|
|
 |
|
|
In the last two months of last year we continued to see amazing things in
our work with our friends on the streets of Salisbury.
Chris ran in the "Great South Run" raising £831.00 for the work of "Morning
Star Salisbury" Well done Chris
In November a guy whom we will call Joe, made a commitment to the Lord. Joe
had been attending the Banquet Run for two or three months and had also
attended church with us. He was always very quiet, but shared with us that
he wanted a different way of life. A couple of days before he was due to
move on to London we bumped into him in town. He was looking really fed up
and down. We spent some time chatting to him, at the end of which he prayed
and asked the Lord to come into his life and help him. Joe moved to London
a couple of days later and we haven't seen him since, but we trust that he
will meet other Christians who can help him in his new faith.
During December we were serving at the Banquet Run and a guy whom we will
call Jack came up to us and said "I want to be Baptised" we chatted with him
explaining that he needed to ask Jesus into his life etc. He said "yes that's
what I want, I want help to change my life around, I can't go on like this"
We prayed with Jack, and he gave his life to the Lord. Jack had been
coming to the Banquet Run on and off for around nine or ten months. Often
under the influence of drugs or drink. We never push our faith onto people
unless they ask or the Holy Spirit gives us a nudge, but is always fantastic
when people come and ask about our faith.
A Friend, we will miss
One of the first guys we ever fed at the Banquet Run passed away during
December. Eric or "Big Eric" as he was fondly known to many, had just had
his 40th birthday and used to come to the Banquet Run regularly. He was a
big guy, but very gentle, originating from just outside of Manchester, you
could always tell when Eric was at the Poultry Cross, as soon as he saw us
he would say "Hello you lovely people" in a broad accent, that only comes
from that part of the country. Eric liked to be known as a Wayfarer, while
in Salisbury he spent most of his nights in a local Church Porch. He had
visited many places around the country, he told us about four months after
we had stated the Banquet Run " I would of normally moved on to the next
place by now, but you serve up such good food, I have decided to stay a bit
longer" and he did, he was always at the front of the queue for new warm
socks, as we pulled them out the bag asking "anyone needing some warm socks"
he would look up from his food and say "S O C K S ? did I hear someone
mention socks?" Eric was always a joy to watch when he was selling the Big
Issue, It was like watching a little play, he didn't need to wear funny hats
or striking clothes, his manner and his charm sold the Issues for him. Eric
used to belong to an amateur dramatics club, and in the past had taken part
in pantomimes.
Eric often had a joke to tell. One day he told a lady at the Big Issue
office, that he was really fed up because he had this really good joke, but
everyone who had bought a Big issue from him was in such a hurry, he didn't
have time to tell them the joke. So Eric said to the next Lady who came up
to him to buy a Big Issue, "I will only sell you a big issue if you listen
to my joke", which she did and so Eric got to tell his joke. Selling the
Big Issue was Eric's only source of income, which he took great pride in "I
don't want to live off benefits" he used to tell us).
Eric had a lovely way about him, he would always stick up for the underdog,
and if there was anyone new in town, who had nowhere to sleep, Eric would
take them under his wing and make sure they were ok.
One day Eric turned up at the Poultry Cross, he was quite excited, he told
me that he had found a bargain. He pulled out a small book from his coat
pocket, it was a small bible that he had bought at a second hand book stall.
"It was only 50p" he said with a smile on his face, he explained that as a
child his mum would read a bible passage to his five sisters and himself
every morning. Eric always used to say that Faith in God is a personal
thing, he couldn't of been more right, but we never really had an
opportunity to pray with him, but he often witnessed us praying for others
at the poultry Cross. We hope that like some of the other lads this year
Eric did know the Lord in that personal way. We will really miss him.
Christmas Hampers
This Christmas we put together Christmas hampers for people in the community
, who were struggling in one way or another, many families as well as not
having much money, had also experienced real pain, hurt, bereavement and/or
broken relationships and loneliness during the year. Offering a Christmas
Hamper is just another way of saying we care about you and your family and
not just at Christmas time. We hope to continue to support more and more
families in the community during the coming year as an ongoing part of our
work in the community.
Our home looked like a Christmas Warehouse. Three rooms were taken over
with food, toys and boxes for the hampers. We would like to say a big thank
you to the Salvation Army for donating some of the toys we needed for the
children.
The Finished Hampers
Three hampers and presents - ready to be delivered
Each of the families were given a Turkey and a joint of Gammon, plus other
items, chocolates, Christmas cake, biscuits, Christmas pudding, custard,
teabags, coffee, sugar, trifle, Stuffing, mince pies , Christmas crackers,
party poppers, and all the other foods that we all enjoy at Christmas. As
well as the food each hamper was accompanied by a present for each child in
the family.
We gave out 32 Christmas hampers to families in need, in total 134 people,
and presents to 56 children.
What a Great Year !
This year has been fantastic from 1st January -31st December we have fed
over 2890 people, but as we are always saying, giving out food and clothes,
spending time with people is about sharing the love of God with people in
very practical ways.
James ch. 2 v 14 "What does it profit, my brothers, If someone says he has
faith, but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister
is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them "Depart in
peace, be warmed and filled", but you do not give them the things, which are
needed for the body, what does it profit?
We have had many opportunities to pray for people both for healing, help,
comfort and many people have come to find their own faith in God.
We have giving out booklets called "On your Marks" The first part of the
booklet answers a lot of questions that people have about God. It then goes
on to explain in very simple language What Jesus has done for us and how to
become a Christian.. We have offered these booklets to many people and
nearly everyone has accepted them. It is a genuine attempt to offer some
answers to the questions people are asking without people feeling
threatened. They can read the booklets when they are on their own at their
own pace.
The Lord has blessed us with two more companies that are providing us with
fresh food. The Lord has put us with a group of close friends who have the
same heart for people as us. They have stood by us, prayed, encouraged and
supported us, they have journeyed with us, we could not have hoped for such
commitment and love, we Thank God for each and every one of them.
We also want to say a special thanks to all those people who have helped
this year with the Banquet Run. Next month we will have a short article
written by one such person sharing a little bit of how she has been helping
with the Banquet Run.
We look forward to this coming year with great excitement and joy knowing
that God has great things in store for us and the people we meet.
Our heart is to continue just to be a blessing to the people we meet and to
love and bless them. Our work in the community will be expanded, offering
more help to those we have already met, and seeking to spend quality time
with those who have made commitments to the Lord this year, discipling them
in their new faith, helping them to put their faith in action.
Our prayer is that we will walk in all that He has planned for us to do, and
in doing so many people will be touched with the love of God.
God's richest blessings for 2005
Dave and Bev |
|
