It's been a while so I thought I would write a little update.
The Cove is pretty much cleared out. We still drive by and if there is anyone there, we will make sure to hand out a sandwich.
The next exit down the highway is now where we meet. There are a few old friends...Rabbit...Mary and Joe and some new ones...Big Al, Bill, and to be honest...I can't remember the names of the others. Andy and Cameo have moved church to this location.
Winter is moving in and the nights are getting rough. We have given out blankets, socks and tents to the best of our ability. Rabbit is staying sober and is taking the spiritual lead for the group. They study the Bible and pray together. There is still tension that builds between them resulting in conflicts...not any different than my world.
Good or bad...right or wrong...I still have the assignment to feed them and it's not my business why they are there.
My prayer is for all of us in these last days to keep our hearts honest.
Moving on down the road....
Church at the Cove...
Brothers and Sisters,
This is going to be a little long but I felt I had to share..
As many of you know we started feeding the homeless on a corner we now call "The Cove" a little over a year ago. In the process a Church was started there and Brother Andy picked it up and has been preaching there faithfully for the entire time. This week Andy had to be out of town and being the faithful Minister that he is he asked if I would go preach on Sunday so they wouldn't be alone. I love all of these folks so it is an easy answer because rarely do I go there that I don't get Ministered to! Yesterday was no exception...
We showed up and there were only a couple of homeless folks there, Mary and Joe. This week Jack and Taz headed off north on a plan to homestead some land up in Utah, Wyoming or where ever it is available so we expected the turn out to be light. I pulled my bike right up in the middle because I wanted to share a Todd Agnew song and needed the stereo. We had just finished listening to the song, I got my Bible out and we were just beginning to share when a car drives up, a couple of folks get out and quickly head toward the intersection up on the interstate. We watched with curiosity as they come heading back with a young girl that looked about 8 that had Down Syndrome. The little girl was obviously alone and lost wandering in the middle of a VERY busy intersection.
It wasn't long before 2 police cars arrived and the 2 women were busy with them. The husband got his own small child and comes over to us, looks at me and says "I have that same Bible". We had a nice greeting, he said his name was John and he asked if we were ministering, I told him it was Church and he was welcome! We talked a little bit about what we were going to talk about and he produced a small pocket Bible which brought out some funny comments about concealed carry (You may have to be from Texas to appreciate that!) I opened my vest to show my concealed "Sword" in addition to the big one I had in my hands and we all laughed. He asked if he could read and promptly read just about everything I had on my notes from the earlier sermon at our Biker Church! I told him he would probably freak out if he saw my notes and we all laughed and said isn't that just like God! I wish all of you could have seen and felt the what we did as John stood there speaking and praying over us. God is Awesome!
Now the Cops are over with John's wife as she was over there praying the power of Jesus over that precious child . The parents had already called, been told where she was and they were on the way. They arrived and they were Muslims. Her mother teaches at the Muslim school that is right there, had gone to the restroom to come back and find her daughter gone. To see the Love of Christ reach out and help a child, no matter what the beliefs is an awesome thing. These wonderful believers of Christ see the little girl and go help. How awesome it is to see people serve with the Love of Christ and show EVERYONE no matter who they are..
This long story has a point.. God is out there working every day. Are you out there to help and to witness? Are you seeing miracles like this regularly? I can testify that if you are out there serving, watching, listening and paying attention you can be so blessed just like we were yesterday.. Where 2 or more are gathered HE will be with you.
One of the last things John said was "We had heard about the Christian bikers out here in this area" I asked how and he said "Through the grapevine" How awesome it is to be connected to the Vine! :-) (John 15: 5-8)
With Much Love,
Pastor Rick