The Difference Black Pants Can Make

Daniel. If I had to guess I would say he was 17, maybe 18. We met him on our most recent Wednesday morning trip to downtown Augusta and meeting him was one of the many blessings we have received since we began this ministry.

See, in our ministry many of the people we meet are older, tired, worn down and, quite honestly, "street weary". They've been stuck in their circumstance for so long and everything they’ve done to try to escape their situation has failed. So they feel...well, hopeless.

But not Daniel. He was young & his enthusiasm and eagerness to "get out" was contagious. He still had hope.

He walked over to the back of the car where we were distributing clothes, biscuits, and Bibles. He introduced himself and I asked him if there was anything he needed. He looked at me and said, "I need black pants." I thought it was an odd request.

"Man, I've got lots of pants, just not any black ones," I said as I began shuffling through a box, looking for something that could substitute.

"They really need to be black," he said.

"Okay man, I'm sure I can get my hands on some black pants for you by the next time we come down." My curiosity was beyond peaked. So I asked him, "Daniel, why do you have to have black pants?"

He pulled his thin jacket back to proudly reveal a logo on his black collared shirt. I recognized the logo. Pizza Hut. “Cause, man. I’ve gotta have clothes for my job!” It was then that I noticed the pair of pants he had on. They too were black, kind of. It was clear that they hadn’t been washed recently & they were, no doubt, his only pair.

We talked a bit more; some about how he ended up standing outside the day shelter behind us, but mostly about his plans to, one day, never see it again. I could see it written all over his face – this kid was going to change his situation. I was inexplicably proud of this young man and I hadn’t known him 5 minutes.

The skeptics never fail to ask us, “How do you know that the guy you just gave that coat to isn’t going trade it for drugs?” Well, we don’t. Maybe he will. Hopefully he won't. But let me ask this: What if we allowed these questions to keep us from going to the needy out of fear that the clothes & food that our incredible, selfless donors give would end up on the “homeless black market”?

Then we wouldn’t meet people like Daniel.

Consider this: What if finding Daniel a new pair of black pants meant he could keep his job at Pizza Hut? And what if his job allowed him to save enough to afford and apartment? Then, what if he kept hope and was able to attend college one day? And what if Daniel, one day, became a successful business owner, a doctor, a judge, a senator, a pastor? What if Daniel became the next Martin Luther King, Jr.? Or the next Colin Powell? Or the next Billy Graham?

Look, I know it sounds “big”. But, what if the new pair of black pants we find Daniel are enough to make an impact for generations to come? I believe that the little things we do in life make the biggest impact.

So, we’ll find Daniel a pair of black pants. Or two.


Be Love,


Jamie for Kingdom Here

Snow Days...

The Southeast was abuzz last week with the arrival of the first snow of 2011. It’s funny how our society reacts to these situations… Many flocked to stores to buy some extra goodies to ‘survive’ the next couple days of being trapped at home. Kids, teachers, and employees from around the area watched the news to see if they had to report to work or not. The next morning, the old ski gear was dug out of the attic, and trashcan lids became sleds. All in all, despite the fender benders, it’s kind of exciting.

As I tried to sleep last Monday evening, I thought of the ‘less fortunate’ living in downtown Augusta. I would define my feeling as uncomfortably comfortable. There I was… warm bed, nice home, a fireplace, beautiful wife and son, plenty of food… tremendously blessed. But why? I thought about Wayne, Parnell, Quincy, Austin, James, Eric, and all the other homeless men of Augusta that where, quite possibly, sleeping outside that night.

What can we do about this issue? Make no mistake, Jesus tells us what to do. It’s easy to close our eyes and turn our backs to the issues that face our society. We see a homeless man on the street and assume that he ‘brought this on himself’. The reality is homeless men can have amazing stories. Some were business owners. Some battle addiction. Some hit a ‘financial brick wall’ due to the cost of medical care. Some are former star athletes. Some fled other countries. All are God’s Children.

A homeless man named James recently told me, “Just because you are homeless, don’t mean you are a drug addict.” Either way, we’ve got to step up to the plate and spread God’s Love.

Join us in our mission to be the hands and feet of Christ. Let’s bring His Kingdom Here!
God Bless,

Beau for Kingdom Here

Amos

I'm amazed at how the words from the prophets' of the Old Testament still beckon our hearts today. From Isaiah to Malachi, each message still applies to our lives, including this Word from the Lord spoken through Amos:

Amos 5:21-24
"I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.

I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making.

I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it.

That's what I want. That's all I want."

God's Word is still true today. His promises never fail. And his love for his people in need never waivers. Nor does his demand for us to love and care for them in their darkest hour. All he wants is justice...oceans of it.

Be love,

-Jamie for Kingdom Here