March 6, 2012 - Amazing Day!

Today is what it is all about.  I loaded up the truck with a couple of recliners, a dining room table and chairs and headed downtown.  My first stop was a meeting with Pete, Roger and a real estate agent of a large facility at a location that is perfectly located in the heart of downtown St. Paul about 5 blocks from where we currently serve the homeless. 

The vision for this facility is simple.  We will stage every mission outreach from here as we continue to recognize and attempt to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of this community.  Here we would serve the entire community with a special emphasis on the homeless.  This facility has enough space to serve the needs of the poor and least amongst us well.  It has over 16,000 square feet of office space that includes roughly 35 offices (fully furnished with custom made desks), two large conference rooms and a large training room.  I can see us filling those offices with ministry teams that are created to address the various needs of the community as well as partnering with other ministries.  It has a beautiful entry that leads to a "community services" area complete with cubicles that would suit our needs well as we get to know the needs of those who come for help.  This facility has a separate (stand-alone) newer, large two story "warehouse" that could easily be converted to support our food ministry.  We could build a commercial kitchen and add walk-in coolers and freezers on the main floor and store all of our non-perishables on the second floor.  Plus - it has an attached two story warehouse that used to be a firehouse that could serve our clothing ministry.  I can see adding commercial washing machines and dryers on the main level and receiving all donations through the fire-house garage door and then setting up the warehouse on the second level as a clothing rack.  People could come in and shop around and take what they need.  The enclosed courtyard has lean-to style roofs that would store the various outreach trailers.  Well, of course I am simply imagining the possibilities.  I am asking the Lord for confirmation and funding as the entire facility purchase price is estimated at $2 million. 

After that meeting, Pete and I headed over to pick up a donated microwave from Claudia (Thanks Claudia!) for a couple that was recently homeless.  From there we went over to Tim Ireland's new apartment to deliver to him the recliners and dining room table and chairs.  Tim is a vet who was injured in Iraq and came home to find himself homeless.  6 months ago, we met him and prayed with him and he has been someone we have committed to as he has to us.  Great guy.

Pete and I left Tim's and headed to DDC to pick up Gerald and Rebecca.  They too were homeless and just within the last couple of weeks were able to get into an apartment - PTL!  On Sunday during outreach we spent some time with them and they shared the news that Rebecca was pregnant and going on Monday to find out the sex of the baby.  They were so excited about that.  They told us of their needs of a microwave, toaster, and kitchen table.  We said we would see what we could do to get that for them and get it to them Tuesday (today).  When we got there they told us the bad news.  While the doctor was doing the ultra sound they saw something abnormal.  Ultimately the doctors told them that their baby had a large tumor in the brain and fluid in the abdomen.  To see their joy on Sunday turn to despair today has just broke me.  Why God, do you show us these things?  We spent time praying for them and with them and then headed over to their new apartment.  When we got there - No electricity!  I could sense the despair they are feeling and ask that if you are reading this that you please pray for them by name and come into agreement with me that God heal their baby in the womb for His glory and that they are able to get their electricity turned back on. 

On the way home, the Lord put it on my heart to call Greg (homeless for years) and check in with him.  He was so glad to hear from me.  Greg is a man who is a shepherd to the homeless at DDC.  He committed to our discipleship program months ago and is looking forward to moving into his own place.  He is an electrician by trade but has struggled with a disability that has kept him from being able to work.  He is eligible for SSI and is close to receiving it.  We have talked to Scott Rajavouri, a friend of mine as well as a supporter of this ministry who works for a real estate investor that has multiple properties that the investor has made available to us at cost.  We are going to look at one on Thursday for Greg and either Mike or Jamie.  We are praying that this works out for all parties involved.  I am asking that you come into agreement with that prayer request. 

Well, I am going home to pick up my kids as we are heading over to John and Shari Ochs tonight for the monthly gathering with the entire BTM team.  Looking forward to just spending time with an amazing group of people. 

Thanks for reading.  God bless.