We listen, give testimony and teach that the Triune God is real!

Watching CNN the other night, Angelina Jolie-Pitts cited there were 42 million homeless people worldwide. The short time I watched the program, she and the interviewer discussed being grateful for their wealth, as well as being able to share their wealth. They also talked about their privilege in life that allowed them to meet homeless children and families all over the world, many of whom have died from simple illness or from living in dire conditions. Mrs. Pitt shed tears at, I suspect, the enormity of what she has seen and how it feels like there is no do-able solution to eradicate homelessness worldwide.

I, too, have cried sometimes here at the Open Door Mission, with and over client’s situations that seem overwhelming and unfortunate. It happens to people from all walks of life. I thank God I don’t see the numbers of hurting people Mrs. Pitt does, but I see enough to break your heart many times over. Struggles of the imaginable and unimaginable; struggles of illiteracy; indifference toward the disabled and the ex-offender; neglect of children and abuse of vulnerable adults; perversions of ethics, morals and authority; and, the teachings of false doctrines, to name a few. A commonality I see in people I serve is their despondency in feeling they have lost their way in life. I believe this is why God sends them here!

We listen, give testimony and teach that the Triune God is real! We are called here to a ministry; some to preach, some to teach, some to plant seeds, and some to lead others to Christ! We do so because we believe in Revelations 21:4-5 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Quite frankly, we work the way we do because we do not want to see anyone not know Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, not know the 7,487 promises He makes, and not have the eternal life He promises to believers! Yes, we are challenged: challenged to ensure His word is shared to all! We are grateful to God for the numbers of people we are able to serve with free clothing, free housewares, free furniture, work preparedness programs, and one-on-one case management. But mostly, we are grateful that we can count on God’s promise that He does, and will provide!

Blessings!

From Kelli Young

Community Case managerTimberlake Outreach Center, Open Door Mission