LIA's transitional house is now open

We are so excited about what God did this weekend. Transitional housing is such a huge need in efforts throughout the country to help the homeless. It's no different in our hometown of Dothan, Ala. Recently, God blessed us with an opportunity to begin a transitional house. This weekend we moved the first person into our transitional house. Go to our Web site - www.loveinactionministries.com - for a new photo gallery of the transitional house.

Richard Jackson is not what some people might call a "typical" homeless person. He doesn't have a drug or alcohol addiction, and he doesn't have a police record. He has good job skills and he knows God is doing something wonderful in his life. By the way, there is no "typical" homeless person. People are on the streets for a wide variety of reasons.

Richard left a sinful lifestyle, because he was miserable. He knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior, but he knew the life he was living was not pleasing to God and that it would ultimately destroy him. So he left it all and moved to Dothan with nothing but some clothes and a desire to seek God.

It's amazing the change God has already made in Richard. And you want to talk about someone fired up for Jesus! Let me tell you, Richard Jackson is a man of God on a mission for God to reach the lost and hurting. He has allowed God to minister to him and he doesn't miss a Sunday morning service at Harvest or a Wednesday night Bible study at the LIA warehouse.

Richard is now in our transitional house, and there's nobody else Martha and I would rather have as the first person in the house. Richard is already reaching the neighborhood for Jesus. (More on that in my next blog.)

The next step is finding Richard a job. He's and excellent mechanic. In fact, he is a class 5 certified auto technician. If anyone in the Dothan, Ala., area knows of a mechanic job opening, please let me know so Richard can apply for it.

Someone has donated a car to Richard. He is working on it to get it in running condition. In the meantime, that same person has given Richard a vehicle to drive until he gets the other car running. What an awesome blessing!

We're excited what God is doing. What Richard needed was some love and compassion in his life. He needed confirmation of what he already knew - that God loves him and has so much more planned for his life. He is experiencing that, and God is working through him to touch other lives. He has become a vital volunteer for LIA as well. It's so awesome how God works.

Richard is the first, but he won't be the last. There are more who need to transition from a life on the streets and in shelters to a productive life living for God and living in permanent housing.

We could use your help to keep our transitional housing program strong. We pay $450 a month for the house, plus utilities. If you would like to sponsor a month, please notate that on your tax-deductible check to Love In Action. If your church, Sunday school class, small group, civic club or your place of employment would like to sponsor a month of the transitional house it would make a great project.

Please send you tax-deductible check to: Love In Action International Ministries, P.O. Box 85, Dothan, AL 36302.

Thank you and may God continue to bless and keep you.