More than shoes

This is what 200 pairs of shoes look like. We praise God for such an outpouring of love.

Want more proof Dothan, Alabama, and the Wiregrass is the greatest place in the world to live? Just take a gander at the photo above.

Our shoe supply for our homeless and impoverished friends had dwindled, especially work shoes. Just like they did last year, our friends at the JoyFM stepped up to help. We partnered to host a shoe drive yesterday. Russ and Nancy brought their "On the Road" show to our Connected Coffee Cafe on the Love In Action campus and did their live broadcast.

Throughout the week, the JoyFM promoted the shoe drive on air and via social media. We also blanketed social media promoting the event. And, once again, our community responded with a great outpouring of love.

Last year we received around 155 pairs of shoes. Yesterday, the total was 200. Praise God! What makes that number even more amazing is this is spring break, and Friday was the start of the final weekend of spring break. Yet, people responded to the need.

You just don't find that anywhere. This part of the country is special. Why is that? Jesus is the reason. There are a large number of people who love Jesus who make their home in Dothan and throughout the Wiregrass. When you love Jesus, you love people and respond to the commands of God to take care of the poor.

People from Dothan, Enterprise, Ozark, Rehobeth, and other cities and towns throughout the Wiregrass stopped by to drop off shoes. Some new shoes and some used, but barely worn shoes, were given.

How can donating shoes help the "least of these" in our community? It helps in many ways. The work boots donated will give our homeless friends exactly what they need when they are hired for jobs such as construction and roofing. The black slip-resistant shoes will help our friends who land restaurant jobs.

Here's an example. One of our friends received great news yesterday. She was hired for a job at a restaurant. However, there was a big hurdle in front of her. She needed the right shoes. Being homeless with no job or money, they might as well have told her she needed to purchase a new car before she could work. Many times, hurdles like these are so frustrating people give up. They hit one obstacle after another, and then something good happens, only to have another bump in the road to smooth out.

Tears streamed down her face as she held a new pair of black slip-resistant shoes that were donated yesterday. There were hugs and tears aplenty in the coffee house at that moment. Those donated shoes represented hope, love and joy. Hope that God hadn't forgotten her. A show of love that people care enough to help her. Joy from the knowledge God provided exactly what she needed.

Other shoes such as tennis shoes and other casual shoes were donated. These will be a great blessing to our many friends whose treads have worn out. They spend a lot of time on their feet walking, so a comfortable pair of shoes are very important.

Thank you to Russ and Nancy, Earl, Mark, Linda, Misty, and all of the gang at the JoyFM for partnering with us and making this shoe drive such a success. Thank you to everyone who donated, including those who donated money for shoes. The shoe drive was successful because all of you responded and donated 200 pairs of shoes.

Thank you Dakota Coffee Works for donating the delicious coffee and Krispy Kreme for donating those tasty donuts.

We are humbled and thank God for His provision and for allowing us to live and minister here in the most wonderful part of the world.