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The first church, which we read about in Acts had faults, not unlike today's Body of Christ. Where there are people, there will be imperfection. As the saying goes, if you find a perfect church, leave, because you will mess it up.
One of the many things the first church did get right was taking care of each other. In fact, in Acts 4:34, we read, "There was not a needy person among them." Wow! Did you read that correctly? "There was not a needy person among them." If one person or family was in need, others took care of those needs.
We have a major need at Love In Action that the Body of Christ can help fill. It is a vital need. As we minister to the homeless, our main goal is to bring them to Jesus and make disciples. The outcome is the homeless coming off streets, because they realize Jesus has a plan in their lives. They start making better decisions, because they are looking at things from God's point of view instead of their own or the world's.
That leads to our friends getting jobs. Here's where we have a big need. Public transportation is all but non-existent in Dothan. There is Wiregrass Transit, and they do the best they can, but it's not a fully operational public transportation system. Therefore, the homeless and the poor have a hard time finding jobs and then keeping them.
The majority of the homeless, and those living in extreme poverty, live inside the Ross Clark Circle. You would be amazed at how few of them rarely, if ever, venture outside the Circle. Hard to believe isn't it, but it's true. The reason why is they don't have transportation, and they cannot afford taxis.
We try to help in this area, but there's only so much we can do. After all, Bro. Dan and I are only two people.
We need people who will say they will help us with transportation. It will not be for any frivolous trips. I'm talking job interviews and to take to and pick up from work until they are able to do so themselves. With enough drivers, we could make it to where each driver only has to take and pick up one person a week, or even less frequently depending on the number of drivers and their availability.
Here's an example of the need. We helped a young homeless man get a good job. He's excited about it and thankful. it's an outdoors job, so he extends much energy throughout the day. He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to get to work by 7. It takes him two hours to ride his bike to work. Then, after sweating profusely throughout the day, he rides his bike back two hours. He doesn't complain, but there's only so much his body can take.
I took him to the ER today, because he was sick. His main problem was dehydration. He can drink water all day at work, but he sweats it back out, and then he sweats more riding his bike two hours afterward.
He hasn't asked for one, but he needs a ride to and from work. I'm picking him up tomorrow morning and evening, but I'm not able to do it every day.
We are about to have another homeless friend needing a ride to and from another good job we've helped him get.
I cannot overstate the importance of transportation, even for church. Bro. Dan Levy at Love In Action is a great example of helping people with transportation. Every Sunday he drives the LIA 15-passenger van to take people to church. Why? Not because he has to. It's not a requirement of his job at LIA, and he doesn't drive for Harvest Church. He does so, because he wants people to be in church. He also gives those we minister to rides to work, social security office, food stamps office, and more.
Are there people you know who need a ride to church, work, or somewhere else? If so, give them a ride. Is it always convenient? No, but we are to walk out our faith when it's convenient and inconvenient.
The need is there, will we as the Body of Christ respond? I pray so. If you are interested in helping us with transportation, please email me at ken.tuck@loveinactionministries.com
You will be a big blessing to those brothers and sisters in need, and, believe me, it will bless you more than the blessing you give.
