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