ELKHART - 5TH & HARRISON OUTREACH

We had our first outreach in this neighborhood that is on a fast pace down slide. Efforts are being made by our wonderful Christian mayor to make changes here. People's lives are being destroyed by alcoholism, crack cocaine, meth, and prostitution being the major players. With most of our weekly efforts concentrated on this area we were expecting a bunch of people to come out. We were set to start at 12:00 and when that time came there was hardly anyone around. Shortly after that we had a bunch of people show up and all of us were busy ministering and serving the people.

The food was on, we fed the people polish sausages, hotdogs, grilled cheese, chips, hostess snacks, candy, pop, and water. Another great job by the team consisting of Pastor Lance & Leigh and the boys Layne & Cole, Michele Santiago, Brenda Huff, Diane Wimmer, Tony Huguley Jr., Jimmie Hickman, Jeff Sobieralski, and Joe & Chris Peterson who joined us for the first time.

We handed out Bibles to all that wanted them. Many of the kids received Bibles. If you have a source that you can get Bibles for us it would be greatly appreciated. We go through alot of them.

Bobby is a brother that I have known for a while now. He loves the Lord and knows the Word but has a hard time staying focused. Pray for Bobby because he could be a mighty warrior for the Lord if he was to put everything together.

Pray for Troy also, he loves the Lord but is struggling with some habits that are really messing his life up right now. We sat for a long time talking about Jesus and he ate up every word along with 4 polish sausages and a couple grilled cheese. I will be ministering during the week to Troy and two of his friends at Troy's house.

Jeff ministers to a couple of young guys in the background while Diane checks (and analyzes) everything going on.

A cute little girl enjoys a hotdog.

We had alot of kids come out today. It is so important to get Jesus into them with all that they see around them in this neighborhood.

We were setup in the parking lot of the old Linda's Hideaway Bar which is one of the vacated buildings on Harrison St. This brother is stocked up with things to take home also.

Some of the people came from the Faith Mission and are homeless right now. The young man to the left lives with his mom there right now while they try to find housing and she tries to find a job.

BRENDA ministers to Dennis, another guy that loves the Lord and has a history of serving Him in the past but has been hampered by habits and a relationship that are is attempting to destroy his life.

Leigh offers assistance to an elderly gentleman. Tony carried his food back to his house for him. The food line gets busy!!

This is an area where we will be concentrating on helping these people to have relationships with Jesus. We will not be back there for an outreach until Saturday, August 24th. We will be working the streets at various times between now and then. Our next outreach we are looking at a 5:00 p.m. start with live music to attempt to get even more people.

I will be heading to Chicago tomorrow evening on the South Shore to spend the night ministering while I wait for the 6:30 a.m. Greyhound bus to Waterloo, Iowa to pick up our new van. PRAISE GOD!!!!! We are so excited about getting another van!!!

Friday morning Jeff and I will fly out for New Orleans to hook up with Pastor Troy and the Pastor Don and Pastor Thomas & the rest of the RAVEN GulfCoast Team to minister on the streets.