I have been involved with Kingdom Here Ministries for a couple of months now. When I first began going I was not sure what to expect. Now, it is something I look forward to each time we visit our friends downtown. To be able to listen to men and women, who are homeless and in need, thank the Lord for watching over them and providing for them is the most amazing thing in the world. How many times a day do I complain about my car not being as nice as I wish, my pantry not having the snacks I want, or my house being too much to keep up? These are all important things in our lives, but when they take place of the Lord, we have allowed them to consume us and we forget the people who live in our city who would give anything to have a car, a pantry, or a house.
On one of our last trips at the Salvation Army there was a bird eating grass. This is nothing uncommon or out of the ordinary but on this occasion I was reminded of Matthew 6:25-34. In vs. 25 Jesus tells his followers not to worry about what they are going to wear, eat or drink, that life is more important than these things. He continues in vs. 26 to say “26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
So often we forget the promise God made to us, that He is going to watch over us and make sure we have what we need... not what we want. Just like the men and women we are reaching through Kingdom Here have what they need. Next time you see a bird, think about the Lord and be thankful for what you have and know you are going to be taken care of…just like the birds of the air.
Stephen for KH
Friday, June 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
60 Visits...And Counting!
Hard to believe we have made around 60 visits to witness to Augusta’s homeless community. We have had some life-changing encounters, and have learned a lot along the way. This past visit was no different…as we were wrapping up at Mercy Ministries, a young man came to talk with us. The events of his life had a significant impact on the group—murders, abuse, prison, etc…all things that most of us only see on the news. His account of just a few of these experiences had us almost in a state of shock--
Our bi-weekly visits give us a glimpse into the lives of strangers--from the depths of life’s challenges, to the success stories and victories that are shared with us…Yes, there are great stories and great things happening when people are given a chance to get their lives back on track. One gentleman has been so excited the last few trips to tell us he is a few weeks away from graduating the Salvation Army program, and already has a full time job line up. Others are actively pursuing work on a daily basis. Others share their appreciation for both the physical items we bring, as well as the devotions we share with the groups. Others tell us about how what we are doing has given them some hope and a different outlook on their lives.
We have had the opportunity to speak to a few different churches—Warren Baptist and Trinity on the Hill—to share our story and what we are doing. Our goal is to continue to do this and get small groups, businesses, and individuals to support our ministry. Things like sponsoring a breakfast, buying a package of socks or soap can go a long way in providing for our neighbors. We consistenly bring a message of Good News, and our goal is to continue and grow our ministry.
There are numerous ways to get involved and be a part of something that has an eternal impact on someone. Is there anything more important than that? We would love to have your help, ideas, time, financial assistance, etc….
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…
Graham for Kingdom Here
Friday, January 18, 2013
Hope
Hey friends!
Well, we are well into another cold winter in Augusta (with this past week's temp getting into the high 70's!). We continue to make good effort in reaching and ministering to the homeless in downtown Augusta. God has been good and continues to bless us with great donors, donations & provision. We'd like to send a special thanks to Keith & Lexi Larson who spent a day making 60 sack lunches. I can't adequately explain the gratitude I could see on these people's faces when we handed out a bag full of food. Many of these men and women only see 1 meal a day. Thanks, Keith & Lexi, for being the hands & feet of Jesus!
Quick story about a man we met this past trip...Chester Hope. How very fitting that Warren Baptist, the church many of our group members attend, began a yearlong study on HOPE this past Sunday. This man, homeless & broke, exuded his last name. He told us stories about the opportunity he recently had to visit the land he grew up on in Burke County. He was able to do some maintenance & yard work on the property and you could tell it was something that he felt good about doing. When we asked a little more about his situation & why he was hanging around Mercy Ministries he said the he just felt a calling to help minister to some of the other men and women in the downtown area who were down on their luck. Basically, in his own words, God had called him to spread HOPE to the hopeless. It was an encouraging conversation and we committed to pray for each other in the upcoming weeks. So, please be in prayer for Chester, specifically that he would have God-sized encounters with those seeking Jesus & that he would be encouraged in his ministry.
Again, so very grateful for your support and partnership. We'd love to have anyone interested make a trip downtown with us. We go every other Wednesday (specifically for the next few months: 1/23, 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17).
Jamie for Kingdom Here
Well, we are well into another cold winter in Augusta (with this past week's temp getting into the high 70's!). We continue to make good effort in reaching and ministering to the homeless in downtown Augusta. God has been good and continues to bless us with great donors, donations & provision. We'd like to send a special thanks to Keith & Lexi Larson who spent a day making 60 sack lunches. I can't adequately explain the gratitude I could see on these people's faces when we handed out a bag full of food. Many of these men and women only see 1 meal a day. Thanks, Keith & Lexi, for being the hands & feet of Jesus!
Quick story about a man we met this past trip...Chester Hope. How very fitting that Warren Baptist, the church many of our group members attend, began a yearlong study on HOPE this past Sunday. This man, homeless & broke, exuded his last name. He told us stories about the opportunity he recently had to visit the land he grew up on in Burke County. He was able to do some maintenance & yard work on the property and you could tell it was something that he felt good about doing. When we asked a little more about his situation & why he was hanging around Mercy Ministries he said the he just felt a calling to help minister to some of the other men and women in the downtown area who were down on their luck. Basically, in his own words, God had called him to spread HOPE to the hopeless. It was an encouraging conversation and we committed to pray for each other in the upcoming weeks. So, please be in prayer for Chester, specifically that he would have God-sized encounters with those seeking Jesus & that he would be encouraged in his ministry.
Again, so very grateful for your support and partnership. We'd love to have anyone interested make a trip downtown with us. We go every other Wednesday (specifically for the next few months: 1/23, 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17).
So, in closing:
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
Be Love!
Jamie for Kingdom Here
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
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
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
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!
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!
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