Loving Those That Society Rejects

About two weeks ago a homeless man name Lionel walked into our prayer room and he was drunk as can be. He spoke with Ken and told him he wanted to get help for his drinking. Ken told him he would help him but that he needed to spend time in the prayer room each day. For the first week he was faithful everyday spending hours upon hours in the prayer room . . .sometimes even with alchohol on his breath.

By the second week you could see a change in his face and he came to church last Sunday. Monday night during the 6-8 pm prayer watch he was there and was face down on the floor crying out to God. It was so beautiful to see the change. For the last week he has worked as a volunteer in our food pantry every day that it was open. He has been "alchohol free" for the last 6 days. Ken is now working on finding him a rehab center where he can totally be rid of his addiction.

Today in church Carlos had Ken come up on stage with the pantry staff. So up came Ron who is our pantry warehouse manager. Some of you might remember that Ron was homeless about 2 years ago. He started volunteering in the pantry and after months of being faithful volunteering in the food pantry we hired him and we put him in a trailer. He is now the warehouse manager. Nick is a faithful employee of the pantry and is so dedicated in helping the needy and also sings in the prayer room and on Sunday mornings. Also, coming up was Lionel. It was remarkable to see the change in him.
Ken shared Lionel's testimony and also shared how he is homeless and living in the woods but volunteers every day at the pantry and is in the prayer room several hours a week. Pastor Keith also shared how he has been praying for and talking with Lionel over the last few weeks.
Pastor Keith has also been counseling him and helping him through his detox.
Carlos told Lionel today that after he completes rehab and "if" he completes the whole program that we as a church will find him a place to live.
For those of you who support the food pantry financially this is just one thing your money goes towards . . .helping those who need and want help. Helping those who want God in their lives and wanting out of their addictions.
It was wonderful to see all the support Lionel has and how everyone has rallyed around him to help him on his course to a better life with Jesus and freedom from alchoholism.
Then our pastoral team prayed for Lionel. They prayed that he keeps on the path he is on. That he would have the strength to stay away and break his addiction.
If you would like to help out our food pantry contact me for more information.