cheerful and caring. It was inspiring just to watch. I called the lady in charge of the program over and we just stood and watched her (she did not know we were watching). Now those kind of people are the ones who make the program successful! Those are the kind that represent Jesus to the homeless.
This is part of what I presented at our worship:
Helpers of the Poor
On that Judgment Day, Jesus doesn't proclaim the great things He has done for humans by giving His life for them. He announces the faithful works of love that humans have done for Him. "My Father blesses you; inherit the kingdom," Jesus says. "I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. (Matthew 25: 35, 26)
Those whom God praises don't know they have been ministering to Jesus. To their perplexed questions, Jesus answers, "Whenever you helped any of My people here - even the weakest or the poorest - you helped Me."
We can see Jesus in the faces of each of His children who suffer. And as we help them, it is like helping Jesus personally. All who have accepted Jesus as their Savior are in a special sense His brothers and sisters. His love as their Savior binds us all together as members of His heavenly family.
The people Jesus praises in the judgment may not know much theology, but they understand and love His principles. Many who have never heard of Christianity live with a spirit of kindness. Those who worship God without knowing Him, never contacted by Christian missionaries, will not be lost. They may have been ignorant about God's written laws, but the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts and it shows in their actions. They may be surprised to hear it, but they are God's children!
As the Son of Man, Jesus is a brother to every descendant of Adam. His followers are part of the great web of humanity and we should feel like brothers and sisters to all. Jesus' love reaches out to the fallen, sinful people around us, and every act of kindness done for them is accepted as if it were done for Jesus Himself.
The angels of heaven join us in helping others. They are sent to minister to all who need and choose to be saved, and when we open our doors to help the poor and suffering, they join us, bring a holy atmosphere of joy and peace. Every helpful act of mercy makes music in heaven. Unselfish workers are among God's most precious treasures."
Messiah (The Desire of Ages) by J. D. Thomas Page 242-243
I met one gentleman at our short worship service who is one on the committee that oversees the feeding program. He is Anglican and in talking with him before our program began, he was telling me that the feeding program is a good one but that they will be reviewing it's effectiveness. He also told me that the United Church whose building is used is no longer a functioning church because their membership went down to about 20 and the people base in that area is too small to build it up since that area is mainly business now. So, time will tell what will happen there.
Today there was one young lady from one of our churches interacting with the people who came. She was very loving, cheerful and caring. It was inspiring just to watch. I called the lady in charge of the program over and we just stood and watched her (she did not know we were watching). Now those kind of people are the ones who make the program successful! Those are the kind that represent Jesus to the homeless.
This is part of what I presented at our worship:
Helpers of the Poor
On that Judgment Day, Jesus doesn't proclaim the great things He has done for humans by giving His life for them. He announces the faithful works of love that humans have done for Him. "My Father blesses you; inherit the kingdom," Jesus says. "I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. (Matthew 25: 35, 26)
Those whom God praises don't know they have been ministering to Jesus. To their perplexed questions, Jesus answers, "Whenever you helped any of My people here - even the weakest or the poorest - you helped Me."
We can see Jesus in the faces of each of His children who suffer. And as we help them, it is like helping Jesus personally. All who have accepted Jesus as their Savior are in a special sense His brothers and sisters. His love as their Savior binds us all together as members of His heavenly family.
The people Jesus praises in the judgment may not know much theology, but they understand and love His principles. Many who have never heard of Christianity live with a spirit of kindness. Those who worship God without knowing Him, never contacted by Christian missionaries, will not be lost. They may have been ignorant about God's written laws, but the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts and it shows in their actions. They may be surprised to hear it, but they are God's children!
As the Son of Man, Jesus is a brother to every descendant of Adam. His followers are part of the great web of humanity and we should feel like brothers and sisters to all. Jesus' love reaches out to the fallen, sinful people around us, and every act of kindness done for them is accepted as if it were done for Jesus Himself.
The angels of heaven join us in helping others. They are sent to minister to all who need and choose to be saved, and when we open our doors to help the poor and suffering, they join us, bring a holy atmosphere of joy and peace. Every helpful act of mercy makes music in heaven. Unselfish workers are among God's most precious treasures."
Messiah (The Desire of Ages) by J. D. Thomas Page 242-243