Brockton - December 29, 2024

We closed out the year of 2024 by serving 88 of our friends a hot meal and hot drinks on the streets of Brockton. The weather was mild but misty and foggy. The mood was generally good but people had a lot of concern about their future and resolutions for 2025. Our friends are very aware of political issues at both the national and local level, and the upcoming Brockton vote to enact a law criminalizing homelessness (over the Mayor’s previous veto). As you might imagine, there are a lot of fears on the streets of Brockton.

Our service team came from Church of Emmanuel and South Shore Community Church. We are very thankful to Empowerment Plan and New England Patriots Foundation for Empowerment Coats to keep those sleeping outside warm both day and night.

There are many prayer requests from today:

- Don is praying for his mother and girlfriend, both of whom have cancer

- Kevin can’t seem to shake his cold and is praying for healing

- Kathy is praying for housing

- Junior is praying for peace

- Rebecca is praying for the homeless

- Wilfredo is thankful for coming to know Jesus and for joy for him and for his family and friends for the new year.

- Francisco insists that his hernia surgery will occur on January 22 and that it’s for real this time.

- Alejandro is praying for safety in 2025, for a joy filled New Year’s celebration, to get his car running, and to get back to work

- Haja is praying that she have a safe remainder of this year.

- Two guys from Haiti allowed me to pray the Lord’s Prayer to them in Haitian (my ability to speak Haitian leaves much to be desired but they humored me)

- Dennis asked for prayers for his finances and for peace on the streets.

- Patrick and Susan are both living at the shelter but complain of theft and fighting

- Roseline is Haitian and looking for a job

- Derek and Kimberly (and Chase the dog) are praying for safety, and hoping for rental assistance

- (Polish) Michael was sitting by the side of the road waiting for his girlfriend. We didn’t’t get to serve him nut it was nice to know es OK. (We haven’t seen him in months.)

- Terrel said he’s doing OK but worries that could quickly change.

- Russell claims to be “fine” but his leg was set on fire while he was sleeping. To stay warm people will ignite hand sanitizer poured into a can (like Sterno). Unfortunately, the can in his lap caught his pants on fire and he has 2nd degree burns.

- Tia is praying for health and to be a better mother and grandmother

- Dawn was very grateful for receiving an Empowerment Coat and said that her daughter Autumn is leaving for Florida to pursue an opportunity to live and work there.

- Jim and Jen are praying for well-being and to experience God’s and love and forgiveness

- Mary has two broken ribs that she is praying will heal

- Kerry is praying for housing

- Dwayne is praying for health and recovery from surgery

- Carlos is praying for his family

- Kiara is praying to overcome her addiction and medical recovery

We thank you for your support throughout this year and we look forward to continuing our efforts to highlight the plight of the homeless and our efforts to improve their lives (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). We wish you all a Happy New Year!