Missions and Outreach

Every time we go downtown the thing I love most is to go out on the street and talk with people, inviting them to come  for dinner. One day in September I met a wonderful gentleman. I will call him “Ted”. I am not sure how long “Ted” has been on the streets but he has a degree in theology. He knows his scripture! But while pursuing his masters he got mad at his wife for spending too much money and walked out the door with what he had in his pockets. He ended up on the street. He told me he had to work hard to learn how to smoke and drink beer! But the longing of his heart was to have a real relationship with the Lord. It seemed like He knew about the Lord but really didn’t know the Lord.

He was discouraged because he has seen members of his former church coming down to make drug deals! “Ted” felt alone and forsaken. We talk and pray every time. It has been an amazing transformation to see him turning more and more to understand how much God loves him not for what he does or does not do but because of who he is. “Ted” has told me how a member of his former church came looking specifically for him just to tell “Ted” he cared. “Ted” has said how he has battled to turn from the devil’s temptations and listening more and more to God’s voice. He is serving those less fortunate than him. “Ted” has been growing closer and closer to the Lord. He told me he “didn’t want no religion” but a relationship and it has been an awesome privilege to watch the Lord work in him. Last time I saw him I told him I was leaving for a missions trip to the Philippines the next day and asked him to pray for me. He said he would. Now isn’t that cool? To have a person on the street praying for a missions trip to the Philippines!

I am excited to see what more and how God will work in “Ted’s” life.

(submitted by Robin Schroeder)