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.