Last Monday at Paige's funeral was sobering. Little Ella kissing her mommy goodbye was heart-wrenching but the proverbial Dragon [elephant] in the room were the numerous adolescents enslaved by heroin. To my left sat Mackenzie – our third recent heroin-related funeral. To my right sat Tyler who exclaimed 'You're the pizza guy!' I was confused. 'Remember when Paige and I were homeless – you washed our clothes and let us shower. You bought pizza while we talked about Jesus.' Tyler sobbed 'I have been clean fourteen months. That was the moment.'
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome but is preempted to share about Paige. [05/24/17] I encountered Paige, a young, intoxicated, former heroin addict. I had to intervene to protect her from verbal assault by another homeless man. Paige is a Believer but extremely, extremely lost. Her daughter, Ella-Rose, will be three years old this Monday but presents are a pipe dream.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I reunited with two homeless friends named Duane and Dan. I shared Truth and Love but The Parable of the Sower pierced my heart. Beloved, we plant and water seeds but God nurtures them. Whatever the question, Jesus Christ is our answer.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! During our worship and prayer, I observed Baptism of the Holy Spirit. While Spirit Break Out blared, I heard Speaking in Tongues progressively eclipse the music. As the song waned, I suddenly discerned those frenetic words emanated from within me. I felt what seemed to be lightning bolts stream from my fingertips; I felt supernaturally endowed yet surreal.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I initially met Thomas Webster almost three years ago when a young heroin addict named Mackenzie surrendered her life to Christ at MOA. Our trio bonded at MN Adult & Teen Challenge during Family Visitation. Five weeks ago, we attended Tom's funeral. The song Wish You Were Here [Pink Floyd] played in eulogy has haunted me since.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I encountered a homeless Native American [Ojibwe and Lakota] gentleman named Daniel. He refused prayer but shared about 'The Great Spirit' [Wakan Tanka]. I shared that my in-laws previously practiced traditional Hmong religion. My wife was born unto Animism but her family heard about Jesus Christ and were saved.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I planned to show my Baptismal Testimony from August 2004 during our worship and prayer but deleted it due to fear. A young BGU student privately shared her fears with me at 6:20pm. Lk 12:4-5 convicted my heart. Moments before we began, I retrieved said video. Although I have spoken my personal testimony innumerable times, I sobbed as I watched the pain and abject horror in my eyes. I share it with you because I love you. But Jesus Christ loves you perfectly.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I have known an elderly homeless woman named Ida several years. She has shared painful memories fraught with generational dysfunction, drug addiction and abandonment. Despite her fractured family, Ida declared 'Every day is Thanksgiving because I have Jesus Christ.'
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! During our worship and prayer at the clinic we watched A Gift of a Bible from Penn Jillette, a devout atheist magician/comedian. He clearly encountered the Holy Spirit when presented with a Gideon New Testament in 2010. This devout atheist shared 'How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?'
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! During our worship and prayer at the clinic I literally felt the Holy Spirit's Presence course from my fingertips. At the MOA Transit Center, I encountered a homeless, platonic couple named Megan and Justin. Justin wanted prayer to be reunited with 'the two ladies that I love' – April and her daughter Morgan. Justin shared 'I left after April's older daughter Jasmine bashed my head with a baseball bat. I have my rules. I won't forgive Jasmine like I won't forgive my father.'
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! During our worship at the clinic we sang 'There is power in the name of Jesus. To break every chain. To break every chain. To break every chain.' [Break Every Chain by Will Reagan & United Pursuit] At the MOA Transit Center, I found a homeless woman named Diana who has declined my invitation to Church several times. Although previously quite reticent, Diana shared her struggles with bipolar disorder then vomited out poignant memories about her three daughters Cheryl, Lisa and Nancy.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! Beloved, God speaks to us all. We choose whether to listen and obey. Spiritual Pearl – God draws us toward Divine Encounters. We better hear God's voice as we practice Spirit-led Evangelism and become more available to interruption by the Holy Spirit. We parked more remotely to preclude interruption by MOA security guards. After corporate prayer, we descended upon the MOA inner sanctum. I prayed to be led by the Holy Spirit as we approached but God directed me to the darkness outside the camp. Prov 16:9 pierced my heart.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! We lived out 'The Parable of the Lost Sheep' as we departed MOA to hold Church on a Train [SBCOAT]. I encountered a young woman from Sierra Leone named Nanah. She was born Muslim but converted to Mormonism as an adolescent. Out of the frying pan 'into the lake of fire.' I shared Truth and Love to refute said non-Christian cult. Nanah asked to join my family at Church to continue our conversation. Please pray.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! We corporately prayed at the clinic to be 'filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit' to 'love one another'. I encountered a homeless Believer named Rachel who desperately needed prayer. As we squatted upon the floor, another woman named Latosha approached. 'Are you praying? I can see Jesus amongst you.' As our triad prayed, Andre approached. 'Are you guys praying? I can see Jesus amongst you.' [Verbatim]
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I encountered a transgendered youth named Crystianna. I shared Truth and Love, hypersensitive to its precarious balance. I prayed to be led by the Holy Spirit then clearly heard 'build relationship'. We prayed then I shared the Father's Love Letter to preface our conversations about Identity. 'While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Please pray.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I was reunited with my friend Zach, a homeless, alcoholic atheist who feels unworthy to be loved. He was raised Catholic but rejected religion due to its hypocrisy. Me too. Zach wears dark sunglasses to mask the tears. As we spoke about addiction and Jesus Christ, Zach diverted our conversation to another addict named Bill 'who really has a problem'.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! We corporately prayed to plant and water seeds to be nurtured by God. Upon arrival at MOA, I specifically prayed to encounter 'hard soil'. God answers our prayers. I opened my eyes to find Jerome, a homeless gentleman whose 'heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.' [Mt 13:15]
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! I encountered three millennials who declined prayer. Reed was adorned with her cultural jewelry to include a Native American earring. By their words, these youth equated Jesus Christ with institutional religion. I shared Truth and Love to contrast personal relationship with Jesus from dead ritual.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! Upon arrival at MOA, I prayed to be led to my Divine Encounter but my Spirit was suddenly grieved. I opened my eyes as a distraught woman shuffled past. I cried out 'My name is Jason. I am here to share Jesus Christ. Can I pray with you?' She shouted 'What do you want with us?' Mk 5:6-9 pierced my heart.
Read MoreLast Wednesday at MOA was awesome! As I entered the MOA Transit Center, the Holy Spirit stopped me cold. 'Hi. My name is Jason and I am with a local Ministry here to pray with people. What can I pray with you about? 'Alia was instantly sobered. 'My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Please pray for my dad.' Alia further shared 'One grandmother is Jewish; another Catholic. My grandfather is Muslim. My mother is Jehovah's Witnesses; my father is New Age. I don't know what I am.'
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