Welcome to our journey. The purpose of my blog is not only to journal our life experience, but also to share what God is doing in our lives. I do not claim to be an expert in parenting, marriage, or even the Bible. But I do have a heart to share my experiences and the true love that God has for each and every one of us. You can read our testimony by clicking on the top of the page. And if you'd like to know about the Homeless Ministry my husband started, you can click on the Homeless tab. I hope you will comment freely on my posts and in my community.



Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I NEED YOUR HELP!

Whether you're a close friend, a family member, or a bloggy friend I need your help. Actually "they" need your help. Who? Those that have nothing. They have no hope and no home. They live on our streets. They live under bridges, in the woods, wandering the streets. They are ignored and pushed aside. Their hearts are broken. They are the homeless. They have names and faces. They are sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. You can click here for my post "Without a Place to Call Home". In that post are pictures that I took when I went out to see for myself what is going on in our cities. I could not believe my eyes. My heart was broken. It still is. I can no longer sit back and do nothing.

Breakthrough Ministries is a non-profit that is trying to get a grip on ending homelessness. It is a start up organization (one year old) that goes out on the streets seeking and ministering to those that are lost. The goal is to bring these sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers in to a place where they have food and shelter. To love them where they're at and then to get them the help they need when they're ready. Finally, to teach them how to make it on their own in this world. In order to do this, we need your help.

How can you help? Click here or on the picture in the top left sidebar. We need people to raise pledges for our Sleep-A-Thon. You get people to sponsor you to stay overnight in a tent. Or you could just sleep right under the stars as so many homeless people do. The sleep-a-thon (A Night Under the Stars) is Saturday, September 11 - Sunday, September 12, 2010. There will be prizes for the top 3 people that raise the most pledges. We also need volunteers to help on those 2 days. This event will be held in Faribault, MN at Straight River Golf Course. They are our corporate sponsor in cooperation with Keeping It Personal and have donated their golf course for 2 days! In addition to the Sleep-A-Thon this will be a fun family event. There's no cost, but donations will be accepted. Ayiesha Woods will be our featured performer. She is an amazing Christian singer and song writer. There will be golf tournaments, including twighlight golf. There will be lots of fun for kids as well. Click here for more details.

Here are ways you can help:
  • Take the pledge to get sponsors
  • Register to attend the event
  • Volunteer prior to and/or at the event
  • Be an event sponsor
  • Register for one of the golf tournaments
  • Make a donation
  • Donate a prize
  • Help me get the word out about this event!
  • All proceeds from my Blogher Ads from now until this event will go directly to this event. Any purchases made would be a blessing to this organization!
If you're not local, would you consider donating? Breakthrough Ministries is a 501c3 and donations are tax deductible (consult your tax consultant). Would you consider sponsoring my family? Leave me a comment and I will get in touch with you.

Would you repost this information on your blog, in your communities, on twitter, on facebook and any other way you have? Leave me a comment and let me know what you do so that I can thank you!!! I wish I had something cool to give away for an incentive for you, but I don't. All I have is a thank you. But it is a BIG THANK YOU!

On a more personal note...this is my feeling on this matter:
There are many people who feel that most of these people are there because that's what they want. They feel that they're there by choice. Maybe so. But our we called to judge? No. And actually I don't know anyone who's out there because they want to be. Yes, many of them have fallen victim to drug and alcohol addictions. But what got them there in the first place? What keeps them there? Many of them came from bad, broken homes. Many of them were abused. Many of them have mental illnesses and can't see their way out. Many of them are our veterans who have fought for your freedom. What if it was your son or daughter on the street? Or your brother or sister? Would you want someone to judge them or love them? It is not the government's job to continue to take care of these people. It's our job. We need to love them, feed them, cloth them, and give them shelter. We can no longer sit back and expect our government to love these people. We must do it. It is time for the church to rise up and love our neighbors. And who is the church? You and me!

This scripture really speaks to me...

Matthew 25:31-46
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.



34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’


41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’


44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’


45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

I pray that you are moved. I pray that you are not only moved in your heart, but also physically. I pray that this would spread like wild fire. I pray that you would be afflicted as you sit in your warm (or cool) home right now. I pray that your heart would break for what breaks God's heart. And I pray that you would act with abounding love. In Jesus' name.

4 comments:

  1. I'll tweet this for you! I wanted to share a post I did awhile back on a similar subject: http://www.rediscoveringdomesticity.com/2009/11/under-bridges-there-is-love.html

    It's good to have things that break the heart of God be things that break our hearts as well.

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  2. Homelessness impacts us all and we should all do our part to help end poverty and the many challenges that lead to homelessness. I will tweet this for you and add it to my Facebook page. I am following you on Google friends. Do follow me back.
    Best,
    Eliz

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  3. I will pray ..... I was a case manager of a homeless shelter- and our clients had many many issues...but wrapping all their issues into one- bottom line it was homelessness that impacts the families.... no matter what extra baggage they carry.
    Thank you for posting this.... it's a message many who are not aware of homelessness can see it's real.

    Peace&Love
    Lis

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  4. Audra...nice post!

    Eliz...I really enjoyed your blog. Thanks for tweeting and adding to your fb page.

    Lis...I remember you telling me that. Thanks so much for the prayers.

    The Lord is blessing this ministry. Just this week they've received 1 grant, a large donation and a donated pick up truck. HUGE BLESSINGS...thanks for the prayers!!

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