Jesus on the Streets (3rd Saturday) - November 18, 2023

Saturday was an amazing day of service on the streets as we celebrated an early Thanksgiving in Brockton with 99 of our friends. It was cold and wet (typical for this year) and although it ended in sunshine we were all quite chilled by the time the day was over. We were joined by the youth group from Grace Presbyterian Church - South Shore, which is always a delight.

As I’ve said previously, the level of desperation on the streets is only growing worse. More people are living outside, more sleeping bags and tents are being requested, and everyone wants coats and boots. (They’re walking the streets in socks and sandles.) The influx of homeless into Brockton this winter is hitting our ministry hard, in terms of resources and in terms of our energy.

More important than our challenges are the prayer requests from the street:

- Robert got emotional as he compared how he had given a friend some money to Jesus’ parable of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44). He was tearful as he asked if it was true that giving all of the little he had was truly a bigger gift than someone giving some out of the large amount they have. I assured him that Jesus’ words were indeed true. Looking forward Robert is pleased that he’s been drinking less and has recovered from pneumonia.

- Tex just wants prayers that his life gets better.

- Anthony is spinning out of control. He has lost a lot of weight as his addictions are taking over. He was shouting about how our ministry is simply providing a band-aid on the road to death and that they’re all going to die on the streets.

- Mr Jackson from Philly was asking for prayer

- Marie requested to share communion

- Randy asked for prayers for his wife Maggie, and for her to be accepted back into the shelter

- Shaggy is asking for prayers for his cat Piggy

- Echo seems troubled, and he asked for prayers

- Star has been homeless for 8 years, since she was 16, and she has no family

- Milton needs prayer as he is recovering from being stabbed in the neck

- Raymond is living in the woods and wants help to be doing God’s will among his homeless community

- Oscar and Patrick were so thankful to get new, warm, dry boots

- Quentin is trying again to get clean and sober, and he needs our prayers

- Ashley, whom we’ve known for almost 13 years, is still struggling with addiction and is purposely putting herself in harm’s way. (She walked right into traffic before we could react but she made it across the street.)

- Kenney will be 67 next week so we sang Happy Birthday.

It was an incredible day, full of heartfelt prayers, and it was such an honor to be serving Jesus on the streets. We hope more people have an opportunity to experience this with us. Thank you to all our supporters for enabling LYNN Ministries to perform this important work.