Brockton - January 25, 2026

What a day of service on the streets of Brockton! Blizzard conditions, 10 deg F, snow accumulating from 0 up to 8 inches, and only 4 of us serving (we asked 2 team members to stay home because we felt the commute was simply too risky). In addition, ICE has been more active in Brockton and tensions are high due to recent ICE shootings in Minneapolis. I am a US citizen. My family came over on the Mayflower (1620) and the Anne (1623) so I "should" have nothing to fear from ICE and CBP, right? However, I was nervous today, wondering how I would respond in the heat of the moment if ICE invaded our little circle of love. Jesus' actions clearly demonstrate that citizenship doesn't matter to a Christian. You just serve the need. However, we have friends living on the streets that are US citizens who have been picked up, taken away, questioned and (fortunately) later released. This feels more like a story from 1939 Germany than 2026 America. As a result of all this, we worry that our acts of service will be a magnet for ICE. But today, thank God, we only had snow, no ICE. Let's get to the good stuff.

In this weather we thought it might be a quiet day on the streets, but we also knew that anyone we met would be truly in need, and it was so. We served 40 meals, and even more hot drinks. We saw many of our faithful friends today. Sheila was waiting for us at the first stop with a half inch of snow on her shoulders. So far she hasn't accepted prayer, but she smiles when we tell her Jesus loves her and she now welcomes hugs. Bruins John said, "I read your Facebook post last week, I didn't know you called me Bruins John" and then he smiled and laughed. What other nickname would we have for the Bruins biggest fan? (Hey Boston Bruins, if you see this we've got a guy in Brockton that would love to see a live game!) We served a huge crew of people that were sheltering under a bridge, providing tarps, sleeping bags, Empowerment Plan coats, hats, gloves, hand warmers, etc. One woman is sleeping under a truck. And finally we tried to get to a location where tents are often found but the road was closed so we called it a day (or so we thought) and went to wrap up at Dunkins...where we met three people who live in the woods. We bought them meals and then gave them warm, dry clothes as well as meals we had prepared. We prayed with them and promised to visit next week. You guys, our supporters make all this possible.

Today we had volunteers from Church of Emmanuel and South Shore Community Church

Here are the prayer requests:

- Wilfredo said thank you for coming out in the bad weather.

- Freddy (not that Freddy) is a Brockton native but hopes to get out of this city

- Manny accepted a hat and gloves and said "thank you". (For the past 15 years we thought he was mute.)

- Rashawn accpted a warm jacket. (That's the one you gave me Michael.)

- Freddy (yes that Freddy) was just happy to see us.

- Donna H has a broken arm and doesn't know how it happened. She thinks she slipped on ice but others say she was mugged.

- Mary (in the wheelchair, not with a walker) said this is the only meal she gets on Sundays.

- Russell was so happy to get a tarp and insulated coveralls. He said he knew he would see us and thanked us for being dependable.

- Jose (Pep) asked for prayers of protection.

- Derek asked for prayers for he and his girlfriend Kimberly.

- And here is the list of people that accepted "delayed" prayer: Sheila, Guillermo, Freddy (that Freddy), Marie, Linda, James (wheelchair), Becca, (our buddy) Sal, Tara, Mary (with a walker), RiRi, a whole bunch of people under a bridge, Sarah, Curtis, and Timmy

Thank you! We know that we could not serve these friends without your help. Your contributions provide the food and clothes we distribute. Your prayers fill our friends' hearts with a sense if hope, for which they do not understand the source. (It’s God.) You are LYNN Ministries. Thank you!