It’s been a cold few days here in Miami. We are not used to sweater weather at all. On Saturday night we received a message from some of the men who are currently homeless and living on the streets in Downtown Miami. They said that their belongings were taken from them and were absolutely freezing and didn't have any blankets to keep warm for the night. We quickly collected blankets and sweaters and made our way to Downtown Miami. We were heartbroken to find rows and rows of homeless under the transit station, some enduring the harsh cold without any protection, others snuggled under blankets that they had. As we drove by looking for the men who had called, I noticed an older lady lying on her side. She was huddled up in fetal position trying her best to stretch her over sized sweater down to her knees so that she could gain some warmth. Thankfully we were able to give her something to cover her legs with to help. The streets were covered with people just out in the open enduring the cold night. It was the harsh truth: this night there were so many people suffering in front of our own eyes.

It’s important to know that we are a full time ministry. Our outreach missions take place every Monday and Wednesday, but every day we are operating and working towards a goal to permanently take these people off the streets and help them restore their lives. This Saturday night is not a new sight for us, but a reminder of why this ministry exists. We are committed to sharing the love of God, helping those abandoned and in need.  Yesterday we were back for our Monday outreach. Usually, on difficult nights when the weather is too cold, we don’t have our regular service. This is because we like to get through the night quickly so that the people we are serving are not standing in line freezing. Upon arriving, we did a prayer for the food and began the nights serving. It was a peaceful and quick night. We were able to serve warm food and warm drinks for them to help combat the cold.

There are countless reason as to why men and women are homeless here in Miami. Here at Jesus Rock of Life, we care about identifying the root of the issue in an individual basis and then working on solving that issue in Jesus name. We don’t care for condemnation or judgment towards anyone. Jesus came to give us a clean slate (1 John 1:7). Jesus transforms us and makes us new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:7). Whether the cause is an addiction to drugs and alcohol, lack of employment, or mental illness, we believe that Jesus is the answer to every single problem. Only He can set you free from any strongholds in your life that are keeping you from living the purposeful life that God intended for you.