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Brothers and Sisters,
This past week will be the first full week I have worked with the HOPE team at Jefferson St. Baptist Center and already God is teaching me and moving in ways I can’t count and probably don’t even see yet. Days at Jeff St. start early, beginning at 6:30 in the morning, as we prepare cereal and other breakfast items for people entering the shelter. After helping prepare breakfast on the first day, I helped at the front office, meeting new faces as each person signed in to enter the day shelter. It was a good start to the day, as I was able to become familiar with people’s faces and their names. Mail services begin at eight when people can check their mail. After working at the front office for half of the morning, I walked into the main room of the day shelter to begin sitting down with people and hopefully hear a part of their stories, learning where each person was from and what brought them to Louisville. A man named John, probably my dad’s age, perhaps a little older, was the first person I sat with to talk to. We were talking about where we were from and after telling him that I went to school in Greensboro, NC, he shared with me that his daughter lives in Greensboro. He began to ask me questions like what I wanted to do in life and I shared with him that I would like to serve and possibly live in the streets with the homeless during a period of time, and hopefully live in community with others. As we continued to talk, he shared about how finding work was difficult, since he worked for a masonry that had gone bankrupt once the housing industry was negatively affected by the declining economy . I was able to share with him about how my dad had similar circumstances and had been unemployed, but was working and helping people with small projects as he could. I think John was trying to question me about why I was here serving at Jeff St. and see how I have lived because he was asking me questions about what kind of car I have in a sense of trying to prove wealth or betterment over those I was serving. I was able to tell John that I didn’t have a car, but I had to share a car with my mom when I was at home because we could no longer afford a car for each of us. His whole demeanor towards me changed and he seemed sorry for questioning me as he sensed how genuine I was. I felt connected to this man and I felt that we weren’t as different as society makes it seem.
I’ve had plenty of other conversations with people here at Jeff St., from residents that have lived here, to those coming in each day from the streets of Louisville, and it’s been a blessing being able to serve “the least of these.” It can be difficult talking to those with mental disabilities caused from living years on the streets of Louisville and America’s other cities, but I try to smile and simply listen to each of God’s beloved children in patience and love. I’ve seen men and women disrespect and become angry at one another amidst a sea of cuss words in the shelter, but I have to remember that He that lives inside of me has overcome the world and the power of darkness. Pray for deliverance from the enemy’s power over God’s people and the city.
As I was praying with Jeff St. staff earlier this past week I felt God’s spirit moving and I began to see this vision of God’s broken people being redeemed. God’s spirit and presence was filling the day shelter at Jeff St. and it was becoming God’s dwelling place. It was a ground for deliverance as people’s addictions and the enemy’s strongholds were being released. Through the blood of the Lamb, God’s broken people were being redeemed and called into salvation through the cross. His people were being raised in gifts of teaching, prophecy, and apostleship. These people were living in the streets as God’s people, full of power and overflowing with the Spirit. As poor in spirit, lowly and meek, God’s children were filled with holy joy and outpouring His spirit in our city. These once homeless people had found a home in the secret place of the most High God and each of them were claiming victory over the darkness and power of the enemy. As God showed me this, I was left speechless, literally shaking in joy that God had shared this with me and given me desire to see this vision become reality. Pray that God would fulfill this vision, just as the Lord spoke to Ezekiel, “Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled” (Ezekiel 12:23). Thank you for your financial and prayerful support. May the Lord bless your generosity and willingness to serve Him.
Grace & Peace,
Whitney
If you would like to continue to support me financially, you can donate online at www.hopeforlouisville.com and click donate now to a HOPE team member, and you can personally donate to me. If you would like to write a check, make checks payable to Jefferson St. Baptist Center and write HOPE-S10-WJ1 in the memo line.
Send checks to:
Jefferson Street Baptist Center
733 East Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
the HOPE team
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