The People Mission

The Plight of the Oppressed

“Lift up your voice for the speechless” Proverbs 31:8-9 

I will have a seven part series on what “only Jesus can give” that will take us through a variety of topics of the much overlooked quality of The fruit of the Spirit as revealed in peoples lives. It is the meat and potatoes of the Christian Life.  

 

When we care for others more than ourselves

“But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant…”

Philippians 2:7

If there is something that our LORD Jesus is able to do; it is responding to a voiceless cry of pain and despair. We are capable of seeing the need and hearing the cry but to respond requires the strength, love, and courage of self-forgetfulness in Christ Jesus.  

 

Then we understand the Mission

The life of Christ and all who would follow Him is one of justice and Compassion for others.

I want us only for a few moments to enter another person’s world of despair with the mind of Christ. I really believe it is important for us to not shield ourselves, as much as we should shield others…

These children (picture top) do not go to school and spend all day in a monotonous search for scraps and handouts.The extreme vulnerability of these young women and children make them a frequent target for pimps, predators and traveling North American pedophiles. 

The fearful recompense of God

He says to himself, God has forgotten…

Psalms 10:11

The young women (picture 2 middle) left home to live on the streets because of abuse. Yet they were brought into a brothel by pimps and brought back to the streets the next day. I wont go into detail, so as not to offend your sensitivities.

 

A true Christian woman (picture 3 middle) explained to us as she cleans the streets at night. “It was 2:00 AM when they came to get the kids and I yelled to leave them alone!!” I believe it was Christ in her, yelling to those pimps to “leave the children alone!!”

 

The violence, injustice, and evil that pervades the streets at night is like a roaring Lion consuming innocence for the love of money. The two men in the red are pimps (picture 4 bottom) and tour-guides for foreign pedophiles.  Read and consider Psalm 10 as a source of understanding with prayer. Lets draw close to the LORD so we have something to offer others. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing of eternal value…

Giving to Jesus

The Isaiah 58 Mandate: Tondo Manila Part 2

The Forgotten children

 

I am so grateful to our Lord Jesus for His pure and impartial love that longs to embrace young children forgotten by the world. We met many children who shared difficult stories of their survival and daily struggle in life. We came across a boy named Carlin who was inhaling glue when we first saw him.  He was breathing the fumes of glue to escape the pain and to quiet his hunger.

 

“I was hungry and you gave me no food…” Matthew 25:42

 

The children living on the streets are vulnerable to the deepest degree. They are mostly forgotten and left to fend for themselves. It is tragic and yet it demonstrates the basic fallen nature of man apart from the glorious power and love of Jesus Christ. I stood by some of the children who were lying on the sidewalk.

 

I just began to imagine their future apart from the intervention of others in Christ and it brought tears to my eyes. I believe God was reminding me that I have received so much “self-less life-investment” from others and owe such a debt of love. It is vital to be a channel to others; to where we allow Christ to express his life through us.

 

“I was hungry and you gave me food…” Matthew 25:35

 

The tremendous God-given value and potential that lies hidden within these kids is limitless.  We sat down to know Carlin and the very first words he said “I’m hungry” and then we walked to get a full-meal for him.

Carlin’s soul was awakened after he ate and he went on to share with us the abuse he has experienced on the streets and also his dream of being in the military. He is ridiculed on a daily basis and considered an eye sore to most people.

 

Giving to Jesus 

I asked Carlin Does he feel loved and he said “yes.” I asked him, “What is love?” Carlin said “when people are kind to me.” He went on to ask us so authentically if we could get him a new shirt and shorts. I was wordless when I saw the transformation he experienced and the dignity he felt while he held up his new clothes in the red bag.

 

As we abide in Jesus, I pray our God opens our eyes and gives us a pure and impartial love for people. Carlin has experienced the love of God and he will never forget these experiences to the honor of the Lord. Please continue to pray for him and the power and calliing of Jesus Christ in His life.

 

 

A Gem Among Many

Proverbs 31:8 Open your mouth for the voiceless…

 

The children living on the streets face countless dangers. Their extreme vulnerability puts their innocence at-risk. Therefore influences their outlook on life and even understanding God as the Father. The Bible says, to open our mouths for the voiceless and defend the cause of the fatherless…

 

The situation of one such little girl named Ellie is difficult in many ways I originally thought her name was Jasmine but she is a “GEM” and she deserves a bed and the tender and watchful love of her parents. They show little regard for her welfare and protection. The parents sleep on the streets while Ellie roams the city and sleeps sometimes alone distant from her family. It is tragic and heartbreaking to see her sleep on the sidewalk.

We are speaking with the parents and sharing Christ with them. We are bringing Bibles to the parents tonight. It is our hope to see the family completely restored and brought into our church family with Ellie lifted HIGH on the scale of life with dignity in Christ.

 

I brought two girls Tinay (Pic-left) and Angie from our Child Refuge Center to pray and share with Ellie their personal testimony. I was so proud of the genuine heart they displayed for a little girl that has nothing of worldly value to offer them. They prayed for Ellie and fed her.  

Please continue to pray for Ellie, It is our desire to bring her into our refuge center full-time where she can grow safely, be educated, and safe from the dangers of living on the streets. At this time the mother has not allowed Ellie to leave the streets. I will keep you updated on Ellie’s situation. Thank you for your prayerful participation, as it does make a difference in service to Jesus and people.