Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, First let me wish each of you and your families a most wonderful, blessed and Spirit filled Christmas Season as we remember the greatest gift we have ever received our loving Savior Jesus and His birth as foretold in the Old Testament in Micah. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem when Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth about 70 miles away and God used the evil Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus to get them to Bethlehem as the prophet Micah promised about 500 years earlier. God uses even those who are against Him to achieve His purpose and tonight we experienced His presence. We had a lady who is currently homeless with no place to go who was staying at the N Charleston bus terminal last night and she was allowed to spend the night in a motel with another person who was also in the bus station but during the night they were visited by the North Charleston police and arrested. She was handcuffed and she developed an asthma attack and transported to the ER in downtown Charleston and when she arrived she was released as she was not involved in any wrongdoing. She was admitted to the hospital for the night and today was discharged and sent by cab to the homeless shelter 180 Place just up the street from where we serve. She was told by the shelter that they had no room for her and that she would have to come back on Friday and see if they could get her in but no promises. She came to us this evening wrapped in a blanket and soaking wet asking for help! In the past we could have sent her to HOPE Assembly on King Street where they did take in those in need but this place of worship has closed in the last several weeks and we do not have to the best of our knowledge any place to refer these folks to for assistance with emergency shelter. She was alone with no place to go! Several of us this evening after discussing the situation made the decision to give her bus fare and enough money to allow her to stay in a motel for two nights until she can reconnect with the 180 Place Shelter. We need to keep her in our prayers and we also need to advocate for a better safety net shelter system for the hundreds of unsheltered homeless in our city. The need is great and the resources are very limited. I had just shared a brief devotion this evening using Darius Ruckers new Christmas song: What God Wants For Christmas (link) youtube/watch?v=eqlH19dhI9Q which is great food for thought and I would ask that if you are not familiar with it that you check it out and ask ourselves the question. God was with us this evening in the rain and He is with us each time we serve and share His Word, prayer, food and whatever assistance we can provide. This lady was in tears as were many of us we let her go catch the bus and our Lord does have a purpose for each of us as part of what He is doing in our city. Have a wonderful, safe, blessed and Spirit filled Christmas Season and may our loving Lord, friend and Savior Jesus give each of you His peace! Your brother in Christ Wayne
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 16:25:00 +0000