Has it really been so long since my last blog entry?!?!?!? Wowsers! Oh how time gets the best of you when life gets busy. In any case, for those that have followed along our journey we call "ministry", you can rest assured that we are still going strong. Over the years of pouring into the people living on the streets of our community, God has tenderly touched and has slowly begun to open up their hearts. We have seen firsthand how God will take 2 people who uttered the words "I was so hurt by church and other Christians that we will never step foot near a church" and do something in their hearts by a simple, loving invite (and never giving up or judging) that breaks down those walls and brings them to a place where they are ready and willing to join us for fellowship for service that weekend. Recently so was the case with people I shall keep anonymous. These friends of our joined us faithfully for nearly 5 weeks of continual and steady fellowship, graciously accepting their new bibles as gifts and opening them up on their own. God is amazing and as I've said before - we just get to bear witness to some of those amazing things by showing up and serving in the name of Jesus. The mentioned people have since 'moved on' as we commonly see with this environment, so we can only trust God at His word that "it does not return void".

Tis' The Season...

It saddens me to realize that I have not update this blog in nearly 2 years. There are way too many accounts of blessings and sorrows to try and recall them all. Our team, which has grown from our home church "The Branch" has been faithful to serve alongside us for a few years at this point. Amanda and I have seen a full transition of volunteers except for 1 incredible woman named Betty who has been with us from the beginning. To call her a blessing would be an understatement by far! We are so thankful for all of the volunteers that have crossed our paths to help us make this a successful ministry of love. We take no credit for any of the work that God has done. As I've said time and time again - We just show up and get to watch what God does each week that we meet. Over the last year or so Amanda and I have prayed and discussed the possibility of moving out of state. The time has come for that to become our reality. One of the heaviest things on our hearts was the worry as to what might happen to this ministry once we stop. We have seen miraculous things in the lives of those we've encountered. We dread the thought of it coming to s stop, so we prayed and prayed and prayed for God's will to be done. We cast our prayers and hearts to the Living God of Heaven on behalf of our Neighbors and He was faithful to answer!! In His perfect planning and timing He introduced us to another Body of Believers that meet locally. That congregation has the same heart and mind as us. We've met with their leadership team and had the honor to share about Loving Thy Neighbor as an organic ministry from their pulpit. It is with great joy that I announce that starting January 2018 we pass the torch to Kairos Church. Amanda and I are confident that we are leaving the ministry in very good hands and the work will continue with Jesus Christ being the aim and direction. I ask that you please pray for their church to grow and God would bless their Body. As for Amanda and I, this will be our last month serving as leadership at the park. Our focus will now be on the next chapter in our life that God has for us in a distant land. This is more than likely going to be my last blog entry for Loving Thy Neighbor. God continues to blow our minds each day. I can't fathom how anyone outside of Christ can call Christianity boring. If only they would give Jesus a chance to see what an amazing journey He will take you on if you allow Him to guide you.