Pastor Larry is home and walking

Remember our pastor friend, Larry Pitta, in Brooklyn, NY, who was hit by a school bus? He was in a coma for nearly two weeks and in the hospital for three months with brain injuries. Well all glory to God, he is now at home walking and talking. A true miracle.

Read this article in the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/08/30/2010-08-30_he_got_divine_intervention.html

Praise God! Our God is so awesome, and He still does miracles!

Helping others

It's been a good weekend. Martha and I spent most of Saturday at the Love In Action Ministry Center. We met a family whose home burned and they lost everything. They were able to pick out clothes and furniture at the Ministry Center. What a blessing it is to be able to help those in need. They were very thankful for the help.

We met others throughout the day who saw we were open and were in need of clothing. People are amazed when they find out we give clothes away. It's a blessing to them.

Franklin Moore and I spent most of the afternoon pressure washing kitchen equipment that was donated to Love In Action. We aren't ready to build the kitchen yet, but we have a good start on equipment. We have a convection oven, a vertical toaster, two commercial microwaves, three food warmers with pans, two small refrigerator units, an ice despenser, four tables and a cart, and a sink. It's all stainless steel. We also have a big popcorn popper. We will be able to put that to work now. Praise God for all of that great equipment.

Saturday evening Martha and I took a cargo trailer load of furniture to three women in Hartford who didn't have hardly anything. We met one of the women when she was basically homeless. She found a job, then her and two other women found a trailer in Hartford.

What made our day was after we unloaded all of the furniture, one of the women said, "This is great. I feel like a child at Christmas." She had been sleeping on the floor, but now she has a king size mattress. (we need a king box springs if anybody has one.) She said, "I'm off work tonight, so I'm going to sleep on my mattress."

The elderly woman kept saying, "wow." as we brought more furniture into the house. They were all so thankful.

It's because people donate that we can help those who are in such great need. We still have plenty of clothes thanks to so many people donating this year. In fact, we are not in need of any additional clothing at this time.

However, we are low on furniture. If you have any furniture, beds, etc., that you no longer use, please consider donating it to Love In Action. But please remember our rule. If it's something you wouldn't use, don't donate it. We want to give people good stuff, not junk.

Martha and I thank everyone who prays for Love In Action, gives financially and donates items so we can help the homeless and the needy. Thank you.

Another soul saved

Wednesday nights have become very special at the Love In Action Ministry Center. It's a much smaller group than we have on Tuesday nights for Celebrate Recovery, but we have a great group of people who come together earnestly seeking God.

We pick up 15 men from the Houston County Corrections work release program and usually a homeless person or two attends as do some people we helped come off the streets.

My mom always cooks dinner, and that food gets devoured. There's nothing like a home cooked meal, especially if you're homeless or living in jail. It really means a lot to everyone.

This past Wednesday, we studied the "Faith" chapter, Hebrews 11. That was everyone's homework assignment from the week before. We spent 30-40 minutes on the first verse of the chapter: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV)

Throughout the night we talked about how faith is where our relationship with Jesus starts, and how important faith is in day-to-day life. It was really an incredible study and discussion. In addition to reading about great men and women of faith in the Bible, some people shared testimonies of their personal faith in Jesus.

Then at the end we saw the greatest step of faith happen. A homeless man I met a few months ago was there. When we first met, we talked about how putting all of his faith in Jesus Christ was the key to turning his life around and restoring his family.

Wednesday night he started sharing his story about how he became homeless. He told how drug use was destroying his life. He talked about how much he loves his family and wants to be back in their lives. He talked about sleeping in his car.

Richard, a man we helped take off the streets 1.5 years ago, was sitting next to him. Richard is a man of God and I could see tears welling up in his eyes as the man shared his story.

Then, Richard slid over one seat and wrapped his arms around the man and started praying. He cried out to God to save him, to heal him, to deliver him. I don't think there was a dry eye in that room.

Then I walked over and started praying. I didn't lead him in a prayer, I just joined Richard in praying for him, as did most everyone else in the room. As we prayed, the man cried out to God to save him, to deliver him, and to restore his family. It was awesome! God moved mightily in that room, and when we all finished praying, everyone started clapping, praising God, and rejoicing in what God had done.

That same evening, a friend of the man's wife brought her and their children to the Love In Action Ministry Center to pick him up. I explained to him that it will take time to completely regain her trust, but if he kept living for Jesus and being totally truthful with her at all times, it will happen.

I think we will see that family on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from now on. God is in the business of restoration, and I believe we will see that family restored in the name of Jesus. All for God's glory.

Praise God! We serve an awesome God! Nothing is impossible for Him. Please keep that family in your prayers.

3 more out of the woods

Saturday was a great day. We were able to help three homeless men furnish their new home. They moved into a trailer this past week, but being homeless they didn't have anything for their home.

Thanks to the generosity of people who support Love In Action, we were able to almost completely furnish their trailer. Praise God!

One person gave us three beds and a recliner. Talk about three men who were excited. Think about it. For months, they have been sleeping on the ground in woods throughout the city of Dothan, Ala. This past week they were sleeping on the floor of their trailer. All of a sudden, they had box springs and mattresses. They were all smiles.

One of them said he laid down on his bed and said "Ah! Yes!" Then he dosed off for an afternoon nap.

A couple then gave us two dressers, two chest of drawers, a TV, a stereo, a bed frame and a dryer. We moved all of that into the men's trailer.

They were very appreciative and excited to no longer be homeless. Please keep them in your prayers.

It's exciting seeing the homeless come off the streets. Thanks to everyone who helps us make a difference in the lives of the homeless. Together, through the power of God, we are making a difference.

Great news about Pastor Larry Pitta

Below is an e-mail from Pastor Larry Pitta's wife, Margie. As you can see, God is answering prayers, and He is still in the miracle and healing business. Praise God! Please continue to pray for Larry, Margie, their family, and Sunset Park Community Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Blessings to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Pastor Larry is recovering very well.
* He is walking more often (without the assistance of a walker),
but being held by the hand.
* He is more aware that the nightmares that he had and
sometimes have, are just that nightmares and not reality.
* He is off the trach and prayerfully this week he will be off
the feeding tube and pubic foley.
* He is eating a bit more than he was as well.
* there is the issue of the blood clots in his legs. Both of his
legs (from the thighs to the ankles) are very swollen. But
that doesn't stop him from doing his therapies.

The doctor says that if all continues to go well, Pastor Larry will be coming home within two weeks. His birthday is August 12th and I, along with my children, plan to do something special for him when he gets home. I will let you all know.

Larry went through many stages (and is still going through some) as the swelling of his brain decreases. He went through anger, violence (where he would try to hurt himself), fear, paranoia and emotions.

But through it all I could hear him praying. He would ask the Holy Spirit to give him the grace that he needs to go through this and to fill him with His presence, to anoint his hands and to give him direction for the church, his life and his children's lives!

He would cry out for the church (the church of Christ all over the world), to learn how to be united as one; helping one another without competition. "What are we here for?" he asks. "Aren’t we suppose to work together for one purpose? To win the lost!"

I want to thank those who have come to visit him in the hospital. He still talks about your visits and how grateful he is.

My heart is filled with gratitude and love for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Those in the states and those that I have not gotten the privilege to meet, who are and have been praying for Larry all over the world (literally all over the world). I love you all with the love of Christ!

Please continue to pray!

Love in Christ,
Rev. G. Margie Pitta