Flood Love: a closer look at a local ministry
Here’s a look at what’s happening with our ministry:
I have a brother. His name is Robert. Robert is in his fifties (though you would never know) and sleeps on the sidewalk of G Street in downtown San Diego. Ok, so Robert isn’t my actual brother. But he might as well be. Robert is the type of person I usually walk away feeling that he ministered to me, when the intention was the opposite. Robert, like most people living on the streets, has a story that could fill a best-selling book. I encourage you to meet Robert and hear it one day. But for now, I want to fill you in on a recent chapter in the powerful story God has written for him.
I met Robert well over a year ago, and when I see him we talk. About life, our stories, our problems, about God and the Word. For me, I always enjoy talking with someone on the streets who already has God’s hope. It’s actually a relief and a rest from the pressures we put on ourselves for ministry. Then one day, we (Flood Love) roll up to Robert and his neighbors, and he just looks like a wreck. So naturally I want to know what’s going on. Well, Robert has been really struggling recently with the current state of his life. He turned to drinking, but realized that wasn’t the right way to call out his pain. He needs support. He needs family. So Robert caught us up, tears in his eyes and a shakiness in his voice that tugs at your heart and makes you want to cry out to God with him. So we did. We prayed. And we prayed. And we laid hands on him. And we embraced him to remind him that he is not alone. He is not forgotten. He is loved. And after an hour, a new look came upon his face- that of hope. Of joy. Of peace. God had sent Robert family in his time of need. And we realized in that moment that Flood Love isn’t just about passing out snacks, or even about reading scripture to homeless people. It’s about relationships. It’s about community. It’s about Love. It’s about us being like Christ as much as it’s about us telling people about Christ. Flood Love is a very personal ministry. People like Robert who live on the streets aren’t homeless. No, they’re still people. And that means they deserve our love just the same as your roommate, or your sister, or the person sitting next you to at Flood on Sundays.
Prayer is the most powerful tool we have:
-Please pray for Robert to grow his faith and be strengthened. That he would receive peace in his position and not give up the fight both inside and out.
-Please pray that Robert and everyone else living on the streets would be lifted into better circumstances, that their physical needs would be met, whatever they may be.
-Please pray for us in Flood Love to continue to have our hearts opened to people living on the streets. Pray that our group would flourish both in numbers and impact. Pray that God will continue to lead this group and produce encouraging and uplifting stories such as this
Flood Love meets Monday nights at 6:45pm, (departing at 7:00pm) on 15th St, between F & G in front of Smart & Final (Map).
For more information, email FloodLove@DIVEintoFLOOD.com