Tonight was a good night. Last week I was not able to make it out to harrisburg but this week I was able to go along with my mom. It was a neat experience to be able to talk to people and show my mom what we have been doing. I was able to take a box of old clothes along to hand out and we also brought some christmas cookies for people which they seemed to really enjoy.
I was also interviewed by a reporter from the patriot news. They are doing an article about the Bethesda Mission and the mobile van. I just happened to be there when the interviewer was their and she asked about some of the stuff that we do. I hope that we can spread the good news and raise awareness for what is going on in Harrisburg with the homeless and I hope that God can use it to make an impact. The article should run within the next week and I am anxious to see what it has to say.
Andy Breighner
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Learning to Love not Judge
The biggest thing that I am learning is that I need to learn to love people without judging them. It is not our place to judge, that is for God to do. God has given us the work of simply loving and serving. This idea has really helped me out with dealing with people and makes ministry a lot easier. I think that ministry and service is easier than what we make it, I know that I have tended to make things harder than what they need to be.
Tonight there were three of us that went in. We brought with us a sleeping bag, two hats, and a pair of gloves. We were able to find a home for all of them except for one of the hats (we can give that out next week). Oh, and last week we were able to hand out a lot of socks for people. They seemed to be a hot item. But another cool thing was that Chris, one of the guys that went along with me, gave his coat away to a guy at the end. I thought that was the gospel coming to life. It was really awesome to see. He's a real blessing to have come along with us. Also Kevin was able to get a bus ticket for Ray so he could go and see his mother in Philly. We were also able to go to Ray's house and pray for him and his wife. I enjoyed the time we are able to spend with them.
As we first went in the first person I talked to was Ron and he thanked me for getting him jeans last week and I feel he was truly grateful for what we are doing. I felt really blessed because of what God is doing with our simple acts of love, which really don't seem like much. But God is able to make a lot of a little. We then were able to talk to a guy who told us he used to live on the streets but now is living in a house. He comes by every now and then to remember what the streets were like and catch up with old friends. We had an odd conversation. He saw that I had a Bible and he told us that we should not be out here preaching but we should be out hear just listening. And I honestly believe that is what we have been doing. We earn the right to be heard and pray and preach to only those who want it. But we starting a silly debate with him and he was unwilling to listen to what we did. Out of the little bickering Kevin came to the realization and shared with us that the problem is that we are trying to gain recognition from people like him and that we should put our pride away and just accept what he has to tell us and try to move on to the next person or talk about something else, something more God centered. I completely agree with Kevin and I think we can work on doing that in the future. But one thing the guy did say I thought was profound, he said that, "People don't just change. Something needs to happen in your life to make you change." I just thought that it was interesting. We can't change these people, we need to be the thing that happens that is the impetus that creates a change. I believe that God can make the change, we can only be used by God to help start the change. I hope that makes sense.
I was also able to see Don again, and he said he was able to go and see his mother and family over the holidays. He was able to share his story with us again and he told us that he had gotten a job that starts monday. I was really happy to hear that and I hope him the best and that he can get off the street. We were also able to pray for him.
I met a new person this week, his name is Keith and he told me that his daughter is ill. That is all I really know about him other than he is from Virginia. But it is always nice to meet new people and I will pray for his daughter.
Please continue praying for the homeless and impoverished in Harrisburg. God is teaching me a lot and I feel very blessed to be used by Him.
God Bless,
Andrew Breighner
Tonight there were three of us that went in. We brought with us a sleeping bag, two hats, and a pair of gloves. We were able to find a home for all of them except for one of the hats (we can give that out next week). Oh, and last week we were able to hand out a lot of socks for people. They seemed to be a hot item. But another cool thing was that Chris, one of the guys that went along with me, gave his coat away to a guy at the end. I thought that was the gospel coming to life. It was really awesome to see. He's a real blessing to have come along with us. Also Kevin was able to get a bus ticket for Ray so he could go and see his mother in Philly. We were also able to go to Ray's house and pray for him and his wife. I enjoyed the time we are able to spend with them.
As we first went in the first person I talked to was Ron and he thanked me for getting him jeans last week and I feel he was truly grateful for what we are doing. I felt really blessed because of what God is doing with our simple acts of love, which really don't seem like much. But God is able to make a lot of a little. We then were able to talk to a guy who told us he used to live on the streets but now is living in a house. He comes by every now and then to remember what the streets were like and catch up with old friends. We had an odd conversation. He saw that I had a Bible and he told us that we should not be out here preaching but we should be out hear just listening. And I honestly believe that is what we have been doing. We earn the right to be heard and pray and preach to only those who want it. But we starting a silly debate with him and he was unwilling to listen to what we did. Out of the little bickering Kevin came to the realization and shared with us that the problem is that we are trying to gain recognition from people like him and that we should put our pride away and just accept what he has to tell us and try to move on to the next person or talk about something else, something more God centered. I completely agree with Kevin and I think we can work on doing that in the future. But one thing the guy did say I thought was profound, he said that, "People don't just change. Something needs to happen in your life to make you change." I just thought that it was interesting. We can't change these people, we need to be the thing that happens that is the impetus that creates a change. I believe that God can make the change, we can only be used by God to help start the change. I hope that makes sense.
I was also able to see Don again, and he said he was able to go and see his mother and family over the holidays. He was able to share his story with us again and he told us that he had gotten a job that starts monday. I was really happy to hear that and I hope him the best and that he can get off the street. We were also able to pray for him.
I met a new person this week, his name is Keith and he told me that his daughter is ill. That is all I really know about him other than he is from Virginia. But it is always nice to meet new people and I will pray for his daughter.
Please continue praying for the homeless and impoverished in Harrisburg. God is teaching me a lot and I feel very blessed to be used by Him.
God Bless,
Andrew Breighner
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