Street Ministry...God's highest priority for His followers: (Matthew 25; Isaiah 58; Luke 14; James 2)
"Feed the Hungry", "Clothe the Naked", "Shelter the Homeless"!
New! ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY August 2008 http://picasaweb.google.com/wemayhope/LaymanLessons_Saturday_72608_PartA?authkey=6IyLaO6wvp8
Miracle Meals" street ministry meals are now prepared and served by Christians from every denomination, but also by former homeless men rescued from the street...the very same “street people”, many former addicts, who came for a free meal and left with changed lives, the direct result of ordinary Laymen being obedient! Thank you for your compassion and cooperation! You make it work!
In Middle Tennessee, only 750 homeless total are sheltered on any ONE NIGHT by local shelters and churches! That leaves 3,500 in the cold.
Layman Lessons' Rescue Mission facilities and ministry operations has served the homeless population in the traditional American way of thinking about "Street Ministry", but also in a very unique way through our original "Mobile Street Ministry" in Middle Tennessee. Our Saturday morning Mobile Street Ministry is the core of Layman Lessons. By setting up a mobile kitchen and complete sound stage in open parking lots close to the hidden homeless areas, playing loudly and proudly Christian Praise and Worship Music from the most popular artists and musicians, which draws out the homeless from their hiding places, setting up folding tables and chairs for our honored homeless guests to sit and rest physically and spiritually from 8:30 a.m. to Noon, serving hot coffee and pastry breakfasts, then delivering delicious hot banquet meals and “a cup of cold water in Jesus name”, we leave them with a full sack lunch "to go", that includes a personal testimony and encouraging scripture from the formerly homeless men now in our Residential Discipleship Program, who made their lunch, we draw hundreds every week, serving over 30,000 meals annually. While they enjoy the fellowship of our Christian volunteers from local area Churches and multiple states across America. Our homeless guests of honor are treated to whatever clothing is being distributed that day from our Mobile Clothing Store so they can shop on the bus in their living area, free cell phone calls to their families anywhere in the continental USA, specially prepared song books to sing along with the Praise and Worship CDs being played on stage between meals. There is a "Church Service" just before serving the banquet lunch meal, complete with guest singers, like Clyde Beavers, former Country Artist with a Billboard #1 hit, who sings every week, preaching, testimonies from former homeless addicts that were rescued from the streets that are blooming in Christ through the Layman Lessons Discipleship Training Programs, and always an "Altar Call" to do things God's way instead of our own way, complete with prayer for all who respond and ask for it, and opportunity for help for all who really want help in Christ...all of these acts of unconditional love by Layman Lessons volunteers earn a reputation with street credibility over time. Each week seeds are planted, until God in His timing produces a quality harvest of people turning away from their lifestyle and seeking God's way for their life. By Feeding the Hungry, Clothing the Naked, Sheltering the Homeless...when we do that right, without condemnation, we are then blessed with the opportunity to "Make Disciples" of those who choose to submit to doing things God's way. By meeting their physical needs unconditionally, we earn opportunity to meet their spiritual needs as well. Jesus requires and commands all Christians to Feed, Clothe, Shelter, whether Layman, Pastor, Deacon, Bishop, Elder or welder...all are required to do it. Jesus gives no exemptions. Jesus did not mention "laziness, alcoholics, or insanity" as excuses for ministers...He said DO IT. Those of us involved found Christ has an amazing blessing for those who serve!
Our volunteers are from an incredibly broad base of Christian beliefs, races and creeds. These volunteers birthed our mobile street ministry in all types of inclement weather, snow and bitter cold included. Layman Lessons has a team of volunteers certified by the State of Tennessee Department of Health in Food Handling service to solicit food donations from local grocers and restaurants, all to distribute to the needy. Layman Lessons volunteers and supporters recognize the blessings they deliver cannot compare to the blessings they receive from obeying and taking care of Jesus' top priorities.
While the Top 3 Ministry Priorities are always Feeding, Clothing, and Sheltering, these are "unconditional" programs because Jesus made them unconditional. Jesus did not say "Feed, Clothe, Shelter the Sober and Sensible...no conditions. The 4th Ministry Priority of "Making Disciples" does have Biblical conditions...only professing Christians enter our Residential Discipleship Training Programs. All who ask for spiritual help are Triaged according to their Statements of Faith or Belief. Layman Lessons Programs are completely Interdenominational, even Non-Denominational, but all Layman Lessons Programs require "Professing Christians" to demonstrate Christ in their daily lives. It all starts and builds from Street Ministry.
Feed, Clothe, Shelter...the basic "Layman Lessons" from Isaiah 58, Matthew 25, Luke 14, and the book of James. Blessings are guaranteed for those who "get it".
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