If you’re like most people, (me included), you wonder if they are really in need.

Here are some points to ponder.

1. It will be hard to know what’s really going on with someone if you don’t stop and talk to them. Before you pass judgement, learn their name, hear their story.

2. Some people simply prefer the free spirited lifestyle of hitchhiking and traveling. These people almost never stay at missions and usually have been living like this for quite a while.

They are not necessarily destitute. While it is physically hard on them, they might be living the life they want to live.

3. Many people you see on the side of the road are trying to get home. They don’t like to beg but it is the only way they can see to get from point A to point B. A bus ticket or some cash might just solve their problem for a while.

4. Occasionally you will meet someone who is out there holding up a sign so that he can get a quick buck to get another drink or another high.

Unfortunately this is a sad reality. Many people that cannot function at a job because of their addiction will turn to begging. They need prayer more than anything.

5. I often meet truly destitute men and women on the street corners holding up signs (or as the pro’s call it “Flying a sign”).

They have come to the end of their rope. They are truly hungry, truly tired, truly needy. My heart breaks for them. Anything you give this person will bless them.

6. All of the above need the Lord (just like everyone else does). Whether they are a con artist, an addict, a free spirit, or truly destitute, they need Jesus. And we can give him to them!

So how do you know if someone is for real?

You may never know the truth behind every sign but taking the time to talk to them will get you a lot closer to knowing than shaking your head at them as you drive by will.

Gary Moore with GPA Mobilization Ministries is leading this trip. Gary has the valuable experience that is needed and I hope to glean from his expertise in foreign travel. He has made arrangements through national pastors for me to be able to explore the homeless situation in order to gain an understanding of the need in the capitol city of San Jose.

Our future vision is to be able to minister to the homeless in many countries. We are praying that God will open doors for us there in San Jose if that is his will. The total cost of this trip is $3,100.00. If the Lord lays it on your heart to support us as we go you can make your online donation here.

Thank you for your continued pray and support as we strive to serve those in need.

You can also mail donations to:
Unsheltered International
PO Box 2625
Cullman, AL 35056
Please note Costa Rica trip with your donation

I trusted Jesus when I was 19, right after that, life happened. I went oversees in the army where drinking was just as natural to people as breathing, and I acquired the commonness of it. In 6 years, I met many people, made some friendships that stuck, and some that passed by with the motion of the job, traveling where ever it took me. And as it goes, I got wrapped up in those who had grown tired with the excitement of drinking and I was introduced to things such as coke, acid, and mushrooms.

Years passed as they often do, with no grace, or patients and I find myself out of the military, divorced, away from my three children, living in Maine, homeless, sort of just wandering, coddled with the comfort of my drugs. Thinking I had a handle on things, loose as the grip may have been, I picked up what little I had and moved to Florida, found a job, and tried to work things out with my ex-wife, who eventually tired of the life, went to a rehab, and soon after, tired of me. So I find myself just as lost as I was before, jobless and homeless, but still wrapped up tight in the comfort of the drugs, who would never tell me I was no good, would never leave me, would love and comfort me, just so long as I loved them.

So I tried again, I got another job, a place of my own. However, I couldn’t manage to afford the apartment and my addictions together, and one had to go. So I moved in on an offer I couldn’t pass up, renting a room at the house of my dealer. It doesn’t get better than that. It did however get worse, in fact, in that fog of time there, I managed to pushed my greatest joys away, my kids, they were no longer my loves in life, it was the fix I should have been getting, the search for money to get it, it was just a vicious cycle and I sank deeper and deeper into it, and into a depression, in which in my mind condoned, or somehow made it ok, the more drugs I took, the more drinks I had, It consumed me.

I believe I got too close to the hand that fed me, and the whole perfect set up I had, just turned around and bit me right in the rear. The paranoia sets in when someone looks at you funny, or something comes up missing, and he or she gets blamed on what did or didn’t happened and you did or didn’t see it, or whatever it was, the drugs will do that to you. Either way I wasn’t welcome, safe or comfortable anymore, and my dream life, was all that it had ever really been, just a dream.

From there I went from living in my car, a tent here a tent there, miscellaneous couches, just trying to keep my job, so I could keep my habit. Like clockwork, I would wind up in jail, for doing something stupid. My life seemed to be just a mess of lost and broken dreams. I could have taken my life in such a different direction, instead I would find myself yearly, wrapped in the same web I weaved.

During the holidays especially, I’d find myself lonelier than any other average day of the year, those were the days I yearned for the children laughing, moms cooking, the jumble conversation of family gathered from all corners and walks of life, and true companionship. Instead I was surrounded by hundreds of people who only cared about what they could get from you, and what you would do to benefit from you, surrounded by hundreds of people just like me, lonelier than I had ever been. I served no purpose in life. I was drowning in my own mistakes, the worst part is that I had no one to blame except myself.

From a standpoint, nothing I was doing would cause anything better in my life, but I suppose if you fall enough, you’re going to have to get back up somewhere.

The last time I went to jail, broke me, the moment I walked out of there and back into the life I created for myself, I broke, I cried and prayed and cried and prayed for God to take the vice out of my life, take the drugs and all the wrong I had done, and use me, for something good, make me worth something.

I found myself humbled and calling my family for support, and they did just that, they came, all the way to me, just to bring me home. They’ll never know the depths of my struggles, but as parents do, unconditionally they loved me, and they gave me the start I needed to try again. In the year that I lived with them, after detoxing, I found a job, reconnected with my oldest daughter who consequentially I hadn’t spoken to in roughly 11 years.

She invited me to her church. Where, I would rededicate my life to God. . I would find myself surrounded by people more genuine than I ever thought existed, people with true love and compassion. People that wanted to love me, as much as I wanted to be loved. Sometimes more than I deserved.

I’ve never been more sure of where I am in my life than I am now; I know God is using me. I have no idea what he’s got planned for my days, but they are numbered in his name. I find myself just three short years later, working on mending relationships with my other two children, married to a wonderful understanding wife, and provided with a purpose in life, working with the homeless ministry.

If you’re lonely and stuck in a cycle, you’re not alone, there are people out there like you, who have walked where you’ve walked, and know exactly what you’re going through. There are also people out there who want to talk to you, want to help. Please don’t ever think that the lowest is what you were made for, the bible says “every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” Isaiah 40:4

Along with the nightly singing and preaching, Unsheltered International will be hosting two resource clinics for the homeless. Read here for more information on our resource clinics.

This year’s dates are June 25-28. The resource clinics will be on the 27th and 28th.

Here are a couple of pictures from last year’s event

Most of the Unsheltered staff will be attending this event and we anticipate a great week. If you would like to support our work that week we would really appreciate it. There is a need to purchase food, birth certificates, glasses, fuel, motel rooms and more.

Click here to donate online.

Click here for our mailing address to donate by check.

Click here to read a post about last year’s event.

Even if you cannot financially support this trip, please pray with us for the Lord’s blessings to be abundant this particular week. We need his intervention more than anything else!

Here are a few tips on what to do upon arrival at the church.

1. If your church has Sunday school, I strongly suggest having a class for your guest that come in on the bus. This is a great way to communicate Biblical truths to them on a regular basis.

Treat this class like any other class! Take prayer requests and keep an attendance roll. Do your best to create a family type atmosphere. They need it!

2. Let people be “promoted” to other classes. When someone is faithful for awhile and you see that they are truly interested in learning more, suggest another class to them.

When a person becomes part of a class of other church members, such as a men’s class, it can really help them feel “normal.” This is a crucial step in the process of helping them to feel “at home” in your church.

3. Don’t herd people! Although you will want to keep track of everyone from the time you arrive at church until the time you leave, we must remember that they are PEOPLE. Don’t treat them like a herd of cattle.

4. Have a plan for unruly or disruptive guests. It is important to have the teacher and an assistant in the class at all times. Hopefully the assistant can take someone out if necessary.

Remember and use the truth contained in Proverbs 15:1.

5. Prepare a nice meal for them after church. If you have a fellowship hall and a kitchen it will be a lot easier. You can even enlist the help of several others to purchase, prepare, and serve the meal.

The meal time after church just might prove to be one of the best times for fellowship, soul-winning, and just getting to know them better.

Here are 6 tips for beginning your bus/van route for the homeless

1. Designate two or three different places to pick people up on Sunday mornings. These places should be very convenient for them. Look for the places where they already hang out on the weekends. Remember that some of the people might come just to get out of the cold for a while or just for the breakfast.

That is good if they come for those reasons! Any reason they come is good because they will hear the gospel! If your pick up places are in areas where they ALREADY are, you have a greater chance of having people make that last minute decision to go.

2. Be consistent with the pickup times you set. Don’t be late! It is also important for the same workers to be in place each week. They want to see you, not a stranger! Many homeless people have trust issues. It really makes a difference when they see faithful people each week. I suggest a minimum of two men on the bus each week.

3. Have a small breakfast on the bus. I suggest sausage biscuits and soft drinks or orange juice. Use a small igloo cooler to keep the biscuits warm. You can make them yourself or buy them from a fast food restaurant. You might even find a local place to donate them or give you a great discount.

4. Arrival time at the church is very important. I suggest arriving only about 10 minutes early. This gives enough time for using the restroom but is not so long that people are left waiting and wandering around. If there are going to be any problems, it will more than likely be when there is “down” time.

5. You must communicate well and often. Whatever rules or policies you might have for people while on the church property, (like no smoking or whatever), need to be reiterated often.

I suggest that the leader stand up before everyone gets off the bus and quickly go over these. Do this every Sunday. He will also want to pray for the services as well. Be careful here not to get too crazy with the rules though.

You don’t want to pull up at the church and have the first impression you give be a bunch of rules and regulations.

6. An issue that you will have to deal with is their bags. I would not allow big bags to be brought into the church. Instead, have them leave them on the van or bus. Be careful to make sure the bags are secure.

Don’t allow another person to linger on the bus while exiting or to enter the bus before everyone else when returning. That gives opportunity for them to steal from other bags.

The guests you are bringing need to be confident that their possessions are safe. Their possessions may not seem like much to you but they are very valuable to them.

Here are several key things to consider BEFORE you get started.

1. Before you start the Sunday route, it will be helpful to build a rapport with as many of the homeless people in your city as you can. You need to be more than another church that offers a hand-out!

Get to know people by visiting them each week. Spend some time. Love them. You need a minimum of eight weeks for this. Eight consistent weeks.

2. In the weeks leading up to the first Sunday, the Pastor should mention the new outreach to the congregation several times. He needs to support this effort from the pulpit and get the congregation excited about reaching the homeless.

3. The congregation should also be instructed to welcome the homeless people into the church. They need to go shake hands during hand shaking time. They need to actually speak to them! Someone should be at the door to greet with a big smile.

4. When the time comes for the first Sunday to bring them to church, advertise using flyers a couple weeks in advance. If you have built a good rapport with the people, many will gladly come with you!

5. The church ushers are vital to this type of ministry. The homeless people will have many needs. They may not understand things like not getting up and down during preaching. Train the ushers on how to minister to them.

Teach them how to calm someone down, how to be vigilant, etc. When someone goes out of the sanctuary to the restroom, it is the usher’s job to make sure they return and don’t wander throughout the property.

6. The congregation needs to know who leads the homeless ministry. They also need to know that they can go to any usher if there is any need. They need to feel confident that an usher can and will help if there are any needs or disturbances.

Trying not to startle him, I called out from a few feet away, “good morning, good morning”.

I’m sure the last thing he thought he’d see when he awoke was a preacher that came to tell him about Jesus!

For the next 45 minutes I told Yemon about Christ. Although he was very receptive, he did not get saved. He has a hard time believing that the creator would actually want to be involved with him.

This was last Saturday while Todd and I were visiting in Birmingham. The sad fact is that there are men and women literally all over the place just like Yemon.

About 4 out of every 10 people experiencing homelessness are living on the streets, in a car, or somewhere else not meant for human habitation.

Tonight, there are over 600,000 people here in America who are homeless. At least 25% of the homeless people are suffering with a severe mental illness.

To say the least, witnessing to this population is a challenge. Please help me pray for Yemon and the rest of the men and women we witness to each week!

This morning when I arrived at the office there was a gentleman sitting on the steps. His name was Gregory and he explained that he was about to become homeless.

Recently being released from prison, and trying to get things going in the right direction, he had been living with his sister.

Things were quickly deteriorating there so instead of staying in a bad environment with no prospects for work, he was trying to better himself by moving where he knew he could go to work immediately.

He was asking for help purchasing a bus ticket.

Gregory’s old employer in Baton Rouge had agreed to give him his job back. He could stay at the Salvation Army until he could save enough money to get his own place.

I know how hard it is for someone with a felony to find employment. With that thought in mind I figured we should help get him to Baton Rouge.

We have already helped a few other people in the last couple of weeks in with bus tickets so our funds were a little low. I told him that we could provide half of the ticket cost. First Baptist Church here in Cullman chipped in and provided the other half.

I gave him some new socks, new tee shirts, and a few hygiene items for his trip.

We get people like Gregory all the time. Some are legitimate and some are not. We try not to buy bus tickets if we get the feeling that the person just “wants a change of scenery”.

But when a location change really has the potential to get someone off the streets or into a job, it is well worth it! Thank you to everyone who donates to Unsheltered International. This is just a tiny part of how those donations help people.

Servants care about the needs of others.

Servants help people.

Servants unselfishly, put others first.

To see a true servant in action is a spectacular sight indeed. But, even a true servant can get caught up in the act of serving and cause people to feel more like a number than a person.

One way to combat that is to serve by name, not number. For example, if you are serving a meal to a lot of people out on the streets, don’t give out numbers. Instead, act like you are a hostess at a fine restaurant! Take names and call names.

All of a sudden, with just this small change, people are people again. Remember, people have real names, real feelings, real dreams. Numbers don’t!