Jesus, Rock of Life Ministries: June 2014

Monday nights are always filled with warm greetings and happy smiles of those waiting for us at downtown. This Monday we were blessed with lots of new volunteers and the attentive hands of those who were ready to serve. Like every Monday night, the worship team assembled the equipment and encouraged those around to hold hands in the starting prayer. A beautiful time of worship was held where the presence of the Holy Spirit was felt all around and we all rejoiced.

Tonight Pastor Marcos proclaimed on the streets a message that was clear, hopeful, and prophetic. “I need you Jesus, I need your healing, I’m a sinner and I need you to forgive me!” were many of the words spoken out by the people tonight in accordance to the preaching. A verse that motivated the crowd was Matthew 7:7-8:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

We all need of Jesus and His righteous hand. When we all understand that God is in control and will help us in any situation, we find peace. And the people of downtown are in need of these chain-breaking words. We all have this incredible God who cares for us and knows our suffering and struggles.

After the powerful preaching ended, volunteers were quickly assigned to the stations they would be working in. They all grabbed gloves, some grabbed trash bags, others handed drinks and spoons, and of course others served plates of food.

Tonight’s food looked like it came straight out of the Olive Garden kitchen. We served delicious penne pasta with a velvety Alfredo sauce. The pasta was steaming hot which gave a perfect facial to those who served. :)

It was a beautiful night full of love, prayer, and the gathering of a family. Thankfulness is all that comes to mind when one thinks of what Christ does for those who love him. Downtown Miami is not a place where we just meet to serve; it’s a place where a big family of different cultures gets together in honor for Christ.

Prayer Request: For those reading please join us in prayer for the people of downtown to really take this message and imprint it in their hearts. That their hope is in Christ and that they learn to walk the way that Jesus did. That they are not stuck in the footholds of the devil, but are set free by our almighty God. Amen!

Outreach Missions, Weekly Update

People Matter

2:07 PM

Rain or heat, these two have been the only options in Miami for the past 2 days and really for the rest of the summer. This Monday we had both. It rained all morning and then had a heat wave that did not die down until about 9. Miami sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

Worship Team

This Monday we had our worship team back (yay!) from a week hiatus and a few more volunteers on board. There were a few people waiting for us by the time we got there and began to help us unload the worship team equipment. Music began to ring out throughout the street and more people came over to the front where worship music was about to start. Fast forward to 10 minutes later, the word was about to begin. Soon, Luke 5:30-32 was read onto the crowd as follows:

30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?[a]” 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” (Luke 5:30-32)

People matter and we all need healing, those in front of the microphone as well as those behind the mic. It was a word that really resonated with the crowds as you see this one man shout “I’m sick, I need His healing.” As the word was coming to an end we were all anxiously waiting for what is probably the best part, the final prayer. So many people started to raise their hands, agreeing that they too were in need of healing. We all prayed together as a family and finally finishing with a prayer for the food.

Tonight’s Menu

This night we had a menu of pasta with beef sauce packed with incredible flavor and vegetables. People started to form a straight line where the volunteers quickly assembled their stations and started handing out the plates. Then each person grabbed their plate of pasta and made their way to the refreshments.

In that station they also handed out bagels and in my opinion the most popular delicacy that night “The jerk seasoning spread”. The spread was generously put on the fresh pieces of bread, and the volunteers were thanked with big smiles and a warm thank you. It was a great night where we saw the need for the word, the blessing of prayers, and the gift of provision for everyone.

See ya next week :)

Outreach Missions, Weekly Update

Love is an Action

2:06 PM

Every Monday evening is different; New faces, new volunteers, new challenges, and new opportunities. This particular Monday evening, dark clouds colored the downtown skies with threats of rain. As a slight drizzle started to fall, quick decisions had to be made, the worship team was canceled and we moved from the usual spot to the other side of the street; The same street that triples as a living room/bedroom/bathroom, for the many who call the street of downtown home. At the end of the street, someone had put together a make shift home, using plastic bags as a roof to hold off the rain while others just waited for the down pour.

Familiar faces started to form a line and maybe the threat of rain helped an actual line form as opposed to other evenings when everyone sort of crowds around anxiously awaiting a hot meal.

The team serving food

Everything is set up on 2 tables, an opening prayer is shouted out because a microphone is out of the question (Electricity and water don’t mix, ya know?). Volunteers take their place, gloves are on and we start.

Demetrius enjoying a plate of food

The menu of the night is rice, ground beef, beans and bread. Worn down faces break out into a smile and soft “thank you’s” are uttered as a hot meal is given to grateful hands. As the line continued to flow, we came face to face with a young man who was carrying his backpack, wearing glasses and a high school ID lanyard around his neck. A student. A teenager. He is a new face, who quietly takes his plate and follows others to eat his meal.

Box of bread

The line begins to thin out but not until we serve up seconds and even thirds to those who came back for more.

This Monday was very different because a spoken word wasn’t provided along with a meal but just the action of providing a hot meal on a rainy night was enough. Love is action and it is being poured out into the streets of downtown Miami. All through a meal, spoken word, music, a smile, and not letting the opportunity pass by to serve others.