Bringing warmth to the homeless in Baton Rouge

It was a cold, windy and overcast day as we pulled our cargo trailer into the parking lot of the Baton Rouge Dream Center. The contents of the trailer were badly needed. Imagine, if you can, being homeless trying to survive in weather with the wind chill below freezing. That was the situation in Baton Rouge on Jan. 30, 2010.

We teamed with our friends at No Place Outreach to help bring warmth to the homeless in their home town of Baton Rouge, La. Our trailer was filled with blankets, coats, wool mittens, winter hoods, socks and Bibles.

Many of the homeless only had on light jackets, so they were very appreciative of the supplies we brought. One homeless woman who was pregnant was only wearing a shirt, shorts and flip flops.

A wonderful ministry called Cooking for Christ made a lot of delicious beef stew for us to serve to the homeless. It was the perfect thing for lunch on that cold day. They cook for No Place Outreach all the time. They make a great team.

No Place Outreach has a very high level of trust from the homeless, which is key to reaching them. Like anyone else, if they trust you, they will listen to you. It's always a blessing ministering with No Place Outreach. They know the homeless by name, and that's impressive.

We ministered to the homeless throughout the city. We started at the Baton Rouge Dream Center, then went to the levee on the Mississippi River. The extremely cold wind kept many of the homeless away from that area, so we followed Franco of No Place Outreach into the woods where three homeless men have a camp. They had a camp fire to keep warm, and they were very excited to receive the supplies we brought them. The visit was topped off with one of them saying a beautiful prayer.

We then drove to an underpass of an interstate, but most of the homeless there had been moved to a new shelter. However, some were still around and it was good to meet them and help them out. We then went to the shelter and spent some quality time there talking with the people and praying with them.

By the end of the day, we were all tired and cold, but we were all very blessed by serving the homeless all afternoon. We ministered to children and adults and people of all colors. Homelessness knows no age limit or race. God loves everyone, and we are to be His hands and feet. It's such a humbling experience. It always is, no matter how many times you do it.

What made this trip even better is a former homeless couple from our hometown of Dothan, Ala., went with us. We met them a year ago when they were homeless and not living for the Lord. It's amazing what God can do in a year. They are both living for God and serving Him every way they can. They can really relate with the homeless because they were once there. Also, they now know what it's like being the ones to minister the love of Jesus to the homeless.

I will be posting a video soon featuring this couple. Be sure to have some tissues with you when you watch it. We serve an awesome God.

Martha and I want to thank those who traveled to Baton Rouge for this outreach. Thanks mom, Justin, Emily, Judy, Robert, Danny and Dana. LIA volunteers are the greatest!

We also want to thank Franco, Vincent, Julie and everyone at No Place Outreach for the opportunity to serve and for their great hospitality.

Also, thank you to all of you who prayed for this outreach, and who support LIA. We couldn't have accomplished what we did on this outreach without you.