The Harvest is Ripe, Go Pick It

When the COVID-19 crisis first hit our area, I did as many pastors and ministry leaders did, I prayed. I asked God for direction and what to do.  I clearly felt God's direction was to keep doing what we are doing.

Two weeks after most churches canceled services, we were still having Wednesday night Bible study. Then, Gov. Kay Ivey ordered there should not be gatherings with more than 10 people. So, we added another mobile outreach to our schedule for Wednesday nights to replace Bible study. We also started meeting needs of the homeless and needy on campus differently by doing everything outside except for the showers and laundry, of course.

We started moving people through quicker, but still making sure we made time for praying and talking with people. We found out about some areas where people were in need of food, so we began more mobile outreaches ... taking Jesus and food to more people.

My heart hurt as I saw so many people struggling; people who were doing good before losing their jobs due to the crisis. As more places closed, I sought God's continual guidance. I cried tears of sadness for those suffering, tears of joy for God telling us to keep going, and tears of determination to be obedient to God.

During one of our outreaches, God gave me a vision of an orchard with trees filled with fruit. I clearly heard, not with an audible voice, but in my heart, God say, "The harvest is ripe. Start picking." So, without questioning Him, we have continued with the ministry God has called us to, and we have already seen a harvest reaped. So far, 45 people have made decisions for Jesus since the coronavirus crisis began, seven have been baptized.

We have been scattering many seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of thousands of people. A great harvest is coming. People are open to the Gospel more than I've ever seen in the U.S. It is time to be spreading the Gospel and meeting needs. It's what God's church does. It's what the church has always done.

I told our small staff and volunteers at the beginning that if they felt uncomfortable doing ministry during the crisis they did not have to do it. Some of our wonderful volunteers have stopped during the crisis, mainly because they are in the older age bracket, which has been the most susceptible to the virus. We miss them tremendously, and look forward to when they can return.

New volunteers have joined us, and they have been a tremendous blessing. When our other volunteers return we are going to have a tremendous army of volunteers to serve.

We have witnessed some intense salvation moments, amazing times of prayer, and overwhelming provision from God. Every need is being met. Recently I thought about the Israelites when they were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Day by day God met all of their needs. They had food, water, and their clothes and sandals never wore out. We are seeing God's provision daily. Sometimes Martha and I just cry tears of joy because of being overwhelmed by our Father's great provision.

He is working through His people. Day-in and day-out people are coming by LIA with donations of food, cleaning supplies and more. People are donating finances to keep us going strong and having all of our financial obligations met.

While I hurt to see so many people struggle and suffer due to loss of jobs, and hearing about those who are sick and have died from the virus, I am excited about what God is doing. He is moving mightily in the middle of this crisis.

Idols have been taken away - sports, entertainment, economy, church buildings - and God is clearly saying "Worship Me and Me alone." As more and more people are turning to Jesus, we are going to see a lot of great things happen as we move through and come out of the crisis.

I firmly believe those who are moving with God and being obedient to what He is saying will see amazing things happen in them and through them. Those who don't listen and obey will get left behind.

Let's keep praying and keep moving forward in Jesus. Together, we are doing what God has called us to do. We can't do it without everyone supporting us through prayer, finances, donations, and volunteers. Let's do what Jesus tells us in His Great Commission, let's, "Go and make disciples."

Please help us help others through this crisis

Good morning. We pray you are all doing well this morning. Here is a list of needs as we continue sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meeting physical needs through the coronavirus crisis. We are seeing needs rise for hot meals and groceries. These needs will only increase as more people lose their jobs.

We have been given two large smokers/grills, so we can easily cook for the masses. We grilled 180 pounds of chicken this past Saturday. In addition to our regular food distribution to the homeless and the needy we already serve, we are mobilizing into two impoverished apartment complexes (one large and one small) and impoverished one trailer park. These places have elderly and families with children who are falling between the cracks.

Needs:
- Finances
- Perishable meats like chicken, hamburger, etc. we can freeze until use.
- Cook casseroles and other dishes we can serve
- Bread, peanut butter and jelly
- Non-perishable foods
- If you can find: Vienna sausages, beanie weenies and other snack items for snack bags we give to the homeless.
- Three compartment togo containers. Every meal we do now is served in Togo containers. No eating on premises.
- Plastic ware, the kind that are already packaged together are the best, but we will take individual forks, spoons and knives as well.
- Napkins

Food and items can be dropped off at Love In Action this week Tuesday-Saturday. Tax-deductible financial donations can be mailed to: Love In Action, PO Box 85, Dothan, AL 36302. Or, you can give securely online via PayPal through the donation page on our website, https://loveinactionministries.com/donate

Please pray and share this post. Thank you and God bless you.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." - Philippians 2:3-4

Ministry continues as usual

Hey everyone. I pray you are all doing well.

Wow! Who, besides God, knew our country and world would be turned upside down and life as we knew it would change so suddenly within a week? These are indeed crazy times, uncharted waters. However, Jesus told us the world would become like this as His Second Coming draws closer.

I would like to encourage everyone not to panic. Don't fear. Trust Jesus. Use the wisdom He gives you but show His peace in the midst of chaos. God will use that to reach the lost with the Gospel.

God gives us so many scripture verses about fear and anxiety. Here are a couple:

Isaiah 41:10, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

Instead of constantly watching or reading the news about COVID-19, read God’s Word. We find peace in Christ alone.

Use wisdom at all times, and especially during times like this, but don’t live in fear.

I want to take a few moments to update you on Love In Action and what we are doing during these times of uncertainty due to the coronavirus and its impacts.

As of now, things are as usual at Love In Action. Obviously, the situation is fluid, but we have not and do not intend to cancel any of our services and outreaches. We are different than a regular house of worship. Most of the people we serve don’t have homes, and those who do rarely have enough food to sustain themselves and their families.

The homeless depend on us. They can't live stream sermons, go to stores and buy everything on the shelves, or afford health care.

More than at any time in our 20 years of ministry, we need to continue serving. Our homeless friends need to see Christ in us, especially during these chaotic times when so many people are just thinking about themselves.

Christianity is not a self-preservation religion. Jesus clearly showed us that. His disciples and the apostles showed us that. If not for Christians, many more would have died during the black plague. It was the Body of Christ who ran into the infected areas to help, not away from it.

We are and will continue to use wisdom. We are asking our elderly volunteers to take the next few weeks off, or longer, and then return when things settle down. We love you and want you to stay safe.

All of our volunteers please know you have the same option. If you feel uncomfortable, not safe, please stay home until things settle down. We love you all.

We always keep things clean and sanitized at Love In Action. We are focusing even more on that now and cleaning and sanitizing even more. Hopefully we will be able to purchase more disinfectant spray and wipes in the near future when stores restock.

Our chief of staff at the Samaritan Clinic has put policies in place on how to take care of anyone we see who have symptoms of the coronavirus. We will abide by those policies even on non-clinic days.

We have signs in all restrooms reminding people to wash their hands and how to wash their hands. One thing I personally won't stop doing, however, is hugging our friends. They can't go home and get a hug from a spouse, child or parent. We all need hugs, so they will continue to get them from me. That’s my choice.

God has called Martha and me to this ministry, and we will continue it in any and every way possible to show forth the love of Christ and lead people to Him, and to help meet the needs of those who are the most vulnerable.

We will look for opportunities to do more. I see this chaotic situation as a great "opportunity." We have a tremendous opportunity to reach even more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a wonderful opportunity to show the "least of these" that God does not and will not abandon them, even while our world is in chaos.

I believe this is a huge wake up call for the Body of Christ. Are we going to live by faith or fear? Are we going to trust Jesus or not? Will we arise and let the light and peace of Jesus radiate through us, or will we live like the rest of the world? We have the perfect opportunity to obey God's Word in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Let’s all be like the prophet Isaiah, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

I talked on the phone Saturday with Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba to let him know we are willing and able to help the city anyway we can, and I will look for more opportunities to serve to show the love of Jesus to people in Dothan.

Please keep praying and supporting us financially. Please continue to encourage others to pray and support us financially. We will need even more resources now as needs will be increasing. I know God will provide and He will be glorified as more and more people come to Him.

Thank you, and may God bless you all.

In His service,

Ken Tuck
President
Love In Action International Ministries

Highways and Hedges

Jesus tells us in a parable in Luke 14 to, "Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."

In obedience to His command to go everywhere and share the Gospel with people and compel them to come to Christ, Love In Action is focusing even more on outreaches to find those who need to hear the salvation message of the Gospel. There are so many hurting people who need to know they are not forgotten, and that God loves them.

Love In Action and our team of volunteers go to homeless camps throughout Dothan, low rent motels, parking lots, truck stops, anywhere we can find people who society has shunned. We know that in Isaiah 55:11, when we share God's Word with others, great things will happen. "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

We are seeing God's Word succeeding as 32 people have made decisions for Jesus so far in 2020. We have baptized seven, and more are scheduled to be baptized this Wednesday.

We are so thankful and excited about what God is doing. Now, we need more space for discipleship classes. We have gutted suite 1 at our Love In Action campus with the goal of remodeling it for classrooms for discipleship purposes. If there are any contractors or church groups who would like to look at suite 1 and help us remodel it please let us know. This is an important need as more people are asking for our T4T discipleship teaching. We currently have a class underway, but need to start more.

If you can help, please contact me at ken.tuck@loveinactionministries.com or call the LIA office at 334-494-4995.
Thank you and God bless you.

Random Acts of Kindness Outreach

Martha, Paula and Eileen praying with a homeless woman on our bus.

We started a new outreach in early February called, "Random Acts of Kindness Outreach." The goal is to find people who are in need and help them. That need may be spiritually - salvation, encouragement, prayer. Or, it may be food for someone who is hungry or blankets, gloves and scarves for those who are cold. This week one of our volunteers, Paula, even made hot chocolate to help warm people up.

Our team loads the bus up with Bibles, tracts, blankets, bags of food, bottled water, and whatever else people may need depending on the weather, such as ponchos. Then at night we head out and go where we feel God is leading us. That has been inside and outside of the Ross Clark Circle.

We have seen God touch lives through this outreach. We've provided some warm transportation for a homeless woman to a safe place where she needed to wait for an out of town family member. A work release inmate walking back from work on a cold night was very thankful for a ride in the warm and dry bus.

God has led us to people living in cars in various parking lots. They were all surprised that someone would offer them prayer, food, blankets and other needs. We've also provided information for services that are offered for various needs we can't meet. 

We almost had church at the Fly J truck stop as we prayed with a worker and a customer. A woman standing outside of a local hospital was very appreciative of a group of people praying with her about her situation and her loved one who was in the hospital.

It's been a fun outreach. Just the fellowship we have with each other makes it great, but to see God touching lives, giving hope to people who aren't expecting someone to show up to help them, is amazing.

The truth is, we can all take time to help someone. It's not about an outreach, it's about a lifestyle of living for Jesus. One of my prayers about this outreach is it will encourage people to do this on their own. God gives us opportunities every day to make a difference in people's lives and bring glory to God. Jesus showed us how to do acts of kindness. Let's follow His lead.

Praying for needs of people at the Flying J.