Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Making a Difference - Proof!

Hey folks, just a quick blog post to fill you in on what's happening with KH.

The weather here in Augusta has begun to get chilly and this always means a difficult time for the homeless.  We are going to do anything and everything we can to help with that this year & we would be grateful for some new partners to come along side us and get involved.  Click the link on the menu to the right and see how you can join us. 

We had a great trp downtown this morning and were able to minister to about 65 folks.  It's always a good thing when you run out of biscuits!  Robbie did an excellent job speaking on the Gospel of Luke and how we are all "lost sheep" that Jesus rejoices over when one comes home.  One of the things we often wonder is whether or not we are truly making a difference in these peoples lives.  Sure, we help meet the physical needs but are we saying and doing the things necessary to help guide them closer to Christ & a relationship with the living God?  Robbie pondered this question during his message today. 

Shortly afterwards, Jimmy, one of the guys we haven't seen in a while, came up and offered proof.  He told us that 2 weeks ago he was baptized.  Yes!  He told us that we were making a difference and encouraged us to continue our work. 

All Glory to God!

Be Love,

Jamie for Kingdom Here

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Pops, Greg, and Street Lights

This past Wednesday was one of the best we have had.  We gave out 80 biscuits and probably had close to 100 people we were able to talk with.  We are encouraged in the last several weeks that they are getting more attentive to our message.  We ask you to pray for our group each Wednesday morning and that God will prepare the hearts and minds of those we talk with and that they will continue to be receptive to his word.  

One of our favorites is “Pops”.  Pops is turning 63 this week and has a love for the Lord.  Pops asked us to pray for him because he feels like God wants him to do something big with his life and is a little frustrated that he can’t figure out what that is.  Pops is a wonderful influence on the young men and women that he meets.  Some we meet downtown are reluctant, but it is encouraging to us to see many like Pops who are ready and willing to follow the Lord.  We ask that you pray for Pops and that God will continue to walk ahead of him and show him the path he wants him to go down.

Another great story this week was from our friend Greg.  Greg talked about some of the hardships he has had and the fact that God just wants us to walk in the light.  Greg used the analogy of a street light.  He noted that he did not want to walk on the dark sidewalk at night, because he never knew who was going to jump out at him and it was dangerous.  He explained that he wanted to walk on the street where the lights were, so he could be prepared and see where he was going.  Greg noted that every day he woke up was a day that he was able to choose the path that he walked down.  Greg held his hands up and put his hands together forming a V, and noted that he had made the decision to go down the path of the light.  He was tired of going down the sidewalk and wanted to follow Jesus who is the light of the world.  Greg, who served our country in the military, has some excited things coming up including a scholarship to a 12 month program that will allow him to build on some of the skills he learned in the military.  We ask you to pray for Greg as well.

Like many weeks we go down, we feel like we got more than we gave.  Please continue to pray that we will make an eternal difference in the hearts and minds of our friends downtown.  

Bill for Kingdom Here

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Big Things Happening!

Well, it has been a while since we last updated our blog, so here goes!

We have continued to make our every other week visits to two different downtown Augusta locations. This last visit marked our 18 month anniversary. To say we have learned a lot, seen a lot, heard a lot, experienced a lot would be an understatement. Sadly, it seems almost every visit now, when we ask for updates from “regulars,” that we are told of deaths of folks we have witnessed to in the past. Personally, this gives me even more motivation to develop relationships and continue to share the Good News. The phrase, “we aren’t promised tomorrow,” certainly resonates with us.

Enough melancholy news…we are making a difference! Along with the reality of death and illness, we are also meeting new “friends,” hearing new stories, and almost every week we are blessed through prayer, appreciation, and the kind words “God bless you.” ​

This past visit, we were excited to see a few friends we hadn’t seen in quite a while. Wayne, aka “Goose,” had been in Burke County the last few months, and “Pops” had been helping a disabled friend moving into a new location. Pops usually will pray before we distribute food, and he is a powerful prayer warrior. He always prays for “the men who take their time to minister to us, to bring us food, and encourage us to walk a path of righteousness.” He will also usually pray for our families, which means so much.

Now for some perspective…3 visits ago, we met a young lady and her son at Mercy Ministries. I wasn’t able to talk to them, but most of our contact is with men, so when we see a lady, someone in our group will make an extra effort to bring them anything we can to help. The fact that her 2 year old son was wearing a Thomas the Train t-shirt, the exact shirt my son has, prompted me to ask about her situation. Turns out her boyfriend had kicked them out, burned all of their clothes, and they were on their own. We were able to put together a bag of clothes for each of them, but we haven’t seen them since. Keep that family in your prayers.

Now for a cool story….2 visits ago, we pulled into Mercy and saw a gentleman painting a picture—he had sketched the figures with a pencil and was painting them in when we arrived. His name is Arthur, and his talent was undeniable. The most remarkable thing was his palette…he didn’t have anything more than what even a child would use to paint—he had several colors basically blobbed together in what appeared to be the top of a carry out plastic lid. Amazing. Awesome. Very cool.


As always, we are grateful for you who pray for us and have partnered with us in this journey. We are making a difference…hands and feet,

Graham

Friday, February 17, 2012

Get Involved With Us!

We'd love to have anyone in our community get involved with what we do at Kingdom Here. Every other Wednesday we leave from Warren Baptist Church's parking lot (KFC side) at 6:45am and visit downtown Augusta to minister to the homeless. For first timers- don't worry about bringing anything other than yourself! Our next trip down will be February 22.

If you can't make a trip down with us here are a few things we are always in need of:
- New athletic socks
- New men's underwear
- New or gently used tennis shoes (men's & women's)
- New or used backpacks
- Soap & Shampoo
- Razors
- Toothpaste & Toothbrushes

And of course we are always grateful for your tax-deductible monetary donations. Click on the paypal link to give online. Or, checks can be made payable to "Fireside Ministries" and mailed to PO Box 2525 Augusta, GA 30903. Be sure to put "Kingdom Here" in the memo line of the check.

God is moving in downtown Augusta. We'd love to have you partner with us!

Monday, January 30, 2012

In Memory of Tommy Winters

We received a letter a couple of days ago that I thought would be well worth passing along to our supporters and ministry partners:

"My son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Lynn Winters of Evans, GA, told me your organization 'Kingdom Here' could use some help in the ministry to the homeless.

I am enclosing a check for $100.00 as a memorial gift in memory of my granson, Tommy Winters. He died on December 30, 2005 at the age of 19.

Hope this gift will help you a little bit in your ministry to the homeless.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Winters"


What an incredible way to carry on the memory of Tommy by helping those in need! Kathleen's gift not only honors her grandson's life but will also provide 100 meals for men and women in downtown Augusta who otherwise would quite possible be hungry that day. Here's a big thanks to her.

It's also worth noting that Lynn, Tommy's sweet mother (who Kathleen mentions in her letter) has been one of KH's most committed supporters. Every other Tuesday night, without fail, Lynn drops off crackers, juice, clothes, shoes, hats, & WHATEVER else we might need for our Wednesday morning missions. Lynn doesn't do this for any sort of recognition. She does it because she believes Matthew 6:19-21:

"19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and ruste destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

We are incredibly grateful for people like Kathleen & Lynn. They truly are the hands and feet of Jesus.

So, here's to Tommy!

Be Love!
Jamie for Kingdom Here