The Body of Christ at Christmas

Cozy feelings, giving all around, smiles and joyful conversations. ‘Tis the season for fellowship. Communion with the ones near to your heart, enjoying the time spent together and remembering why it is possible. Remembering God’s perfect gift of a child Savior, and the extra gifts of love and companionship He offers as well. It’s funny to think He could have stopped at that, could have just offered eternal life. Shouldn’t that have been enough? No, He gives us small, beautiful pieces of heaven on earth. Family, friends, and the love that is locked between it all, reflecting His love for us. This love is said to be “what makes the world go ‘round” and it is surely what makes the Christmas season so special.

At the Dream Center, family is usually not a luxury its’ volunteers have on a day to day basis. Most of us travel here from all around the world, leaving our families behind and serving our Lord together here in the heart of LA. So when this special holiday comes around, the Dream Center staff lovingly puts together several little Christmas get-togethers. Last night was the first one of this year. “A Christmas Tree Lighting Party”. The air was chilly for a December night in Los Angeles, which made the sparkling lights and hot chocolate that much better. I looked around and felt the Christmas love that sometimes I feared wouldn’t be there, due to the miles between my family and I. But it was. Cheerful Christmas music played loud, and the night ended in some off-key caroling and a fun little dance-off. The activities were a fun addition, but what made the night so special was the companionship we all shared. The body of Christ is the surely the most beautiful thing on earth, and seeing it for myself, during one of the most loving season of the year, was the most magical.

-Courtnay

1,800

When I first got to the Turkey Give-Away event at the Dream Center, I was trying to imagine what one to two thousand people would look like. Seeing men, women and children from every demographic was incredible. I spent time just walking along the line catching smiles from old proud Chinese and Mexican women, seeing couples holding each other with their young children in push chairs looking forward to when eleven o’clock would roll around and the turkey give-away would begin. It was a lot to take in; the atmosphere was peaceful but also full of excitement.

That’s when I noticed a small group of young people gathered around a middle-aged Hispanic lady. I went over to them and enquired what was going on, it turned out that they were from the Movement and they excitedly told me, that they were walking through the line and asking people if they needed prayer. They were asking God for healing miracles and the amazing thing was that they were seeing them happen all over the place first-hand. One of the Movement guys invited me to follow them and document what was happening.

In the beginning I was just going to watch and write what was taking place but quickly changed my mind as I felt the holy spirit urge me to participate in the praying, and I’m glad that I was obedient!
Genoveva was the first lady I saw healed when we prayed for her. She told us that she suffered from excruciating back pain and was out of work recently due to the lay-offs at her job. As soon as we prayed for her I saw the look of surprise on her face as she told us, that she felt a warm heat sensation on her back, and then said that God had healed her!

Next in the line we met Eloiza, a forty-eight year old lady originally from Guatemala who suffered from a condition that sent pain up and down her nerves on her right side of her body. She also experienced a similar heat sensation during her healing from God. And Juanita a seventy-five year old Pilipino lady who had lived with arthritis for many years and was telling us how while she was waiting in line, “I was complaining to my friend that I can’t sit down or bend my legs” After being prayed for was jumping around crying thank you Jesus and hugged me several times when she was healed!

God did supernatural things in the line of the Turkey Give-Away and to me it was as important to see signs of God’s amazing love for his people, as it was to see up to eighteen hundred people blessed with their physical needs being met by the food donations. God is able to use us to do the miraculous if we are obedient to his call on our lives.

-Chaka

An Organization, a Refuge, a Community

I’m new at the Dream Center, so when word got around about an “all-campus meeting”, I wasn’t sure at all what was about to take place. I did know the word “meeting” didn’t sound very enjoyable. But my mindset changed not too long after we gathered together in the campus gym.

There was a big, bright, banner on the stage, commemorating the special get-together. The guys with microphones were energetic and ready for us all to have fun as a group. There was a messy pie eating contest, a funny “how well do you know your spouse?” game, a frozen turkey basketball game and free breakfast for the whole campus; it didn’t at all seem like the proverbial meeting I had mentally prepared for.

And more than the events themselves, the sense of community I felt during the hour-long meeting was such a blessing. The Dream Center functions as a major outreach in our area, the multitude of ministries we provide make this campus such a busy, busy place. And even with the sometimes chaotic lifestyle the volunteers and administration have here, they make time to come together and recognize the companionship that a body of Christians ought to have. And more than just knowing it, more than just recognizing it, that love Christ calls us to have is felt within our community here. And because of that, simple monthly meetings are such a beautiful thing to be apart of.

-Courtnay

The Voices Told Him So

I had seen Dale come out to Skid Row and MacArthur Park several times to receive food from the Under the Bridge ministry, but last week was my first time really talking with him. At first, Dale seemed like a man who found himself in Skid Row because of bad decisions that he made, including turning to alcohol to numb his pain. However, talking with him made me realize that it was not just alcoholism and former imprisonment that brought him there. “The voices” brought him to Skid Row, too.

I purposely chose not to include his photo with this blog because he was so paranoid of the mafia finding him and killing him. Whether the mafia is truly looking for him or not, I’d rather not take the chance of putting his life at risk by showing his face on a public website. He has been in Los Angeles for a year and traveled here from across the country. His parole officer sent him to California after his prison sentence had ended, but when his life got off track again, Dale went back to his drinking habits.

Dale went through rehabilitation and AA meetings, but it did not liberate him from his addiction. He grew up in a Christian home, but now in his late forties, he is being dominated by demonic oppression and paranoia. A couple of us from the Dream Center tried to speak to Dale about the truth of God, but he has become so accustomed to his mindset that he barely heard what we were telling him. I think that he desired to believe what we were saying, but just did not know how to accept it. He wants to change his life and quit drinking, but the voices torment him so much that he drinks beer to keep them quiet.

Though he is going through mental torments, Dale still managed to have a calm demeanor and a friendly smile. We showed up in Skid Row that day, not only to give Dale a plate of hot food, which he needed, but also to tell him how much Jesus loves him and can restore his life. It is a blessing to reach out to those in need and we pray that someday the voice he hears in his mind is the voice of God bringing him love and hope.


-Shimmy

Loving Without Judging in Rampart

We got into the Project Prevention truck on that Thursday afternoon, prepared to bring food to several families in the Rampart and North Hollywood areas of Los Angeles. We filled the bins with food, and garbage bags with diapers, baby wipes and toiletries. These families depend on the arrival of this Dream Center ministry to put food in their refrigerators and cabinets- some parents would not even have a refrigerator if it were not for the intervention of Project Prevention.

When we visited one of the homes in Rampart, it was evident that the family was not prepared for our arrival. It looked like they had not cleaned in weeks, and when people are not expecting guests to take the time to come over to their house, they may not bother to tidy up their rooms and downsize the clutter. It is possible that they had become comfortable in the mess. They might have been embarrassed by our company or hoped that we wouldn’t judge them by the condition of their house.

But we were there to help them, not judge them. We were there to feed them, not criticize them. Though the parents did not speak English, the language barriers did not get in the way of friendships being formed in that little apartment. The kids joyfully ran around the living room, oblivious to the financial hardships that their parents face day in and day out. Dad does not make much money on his job, and Project Prevention has helped his family for almost a year now.

When someone sees a need and does something to fill it, many lives are impacted in a positive way. That family and others that we visited are in the process of seeing their lives restored, and Project Prevention can continue to aid them in that effort. Any amount of help that they receive adds up, and so many families have been helped by the faithfulness of this ministry.

-Shimmy

Wake up sleepy head…

There aren’t many things that I would get out of bed on a Saturday morning for. I could drink all the coffee in the world and I would still be annoyed by having to get up from my cozy, warm bed. Adopt-A-Block is one of the few reasons I get up for. I have been going to serve the community of Pueblos, with Alfred and his team of volunteers for a month now. It’s a really great feeling when you start to have a connection with a community that you never even knew existed before! I was pretty surprised when I realized that Pueblos was located in south central L.A., which is infamous worldwide for its gang violence and poverty.

I’m glad that stereotypes that I would have had, didn’t have the chance to consume my thoughts before I got the chance to come out to Pueblos. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to meet the people here and seen the impact that Dream Center is having there by meeting the needs of this community. It’s been great to meet people like Christina who every week supplies us with free ice cold water after we have finished giving out food and baby supplies to her and members of her community, who have lined up all morning for us to bring them their provisions.

It’s the first place that I reached out to a woman named Stephanie and was asked to pray with her for her family. I like the fact that now my Saturday mornings are serving a purpose that is far more rewarding than just getting an extra hour in bed.

-Chaka

Living for the Lives of Others

I’m a people watcher. I love observing people and thinking about the life they must have lead, or the life they are now living. During our trips to Skid Row, my heart aches as I watch its’ residents. Some tell of their sad story, others don’t say much, and you can tell by their demeanor that it hasn’t been easy.

As I watched and talked, I came across a girl named Tiffany. She was extremely under weight, and her makeup had been smeared from what looked like a rough night. Her shirt was too small and her pants too big for her malnourished body. Going in and out of consciousness as we talked, I knew she was under the use of some kind of drug. “Heroin…” the lady next to her said, “and she’s five months pregnant.” Her stomach was the biggest thing on her. And I couldn’t help but think of the poor child inside.

Knowing that the baby would be born addicted to heroin, if it was born at all, we knew she needed help. I called several shelters for pregnant women, none of which would take her. We then talked with some people at a nearby clinic, and she was allowed to go there for further help. Though we assisted her with physical needs that day, we made sure she connected our help to the delivering love of Jesus, for we knew He is what will truly turn her life around. I share this story to show what God’s love looks like in action. That woman has most likely made many bad decisions in her life, but is deeply loved by Him regardless. And though we all have the same story of bad decisions, we are children of God and are called to show her the saving grace and love we receive. What would that girl have done that day if we had not been there? Where would she have slept that night? What is that child’s chance of coming into this world healthy? What would that percentage have been without our intervention?

God commands of us to give. Give of our time, our money, our life. We already have the blessing of knowing Him, and sitting under His blessings daily. The least we can do is simply obey what He asks of us. It is crucial in the happiness of our life and in the lives of the people around us. For me, it was crucial in Tiffany’s life and in her unborn baby’s. Who’s life will you affect?

-Courtnay, Ohio

Getting to Know Skid Row

Skid row. It has made national news, it’s been the subject of movies. Prostitution and drugs gone ramped; Skid Row is the real deal. Coming from a small town in southern Ohio, I was not sure exactly what to expect on my visit. I really don’t think I was scared at all, I tend to become oblivious to that sometimes. Though I don’t want to only attribute naivety for the way I felt, I think my excitement to sit and talk with some of the most hopeless people in LA helped; I wanted to show them real Jesus love!

As we got closer to the streets of Skid Row, you could see a visible decline in the neighborhoods. And even before the van stopped at our destination, I knew we had arrived. Clumps of people lined the streets, mostly sitting or pushing all they owned, in carts. The men started unloading the food from the trucks we drove in. My job was now to socialize. It was my second day interning for the Dream Center and I’m not the most outgoing, so it took a bit of mental preparation to go out and talk with these people one-on-one. But after diving in, I wanted to talk with each and everyone there. The stories were heartbreaking, and when words were short, the look on the faces of these people broke my heart even more. I often asked (as did the other interns) if they would like prayer. Some would reply no, but most jumped to the opportunity.

One lady in particular touched my heart while we prayed. Her name was Don. She was a frail, middle-aged woman. She told me of the life she lived, filled with prostitution, drug use, physical and mental abuse. Her eyes were heavy from lack of sleep and nutrition. Her story was sad, she was lonely and looking for happiness in the abusive men around her and I told her only God can fill that void. I took her dirty hand and we prayed. She wanted God, I could feel her desire to turn from the mess she was in. We both cried as I asked God to deliver her from this life. We ended the prayer and I told her I would continue to pray for her well-being. She thanked me again and again. And that, my friend, is exactly what it’s all about. It’s about showing Christ’s love to the people that society says don’t deserve it, “They’ve done it to themselves.” Sure, maybe they have! But it’s only by God’s Grace that we are not in their exact position. ALL good comes from God. That means any good in our life is not only our doing. So why condemn others for not having “good?” It’s not condemning we are called to do, nor unconcern we should feel, it is the loving. And what greater way to show that than talking one-on-one with the most hopeless people of LA? Granted, we all are in desperate need of Him, but their needs are tangibly life threatening. And as members of the body of Christ, we should be the hands that hold theirs in the prayer that changes their life.

-Courtnay

Grateful Smiles

It was my first day on the job. Arriving in LA only two days before, I was anxious to say the least. A friend and I had heard about the Dream Center six months ago and knew that we had to be apart of the heart that beats here. With the collaboration of its’ volunteers, that heart beats with a pure love for God and for serving the people He created. And that heartbeat was seen in my visit to the streets of South Central yesterday.

The truck packed with food, we drove to the corner of 20th and Oak Street. Immediately, we saw the faces of these people in need. And instantly, I could feel the grateful spirit each one of them had. Living from paycheck to paycheck, (if income was even in the picture) these people counted on the food truck for the health of themselves and their families. And they knew exactly when it came, because they were all waiting and ready.

I’m not usually apart of the food truck crew but was asked to come along to take pictures and experience what it is the Dream Center actually does in its community. I was also able to pass out bags of food to the people in line, in need. Thinking to myself, what about the somewhat sense of embarrassment that they must feel? Aren’t they at all ashamed to admit they need our help? And would this feeling make them not as openly grateful? No. They smiled, thanked and blessed us for our generosity again, again and again. Their incredibly great need for help had blocked any feelings of embarrassment that maybe you or I may have had. This very thing, I think goes to show how blessed we are and how great their need is. Today we are going to Skid Row to do the very same thing. I’m excited to see the grateful smiles again, for it is the direct effect of the outpouring of God’s love, and I am so thankful to be apart of that.

-Courtnay

Night of Dreams

Night of Dreams

I had no idea what to expect for the first week of my internship at the Dream Center. Being from Chicago, I came with nothing other then four suitcases and my husband; ready to serve in whichever capacity we were needed within the ministry.

Having heard very little about the L.A. Dream Center was enough to make me want to see more and experience what the much-praised phenomenon of the Dream Center was all about. Upon arrival, Terrel and I were shown around the vast building and then taken briefly to our respective workspaces.

The week we arrived fell on one of the busiest weeks, the build up before the ‘Night of Dreams’ the largest fundraiser event of the year that the Dream Center puts on. This year the focus was on victims of human trafficking and new outreach called The RE:scue Project. I had been involved working with a friend at a non-profit in Chicago which had really opened up my eyes to this cause and I was excited to be a part of an organization that was actually doing something about it.

At the end of our first day, with tomorrow being a brand new day working in the marketing department, I found myself pondering, “What have I gotten myself into?”

The Next day, I found myself painting words onto one of the walls for the Night of Dreams instillation and cleaning headphones. The day after that I was setting up tables and chairs, hanging from the entranceway threading lights, and twisting, pinning, tying gold and white fabric almost everywhere. And on only my third day of work, the day of event, I felt a sense of comradery between staff, volunteers, interns, men and women from the dream center discipleship program (DCD).

Finishing touches on lights, table centerpieces and napkin designs were being perfected. From the early morning start until when the first of our guests arrived there was constant activity of cleaning, re-arranging and run-throughs for all the discipleship waiting staff and volunteers.

I was exhausted! But to see the transformation of the grounds into the magical place it had become made it well worth it. It was powerful to see what the people who worked at this place could accomplish and I was glad to have been able to witness it first hand.

-Chaka

*****

Night of Dreams is more than just a big event that is put on every year. It is more than fancy decorations and nice food and an auction. It is an opportunity to step out of the comfort zone you have developed and figure out how you can really make an impact that is going to last.

This year’s Night of Dreams focused in on the horrific crime of Human Trafficking and the theme was "Shine".
The RE:scue Project is a new outreach that is making it possible to help rescue these victims, rebuild their lives and return the hope that was stolen from them. This night was an example of how each and every one of us can make a positive difference and really impact this rising crime by fighting to stop it. It was a night designed to show how we can shine our light into this issue and really be a light into the darkness.

For more information on the Dream Center or The RE:scue Project, please visit our websites.

www.dreamcenter.org
www.therescueproject.com

A Time To Speak

My friend and I were walking from church the other day when we met a man, who approached us and asked if we had a token for the Greyhound bus. We did not have tokens, and he was hesitant to accept money. He had just come to Los Angeles from Mexico, and looked tired and desperate to get to his next destination. I could smell alcohol on him, and he was doing his best to communicate with us in English.

He asked us to pray for him, and we did. We offered to walk him to church, but he was in a rush. Before he left, I said to him, “Cristo Te Bendiga”- Christ bless you. He froze and stared at me, and said, “Otra vez,” or in other words “Say it again”, so I told him again. He was grateful to hear that, and went on his way.

Our words are powerful, and the Name of Jesus brings life to those who are broken and hurting. A simple phrase made a big impact on that man. I felt like Peter and John from the book of Acts, when Peter said to the beggar: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

We can build people up and tear people down with our words, and every, little thing that we say carries weight, whether we realize it or not. I didn’t expect that man to respond the way that he did to my words. What’s coming out of your mouth?

-Shimmy

Look At Them

We don’t have to look to the slums of Africa to find poverty. Most of it is in our own backyard. When it does not personally affect us, we tend to overlook the needs of others. Maybe we have enough food every day, and hunger lasts but a moment before we are able to fill our stomachs again. But there are people who don’t have that option. In Los Angeles alone, there are thousands of people who are not living that so-called American dream because they are burdened by poverty. You can look away from these people…but do you REALLY want to?

Sure, nearly everyone in our country is dealing with the descending economy, but some of us are getting hit- hard. Hardworking parents are now struggling to keep their children fed. People who never would have imagined losing their homes are now living in homeless shelters and are praying for a way out.

The “junk” mail comes into your mailbox: ‘Please help Lucy get a meal this week. Your gift can prevent her from starving’- maybe you didn’t read that part of the letter because you saw that sad picture of Lucy and didn’t want any part of her life. You tossed her story in the garbage bin because she isn’t your daughter or sister or niece. But she is a real person with real needs who really needs your help. Alma, Carmen, Paul, Victor, etc.- they all exist and all have stories that have been shared from coast to coast. They live in the inner cities and destitute communities of Los Angeles.

Maybe like them, you are struggling with money. Times are tough and our checks aren’t always enough. But you can make a difference in someone else’s life. Sign up for the Adopt-A-Block newsletter or read stories on the Dream Center website and allow yourself to feel love and compassion for your distant brothers and sisters. Whether you can give financially or not, God can hear your prayers for these loved ones. Nobody is asking you for a million dollars- we are asking for your heart. Will you continue to look away?

-Shimmy

Getting off the Skid Row Streets

On Sunday afternoon, I went with a group from the Dream Center to Skid Row in downtown L.A. to give out sandwiches to the homeless people living down there. One homeless man explained his story to our team of why he has been staying in Skid Row. Someone from the Dream Center told him about the shelter that was available for him to stay at in the Dream Center. Our team took him off of the streets that afternoon, and before driving him to the Dream Center, one volunteer treated him to a frozen yogurt on that hot day.

This man is now a disciple in the Hope for Homeless Youth program at the Dream Center, where he has the opportunity to get his life put back together again, and learns about how much God loves him. The Dream Center truly acts as the hands and feet of Jesus every, single day.

-Shimmy
Credit: Red Eye, Inc.

Shining

Colossians 3:23-25 (Message) says:: don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

I have a bad habit of doing just what is asked. Not in all areas, but in some. One of those places is my second job, Starbucks.
I work at the Dream Center and then go work another 5 hours at Starbucks. I sometimes, honestly, think 'I did great at the Dream Center today so it's okay to slack at this job.' I do what is asked and what is expected without going that extra mile. Without running to win the race. But tonight, God grabbed my attention and brought that verse into my head. "Do all of your work to the Lord." If I was doing it for God would I leave ANYTHING unclean?

I started cleaning a little bit more and then started to notice how dirty the store actually was. Not just what could be seen by the customers but things only we as employees would see if we really looked. So there I was, on my hands and knees on the dirty, coffee covered, wet, soppy floor scrubbing down walls and holes and crevices that no one had obviously touched in months. Scrubbing and rescrubbing trying to get the chocolate and caramel sauces off that had been plastered to the sides of things. "No one is even going to see these, God. Why does it matter if I clean them?" I thought. To which God quickly replied, "How many deep, dirty crevices of your life have I cleaned that no one else will see but you and I?" Talk about a humbling moment. My coworker looked at me like I was crazy but I just kept cleaning. I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop scrubbing away at the dirt and grime and filth even though I knew that tomorrow it would be just as dirty and tomorrow night when I went into work I would have to start all over again.

What a moment that was for me, one of those times where you realize you are no better than anyone else and God can help you realize things about your life whether you're on a mountain top with him or scrubbing the floors and cubbies that only you and He will know you scrubbed. But if you think about it...our work is representing Christ... Wouldn't we want everything we do to shine like we have cleaned it 30 times over and scrubbed til nothing could possibly be stuck anymore?

Marvelous

God’s love is marvelously breathing taking and extraordinarily humbling when I see how God works through every single individual at the Dream Center. The hope and security found through walking with Christ is everlasting. Seeing how God works in the most desperate situations, shows me God cannot be put into a box. Through my short time here, God has shown be how powerful and life changing his love really is.


The Dream Center has shown me how God can truly use anyone’s life and turn into some beautiful for his Kingdom. Through hearing people’s testimonies of their life before the Dream Center and seeing how God came into their life and transformed their heart, is truly miraculous. Seeing how God can restore the most broken hearted, desperate souls, has made me realize in the end, how the only one true answer to fixing any issue is God.


Having a little faith and passion for the people of a city can change a community around you. God has shown me, how all people really need in this world is Christ’s love and the willingness of people to share the truth about him. God everyday reminds me of how powerful is love is through showing me how he can transform anyone’s life into something lovely. Through interning at the Dream Center God continues to show me how great his grace and love is.

Melissa Conklin

An act of Kindness

Here at the Dream Center we extend a helping hand to those in need, open doors were they appear shut, and make a way for those who are less fortunate. With over 273 ministries working together as a team is a key element we need to keep the dream flourishing and very much alive. As we lift one person, that person shall lift another and we’ll ascend together.

In one of our ministries in particular “The Family Floor” has modeled after that completely. In this time of our country there is a substantial need for housing for many families who’ve become homeless due to the recession, limited work, and help. This demand has brought our family floor to its maximum occupancy with 15 families and 55 people total already living there. However this did not stop the hearts of the people within this ministry from extending more help.

A young woman and her child were homeless, living on the streets of LA with nowhere to go. This woman turned to the Dream Center for help. Even though all the rooms were filled, the leaders of the Family Floor ministry searched for an alternative solution. Not wanting to leave this woman and her child on the street, they asked another family already living on the floor, if they would share their room with her. As an act of kindness with no hesitation the family said yes and welcomed this young woman and her child with open arms. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “we may have all come from different ships, but we’re on the same boat now”. As we opened the door for one family, that family opened a door for another family.

Here at the Dream Center we believe in the ability to work together toward a common vision to accomplish a greater objective, and that is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results together. Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do.

-Celes Obispo

Imperial Courts

Adopt-a-Block is the greatest form of out reach I have ever witnessed. Not only does it offer people in need food, shelter, and invite them to church to learn about having a relationship with Jesus, It also builds strong relationships and friendships between people of all walks of life and spiritual backgrounds.

Through working with Adopt-a-Block God is teaching me how to build relationships and friendships based not on my own personality and being but through his love shown in my words and my actions. I feel as if I learn as much, if not more, from these kids and parents that they learn from me. It is truly one of the great learning experiences of my life.

Jordan Brugger- Imperial Courts

Being a Dream Center Missionary

I have learned so much as a Dream Center missionary. I moved here from a small town on the opposite side of the country, and I had to get adjusted to the big city of Los Angeles. I had come several years ago to help out as a Dream Missions (formerly Short Term Missions) missionary for a week. I loved what I experienced so much that I decided to finish college and come back to be a one year volunteer. Now, over two years later, I have gained hands-on experience that is unparalleled to anything that I have encountered.

It’s easy to have sympathy from afar for someone who is struggling with life issues, but the Dream Center puts a story with the faces. During my first year at the Dream Center, I was a child supervisor of the teen girls living in the group home here. These girls came from broken homes and difficult situations, and I had to learn how to not take what they did to heart, but instead love them as Jesus Christ loves them. It was there that I really understood what it meant to be selfless and sacrificial because there were times that I did not want to deal with their attitudes and backtalk, but had to shine the light of Jesus Christ no matter how I was feeling on a given day. God enabled me to love each of them.

During my second year, I have been privileged to use my college writing degree to contribute various newsletters and stories to the Marketing department at the Dream Center. I had previously wanted to write for the Dream Center, but did not know how to go about doing that. Since working in the Marketing department, I have not only written articles, but have also participated in various Dream Center outreaches and have met so many people in the inner cities who have been impacted and helped by the ministries, and had stories to share. I have learned the importance of listening to their stories and sharing them with those who are helping to make a difference in their lives.

Being at the Dream Center has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and depend on God in a more meaningful way. It is a blessing to be a part of something that is changing the city and changing the world one block at a time the way that the Dream Center is.


-Shameka

Attaining Excellence

I can't believe it is already May.

Doesn't it feel like you were just celebrating Christmas with your family?
I think it's amazing how quickly time goes. Sometimes I have to remember that time is only an earthly thing and God doesn't really operate that way. What feels like a lifetime to us, is only a brief moment for him. What a strange thought.

It's coming up on summer which means the crazy seasons of the Dream Center are about to kick into gear!
There's always something exciting going on here, always exciting new projects and events to be a part of, but come the middle of summer, everything erupts. There are so many awesome things that go on here everyday that we get to be a part of and help in that sometimes it's almost overwhelming to think of all the things we can accomplish for God if we really work to our full potential.

Every day I remind myself that what I am doing is helping to make a lasting impact on the people, and the city that I am around and in everyday. By choosing to live up to the full potential that God has for each us, we can live with a sense of accomplishment. Not just in our jobs, or our relationships, or our marriages...but in everything we do. If we choose to live with integrity and do things the right way, we can leave each place we come to with something positive and lasting.

Isn't that a great thought?
And the cool part is that, with God being the motivator and source that is guiding, pushing and stretching us, it is completely attainable.
Choose to live up to all the things God wants you to be.
It's bigger than you, but that's what makes it so cool.

Stay tuned for blogs, things are about to get crazy here!

Renovations

I had to laugh last week when I ended up telling someone I am a volunteer at the Dream Center. Their reply was, "Oh my gosh, are you guys tearing that place down?"

Right now--the majority of the Dream Center is covered in huge black tarp like fabric because the main building (the part that has no one living in it) is under construction to be renovated. From the highway, you can see the whole building and every time I drive by I can't help by think how amazing it is going to be when the building is finished.

Once this building is done, it will more than double the capacity that is being housed at the Dream Center right now. These floors are going to be filled with people coming to dedicate their time to a cause bigger than themselves and people coming to get a second chance at life, people coming to experience God in a more tangible way. These floors are going to be a place of restoration, power life changing tools and home to so many.

Its so exciting to be a part of history in the making.
Pretty soon the floors will be done and people will hardly believe there was a time when we didn't have the ability to house the amount of things we will have there.
I can't wait to see what God does.

Team Season

Right now is the big push when all of the Short Term Mission teams come down to L.A. to volunteer at the Dream Center.
Hundreds of people come for what we call "Team Season." It is a crazy, packed, awesome few months. Because there have been so many new additions to the Dream Center, such as our family floor, a lot of the rooms where these teams would stay have been taken over for something else so there are teams sleeping in the gym!

These people are dedicated, excited and come here to serve because God has called them to be here.

If you've never been here and want to experience what it is like for a week of two, I would really recommend coming down. You can see what all the ministries are like, meet tons of awesome people, see God move and have your life changed while you are helping to change others.

We love STM's, so definitely come down if you get a chance this summer!

Burns

Twice a week, usually on weekends, I work over at Starbucks so that I can pay for school while I am volunteering at the Dream Center. Today I opened at 5 AM--in the middle of our morning rush I was getting someone their coffee when, somehow, the 20 oz cup of freshly brewed 200* coffee spilt all over my exposed arm and where my sleeve was covering. It immediately started stinging and my eyes started tearing up. I began laughing, I think more from shock as my arm was burning. I could feel it begin really hurting as I didnt have time to put it under water because we had a line of 20 people waiting for their drinks.

I kept ringing people up and wiped the tears streaming down my face that came nonchalantly. I wasn't crying but my eyes just wouldn't stop watering. One of my co-workers started giving me a bad time and telling me to "deal with it" and I joked back and forth with him like it wasn't a big deal. BUT IT HURT. So, after the line was gone, I pulled my sleeve up and realize my arm was still a deep pink and had started swelling. The coworker who has made fun of me went into the back and grabbed this burn medicine for me to put on my arm but instead of being grateful and taking it to get rid of the pain, I become proud and said "No, I don't need that." I didn't want to give in because he had made fun of me and made me feel foolish. After about 10 minutes I realized how stupid that was. Why would I sit there in pain if there was something that could take the pain away?

I was walking home with this big yellow sponge like thing on my arm and gauze wrapped around it and I started thinking about how we deal with so many problems like that. We are hurting. We are dealing with something painful. We are in, someway, over our head and don't know how to make it stop. But we are too proud, too embarrassed, feel too foolish to ask for help.
We have the grace of a God that loves us so much that He had his son die for us.
I know we talk about that a lot, but really think about that.
Think about your child or someone's child you love so much--and think about having them be crucified, the most painful and humiliating death, to save a bunch of people who sometimes don't even care or would rather just get by without the help.
Imagine that.
Imagine GIVING UP your child.
Now-- why do we waste so much time being unhappy, being in pain, hurting...when God is there to be the relief? Why do we wait to seek out what will make us better?

Just a few thoughts
My arm feels a lot better.
I know once I take the little pad off, it will probably still hurt, but the medicine helped almost immediately to eliminate the pain. God does not always miraculously make us better right away--but he definitely brings a sense of hope that you can't describe. Don't be too proud to ask Him for help.
He loves you.

Change the way you think

I was reading in my bible yesterday and found a verse that has really challenged me.

Leviticus 5:1 says :if you sin by not stepping up and offering yourself as a witness to something you've heard or seen in cases of wrong doing, you'll be held responsible.

Don't we as humans use the excuse that "I'm only human" when we do things wrong? We think that because we are flawed and we fall short, that it almost gives us the excuse to do things wrong? Now, this isn't all the time or with everyone, but I think a lot of people can agree with me that we fight for reasons to avoid feeling guilty. so when my friend said this to me tonight..it almost made my heart hurt for God.

How do we make Him feel when we aren't even willing to try and go that extra step for Him? How do we make Him feel when we don't even think what we are saying, or doing, or thinking, is wrong? Why AREN'T we willing to go to that extreme?

It boggles me that, when we KNOW, the things God can do...we STILL aren't willing to try and change.

Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
We HAVE to change the way we think.
WE HAVE TO.

If we don't change the way we think...if we don't 'renew our minds' we will continue to find ourselves in the same situations feeling like we just aren't willing to go any further. We are responsible for the things we say...but we also are responsible for the things we DON'T say and SHOULD have said.

Start changing the way you think---The closer we get to God, the more what HE wants becomes what WE want.
Isn't that the best place to be?

Creativity

You know what I have learned (over and over and over again) while volunteering at the Dream Center?

You can never be more creative than when you are in-tune with your Creator.

God created each of us with unique talents, gifts, attributes, personalities....and the time, I think, that those REALLY shine is when we give up our own agenda and adopt God's.
It's hard. Trying to live for an audience of one is TOUGH. But wow--is it freeing.
Suddenly you have new perspective, new motivation, new desire.

So just a little something to think about---
Are you following your path and trying to take God along or God's path and following blindly?
One may sound scarier than the other, but I bet one is also more rewarding.

Happy Tuesday!

Join the Cause

Every night in Los Angeles, someone goes hungry
Statistics are a mind blowing thing.

But nothing compares to being able to see those statistics first hand.

I have the opportunity to work at The Dream Center and be a part of the Adopt-A-Block program.
I see the need here everyday, overwhelming the streets and hearts of people who are hanging on to their last string of hope.

We have the chance to make a difference in their lives.
Not a difference that will take place a year from now or next week, but a difference that will take place RIGHT NOW.

By donating, you provide these families and individuals with food, a place to stay, mentoring, hygiene needs and most importantly, the chance for us to continue to go and tell them that we love them and God loves them even more.

I don't have statistics for you but I do have my first hand experience. Los Angeles is in need. The people are in need.

And you can be their hope.

Wouldn't you agree that RIGHT NOW is a good time to make a difference?


Visit this site and JOIN THE CAUSE!!!

www.dreamcenteraab.ning.com

Find more photos like this on Adopt-A-Block

Homelessness

Did you know that California has the highest amount of homeless people in our nation?

Our state has more homeless people each night than some states have in PEOPLE all together.
(Maybe I am exaggerating) The last thing I read, said that there was 80,000 homeless people A NIGHT in Los Angeles.

How is that even possible?

We were extremely blessed to have three photographers come down to LA and shoot for us all day today. They have been here since 8:30 AM and they are great. I have been telling them about the Dream Center all day...but you know what has been the most amazing thing for them?

I sent them all out on different sites today with Adopt-A-Block. One of the girls came back and she told me, "I had no idea there was this much need here. It is so beautiful and moving what you guys are doing..."

Do you KNOW?
It's so hard to SEE it sometimes, isn't it?
Even for people who are in these neighborhoods everyday...for those of us who live here...we see it everyday.
But do we REALLY?

Do we let ourselves see the need here? Do we let ourselves see the hurt? Or do we become desensitized and distracted?

If you want to volunteer, if you want to come see what's going on here, if you want to come and have your life impacted and REALLY impact other people's lives, PLEASE contact us.

The need is real.
And we really can help.

Nameless

Pain and hurt covered her face.

I first saw her when she was lying on the concrete with a tiny puddle of vomit on the sidewalk next to her. I said hi and told her that the Hope for Homeless outreach from the Dream Center would be handing out free sandwiches and water later if she wanted to stop by. She stared off into space, not acknowledging my existence. I sat with her for just a moment longer and then I smiled at her and walked off. As I walked away I heard a muffled “thanks.”

We continued on, walking down the Venice Beach Boardwalk. We prayed with some people and told them about the free food. As I watched The Hope for Homeless Youth put on a short drama about the love of Christ I saw that same woman in the corner of the group. Her head was down and she was softly muttering to herself. When it was time to hand out the food, I saw her standing in line with her head down ashamedly. I tried to make eye contact with her to smile at her, but she never looked my way. Finally she had made it to the front of the line and a lunch bag was lovingly handed to her. She looked up, said “thank you,” and then quickly put her head back down. She walked over to her own private corner and quietly ate her sandwich. I decided to start talking to her again.

I sat down next to her and said, “Hi! My name is Carrie. What’s your name?” She looked at me with heartache. It looked as if she had been through so many horrific circumstances in her life. She began to shake her head as she scowled and asked me why I even cared. I looked deep into her eyes and told her that I wanted to get to know her. She grunted displeasingly and looked away. I sat with her quietly for a few minutes. I decided to try again. “Is this the first time you’ve talked to people here from the Dream Center?” Without looking my way she said, “Why are you stilly talking to me?” My heart broke for her. There was a vanload of people who came out on the outreach, ready to pour the love of God into the lives of everyone there, including this woman. “Would you like to eat alone?” I quietly asked. “Yes, leave me the f--- alone,” was her response. “Ok! That’s fine. Enjoy your day sweetie,” I said as nicely as I could. As I left her, I turned around to smile at her.

She looked at me like she was ready to erupt in an ocean of tears. I wanted to hug her and let her cry, tell her that its ok, but I knew she wouldn’t let me. Each week as the Hope for Homeless Youth outreach goes there and hands out food and the love of Christ, I believe that her guard will drop. One day she’ll smile and be open to conversation. But it takes persistence. I think it’s important that the outreach goes out there every week. There were some homeless people who walked past us and yelled out, “Hey Dream Center!” Those are people that the ministry has developed relationships with.

The outreach helps show them hope, and the love and grace of our Savior. There were two people who almost came back to stay at the shelter then changed their minds at the last second. They wanted to stay on the streets where they were comfortable. But they know that the outreach will be there faithfully every week if they change their mind and decide to start a new chapter in their lives.

I pray that one day the woman I met will make that choice.

-Carrie

A Bouquet of Flowers

Nearly every week, I watch adults and teens who are in the Discipleship programs here at the Dream Center get up on the stage at church and share how their lives have been positively changed. Many of them are trying to break away from a life of drugs, alcohol and abuse. People look on with hopeful expectation for these individuals who desire to go in the right direction and let God take over their lives.

There was this one man that I met who was in Discipleship not too long ago. He was a smiling, energetic man who greeted people walking into the DC Cafeteria with a "God bless you!" and a large smile on his face. To me, he always seemed to be in a joyful mood and excited to allow God to change his life through the program.

Some time had passed and I hadn't seen him, but I didn't think anything of it because there are so many men in the program that you tend to not really realize who is still there and who isn't.

I went out on an outreach about a month ago to Skid Row and to my shock and terror, there he was, right in the middle of the most impoverished community of Los Angeles, where thousands of people sleep on the streets. The same smiling man who seemed so filled with joy was there, almost disheveled and with a black and blue eye from getting punched in the face by one of the homeless individuals out there. He still sort of had a brightness in his face and kindly greeted me and told me he remembered me, but a light in him had obviously been snuffed out.

I felt remorseful- why did he leave the program, which makes such a great impact in people's lives, just to go back to a defeated life out on the streets? What inner battle could he be facing and what lies has Satan been telling him that would cause him to think for a moment that he can't make a better life for himself?

So, I was walking to church last night with a few friends, and there was the smiley guy, with a bouquet of flowers, nearly dying in his hand. Smoking a cigarette and looking a lot emptier than when I had seen him in Skid Row, he walked up to me and extended the flowers to me. I motioned to him that I couldn't afford to buy a bouquet of flowers, but he insisted that I take them. He proceeded to thank me and told me that he hopes to go back into discipleship.

I just felt bad. I took the flowers and felt kind of strange about it, but sad about his situation, as he seems to gradually get worse.

Pray for John.

-Shimmy

A little= A lot

One man stopped to tie his shoes on the sidewalk on the way to work.
One woman turned around to turn her coffee maker off before heading to work.
One man pulled over to take a phone call from his mother that morning on the way to work.
One woman took the long way to drop off her children at school because it was September and the leaves were starting to change color…

These people are some of the few who changed their routine just a LITTLE and it changed A LOT in their life. Each of these people didn’t make it to work on time on September 11th because of something they changed just a little. Certainly made a difference in their life, didn’t it?

Sometimes we look at people’s situations and we think we don’t have enough to make a difference in their lives. But guess what?
YOU CAN.
It doesn’t matter what you give, it matters how you give it.
You may not believe me but sometimes that one dollar is the difference between feeding your children at night or having to hear their little tummy’s growl.
Sometimes that dollar buys that extra little bit of gas to get you home and off the streets of downtown LA.
Our society sometimes makes us feel like if we can do it all, we can’t do anything. But that’s not true.
You can do something.

Giving just a little can help to change a whole community.
How amazing will it feel to look back on Los Angeles when the streets are safe…when people have homes to feel safe in…when God’s presence is so overwhelming it’s hard to breathe and know that YOU had a part in that. Even a small part, is really a huge success.
Everything brings us step closer to reaching that next person who needs to know that they can start over.

Sometimes we don’t realize how the little things can impact us…but like the people in 9/11 who did something different and ended up having their life saved, if you give, even just a little, you can help save someone’s life.

Just a little encouragement to know that small things make a difference.
And you can change a life today.
Right now.
***
If you want to donate to the Dream Center, visit our donate page.
http://www.dreamcenter.org/donate/index.html

The Year 2009

What are you going to to do this year to make a difference?