The government housing projects where we have ministered to children have improved as well. I heard stories how the police would not even go deep into the Fischer Projects, R.I.P was on several walls, a nurse who started to do medical care there was shot because she was white. There was no law and order there; YWAM staff would come by with a van to load up the kids and take them somewhere safe to do ministry. But now 14 of these high rises of poverty have been torn down and new housing has been built, and though things still ain't heavenly, it's nothing compared to how it was. Recently children have come up to us and shared how they are waking up early to go to church now. :)
My leader said in the early 90's you could go to the hospital's E.R on any night of the week and see around 20 to 30 people in there with gun shot wounds. The crime was at an all time high and even the Mayor said “the only hope for the city was prayer”. That year the church united in prayer, and tons of prayer groups came from around the nation and there was the greatest crime reduction in History! Sadly it has increase steadily since then, but hey, lets pray!
It's neat how by merely living here, building houses, planting gardens and seeking to do good, that each neighborhood we've been in has dramatically improved. I've done a lot of landscaping, remodeling, tiling, painting and maintenance on the YWAM properties. Volunteers have help me at times too. I know that weeding flower beds and to doing landscaping may seem vain to some, people may wonder how is this “winning the city for Jesus?” But to me our founding scripture illuminates things a bit.
My leader said in the early 90's you could go to the hospital's E.R on any night of the week and see around 20 to 30 people in there with gun shot wounds. The crime was at an all time high and even the Mayor said “the only hope for the city was prayer”. That year the church united in prayer, and tons of prayer groups came from around the nation and there was the greatest crime reduction in History! Sadly it has increase steadily since then, but hey, lets pray!
It's neat how by merely living here, building houses, planting gardens and seeking to do good, that each neighborhood we've been in has dramatically improved. I've done a lot of landscaping, remodeling, tiling, painting and maintenance on the YWAM properties. Volunteers have help me at times too. I know that weeding flower beds and to doing landscaping may seem vain to some, people may wonder how is this “winning the city for Jesus?” But to me our founding scripture illuminates things a bit.
During the last 25 years, there has been a wide variety of ministries, like the drug rehab, food distribution, neighborhood children ministries, pregnancy counseling centers, regular homeless outreach, etc.... Recently, our main focus has been the disaster relief, There is still several 1000's of houses that are still in need of gutting. God has abundantly provided for us so we could continue to do this practical form of evangelism. An opportunity like this may never come by us again. As always hosting teams is a ministry in and of itself, and this wraps up most of my time; not only when they are here, but when they are not, by improving the properties they stay in.
I hope this was not too wordy. I figured some of y'all would like to know this. May God bless y'all with all sort of spiritual blessings. Peace -John
I hope this was not too wordy. I figured some of y'all would like to know this. May God bless y'all with all sort of spiritual blessings. Peace -John