The kids were doing a lot of “trash talk” in class today. Between all the “trash” I managed to get a few words in about the Old Agreement and the New Agreement.
So, here’s a little… DEATH…”trash talk” from the Old Agreement between God and man.
Yur no good and yur gonna die… and yur Mom (Rom 6:23)
If you don’t do what I say, I’m gonna kill yah… and yo Mom
You a lying, cheating, no good scum of the earth… and yose Mom (James 2:10)
I’m not just gonna kill ya, I gonna kill yo whole family… and your Mom (Rom 5:12)
Yuse so dead, you already dead… and your Mom
Here’s the problem with the “trash talk.” Is not just talk. It is a reality. We are born into this world spiritually dead. The solution to death is Life and Jesus is the only one who can give us what we need most… LIFE.
God made a New Agreement and it goes something like this:
I was returning kids from church on Sunday and went to one apartment where I think about 14 children live. At least that’s how many were there the first time I visited—all of them about waist high. The grandmother looked weary and tired—not surprising with that many little ones running around.
I asked if she was at the park. She lifted her head, looked in my eyes and slowly began to smile. “Yes, I was at the park.”
To someone who lives in very poor conditions and has lots of children to take care of, being at the park meant something.
It meant someone cared enough to bring food. Someone cared enough to do something for the children. Someone cared enough to come to her neighborhood and do something for her. Yes, she was at the park, and when she thinks of the experience it brings a smile to her face.
If you volunteered to help, you did more than…
Deliver and return tables and chairs
Help the kids on the slide
Prepare and serve food
Hide eggs
Set up and clean up
Make brownies
If you volunteered, you brought joy.
If you had to sacrifice part of your day or if it was hard to work it into your schedule, you tell me, was it worth it? ”The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.
The thank you’s are for you. You have made it possible to bring children to church and teach them about Jesus.
Do you have a home where you live or do you stay somewhere?
Living and staying are not the same.
Staying is being moved across the country to stay with your grandfather and his girlfriend because your father murdered your grandmother and your mom doesn’t want you.
Staying is being moved again in 8 months because the 50 year old girlfriend cannot take care of two toddlers and a 6 year old.
While these children were staying in Lubbock, we had the chance to love them and teach them about Jesus. I remember one Sunday morning watching the 6 year old girl singing “Pharaoh Pharaoh.” She had a beautiful smile on her face and could sing all the words and do all the motions.
I was sad to hear that they now have to stay somewhere else, “with a cousin or someone,” 800 miles east of Lubbock.
And, so does yours. He is alive and wants everyone to know Him…even the weary, worn and the weak.
Hot Dogs, Puppet Show and Egg Hunt
On Saturday, we went to a park in a poor neighborhood and shared the Good News that Jesus is alive. Many children and adults were there. We served 240 hot dogs. The children really seemed to like the puppet show as you can see in the video. We will be following up with many parents that expressed a desire for us to give their children a ride to church on Sunday mornings.
It was fun. There was no mistaking why we were there. You can read it on the t-shirt. When I told parents we wanted to bring their children to church, feed them breakfast and teach them about Jesus, they were very receptive. There were many conversations about where people were in their lives and how they need God. One 18 year old young man,who had been baptized in jail, asked if I could help him learn more about God.
Many people were touched, including the volunteers. My Redeemer lives… and getting to tell others about Him is really great!
Thank you for your prayer and support. This could not happen without your help.
On Sunday, a 9th grade boy brought up the word saved. He said he wasn’t saved. He has been coming to the class almost every Sunday since we started giving him a ride several months ago. Before coming with us, he had only been to church a few times. He didn’t know much about the Bible or about Jesus.
I asked him some questions to make sure he understood what we had been talking about.
Saved from what? Death.
What causes you to be dead? Sin.
How can you be saved? Believe.
Believe what? Jesus died for my sins.
How many sins? All.
If you are spiritually dead, how can you be made alive? His spirit comes to live in me.
Many times in previous classes some of the boys have said they want to believe, or they want to go to heaven, or they want Jesus in their life. I leave it at that. I never try to make them say a prayer or persuade them to do something before they are ready.
Today is the Day of Salvation
But today, I said if you really want to be saved, it can happen. You don’t have to wait. It can happen now. And on this day, three boys believed and received new life in Christ.
Just to check them out, I asked, “Where is Jesus right now?” One boy pointed to his chest and said… “Right Here.”
I was expecting the usual…nothing, played, went to my friends, etc.
I was a little surprised, but not shocked, at one boys answer.
“I got down on the ground.”
I asked “What do you mean you got down on the ground?” He said “the police.” I said “What do you mean the police?” He then explained how the police came and told him and a few others to get down on the ground.
This boy is 12.
How old were you the first time the police told you to get down on the ground?
I am not shocked because I know the neighborhood he lives in. Fortunately, he was not the one causing the problems and the police let him go.
Many children live in these neighborhoods where it is common for police to be called out. This is how they grow up. Poverty, drugs, crime, police and jail are a constant part of their lives. Many even have a family member or a friend who is in jail.
What should we do?
Ignore the situation and let the police take care of it?
Let the government handle it?
No. The answer is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our job is to go. To go find these children and tell them about the good news of Jesus.
Thank you for your prayer and support. There are many children but not many helpers. If you want to get involved, please let me know. We can use your help.
At least that’s what one 7th grader thought. He had never heard of Jesus feeding the 5000 in John 6:1-13.
At first the boy was puzzled, then he was curious as he learned more about the story.
2 Fish, 5 Loaves, 5000 People
Here are the questions he asked me.
How did he do that?
He didn’t really feed that many people did he?
How did he make more food?
Did this really happen?
Did everybody get something to eat?
How could there be 12 baskets of food left over?
Finally, after we discussed the story, this boy was… Amazed!
It is hard for me to believe there are people in Lubbock who have never heard this story. There are church buildings everywhere but not many children going to them.
It is important for us to keep reaching out. Reaching out to children who have never been to church. Reaching out to children who do not know Jesus.
Thank you for your prayer and support as we continue to bring children to church so they can learn about Jesus.
We have a great opportunity to reach out to children and parents who need Jesus. On the Saturday before Easter, we will go to a park in another poor Lubbock neighborhood to feed, love, and share the good news of Jesus.
We need Your Help!
There are lots of children in this neighborhood so we will pass out flyers over the next few weeks to let the neighborhood know about the upcoming Big Cookout and Egg Hunt.
Big Slide, Big Cookout, Big Egg Hunt – In the Park
When: April 3rd 11:00 – 2:00 the Saturday before Easter
Thank you for praying as six of us went out on Saturday afternoon to visit one of the poorest neighborhoods in Lubbock.
First, let me make it clear. Visiting did not mean we drove through the neighborhood and saw how things looked from the window at 30 mph. Visiting meant parking the van, walking up to doors and knocking.
“Who is it?”
Imagine standing in front of a door in an obscure, run-down, half-vacated neighborhood with broken windows, boards over some but not all. Abandoned cars with broken windows… trash everywhere. You knock on the door of what appears to be a place that someone might possibly live, and you hear a yell from inside…. “Who is it?”
Well, we had an answer. An answer that got the door opened. Not that we had a great plan, it just seemed like the right thing to say. We would yell back, “It’s the Church.” So, the door would open and we would visit.
Were we told to leave? Were we threatened? Did someone pull a gun on us? No. At least not that we were aware of.
So, what did happen?
Thankfully,in this neighborhood, the word “church” is not a negative word. We told people who we were and why we were there. Those with children were especially glad that we came by. People are hurting and in desperate need to hear the good news about God’s love and grace that can be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some rejected us but most opened the door and talked. They were glad we cared.
Thank you for your prayer and support. I believe God is opening doors to share the good news of Jesus Christ with children and families in this neighborhood.
We have been working with children and families at the apartments down the street from our house for about 2 years. There are over 40 children and their families we have regular contact with. About 20 children from K through 9th grade come each Sunday morning. We have also been able to minister to many families because of your generosity.
As we continue to work with these children and families, we also believe it is time to start reaching out to another area of town where children live in the worst conditions.
3 Comments about the Worst Place
“I have shown you the hood but this is the ‘bad’ hood”
“I wouldn’t go there at night, you’ll get your wheels stolen”
“I used to live there, it’s really bad over there”
I have visited with many people and asked them where are the worst places in Lubbock where children live. The same apartment complex keeps coming up. A friend gave Tim and me a tour. We saw places where children live in poor and run-down apartments. Then he said, “do you really want to see the worst?”
It was amazing!
As we drove by this apartment complex, there were children out playing.
So, What’s the Plan?
We trust God. He is leading and guiding us and He will provide. As long as there is an open door, we plan to walk through it.
We go. If there are children in these apartments and they are surrounded by drugs and crime – they need help. Do you think these children are going to come find us? I don’t think so. We have volunteers and people and resources to help these children. If we don’t have enough, God will provide. Just as the disciples gave away the fish and bread, Jesus provided more to give away.
We knock on doors. We have seen God give us opportunities to plant seeds and meet needs as we have knocked on doors and met children and families. As long as this works, we will keep doing it.
We invite children to come to church. Many parents or guardians are willing to let their children go to church if we come and give them a ride.
What can you do?
Please pray. This is a new experience for us and I’m not sure all that is ahead. Pray that God will open doors so we can meet children and families and tell them the good news of Jesus Christ.
We go to the worst neighborhoods in Lubbock, bring the children to church, and feed them a nutritious meal and teach them about Jesus. Find out more About Us.
