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 | Homeless Outreach Story the many hard situations of our life What started as a simple desire to help those in need; provide food, warmth and friendship. PCOS Youth and adults now travel to downtown Kansas City the second Sunday of each month to do just that! click to read more. |
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Homeless Outreach Story
HS Mission Trip Info(Important) 2/14/12
The trip is to Boston and the dates are June 3 to June 10
If you are going to go...I need you to send me your formal name (the name on your license) I have 15 people accounted for and I am able to get their tics, but I would like to get the rest of you who might be going adults too....thanks for the help....
The Homeless Outreach started out very simply. Lucas Kinser and I were thinking of ways to do mission in town for our Youth Ministry. Lucas suggested that we make some sandwiches and buy some bottled water to hand out downtown Kansas City. Initially it sounded a bit too easy, but it sounded like a good plan. There was a bit of push back from a few adults concerning safety and how we would carry out this plan. But both Lucas and I had been involved with the homeless in a variety of settings. We set the date for our first Homeless Outreach for a Sunday. With a huge turnout (there were four of us) one JH students and one HS student and Lucas and I. We saw this first time as kind of a test run. We really had no idea what God had in store for us. This was the beginning of a remarkable journey. Looking back, I am amazed what God has done with our small beginnings. I guess we should learn from scripture that God has no limits. This is very true for our Homeless Outreach.
The four of us set out to see who we could find. As we drove around an area of KC called the Bottoms, we came across a path that led up to a bush. We said out loud, “I wonder if anyone is up there?” We got out of the car, and "I yelled is anyone up there? We have food and water." After a bit of pause, a man popped out and said" I'm here! I'm here!" This was our first encounter with Sonny. As we shared our sandwiches and water with him, we learned a bit about him. This was a start of great friendship. Sonny was so very kind and well spoken. We promised to come back later that week. We continued to drive around the bottoms of KC.
This is where we met a group of guys living under an overpass, known as “the camp.” We initially parked on private driveway, and this pack of security guards came out with night sticks and walkie talkies. We were halfway between reaching the camp and the security guards. We tried to explain that were attempting to reach some homeless folks. This was of no concern to the guards. The student and I went on to meet the guys living under the overpass, while Lucas moved the car so it wouldn’t be towed. Eventually we came to befriend Jimbo, Cooper, David, and Dave. They had very elaborate setup with tarps, effective housing for elements, place to cook, and even area for their dog, Hobo. We spent some time just hearing their stories. We never felt out of place, threatened or even awkward. Much like Sonny we were becoming fast friends.
As the months went on, we would meet up with Sonny and the camp giving them clothes, water, prayer, and friendship. Lucas and I started to go see these guys during the week just to spend time with them. . We had two of the guys share with our Youth Group during Sunday school. Vernon and Jimbo, had 60 students staring at them, they shared a bit of their own faith stories. There were tears shared this day. After sharing at Youth Group, we took them out for the pizza buffet at CiCi’s. Not sure if I’ve ever seen that much joy from pizza.
We continued to have contact with Sonny and Jim almost on a weekly basis. We had picked up that maybe Jim wanted a different life. Lucas and I spent three or four days getting him a social security card, birth certificate, medical card, and glasses. During this process, we continued to strengthen our friendship with Jim.
As part of our Youth Week we had Homeless outreach party at the camp. 80 students from our Youth Group and 14 homeless guys had an awesome cookout/ picnic/party. It was a beautiful sight. We were told at the close of this gathering that the police had told the camp they had to move. Our amazing parents and students help them move to a different area. This too was beautiful act of God — seeing a group of parents moving homeless guys.
Our group continued to see Sonny to find ways to help him leave his bush. We did celebrate his birthday last May. We gathered in a park and had cake and cupcakes. Our students had purchased him gifts. We sang Happy Birthday at the top of our lungs for him. We also surprised him with a violin. Sonny had played the violin a very long time ago, so it was very emotional for him. He is set to be play Amazing Grace on May 15th in our Church service, on this violin. I am confident that there will be an ovation in the Heavens, and many tears in our Church.
My wife and I shared Thanksgiving with Sonny this past year. It may have been one of the most rewarding Thanksgivings in my lifetime. It gave Thanksgiving a whole new meaning. We have come to see Sonny as family. And things are really looking up for him. . There are a number of agencies that love on Sonny: Project Uplift, The Salvation Army, and numerous groups like ours. There is a good chance that Sonny and Max (his dog) will be off the streets very soon.
Jim visited his mom during Thanksgiving. He had been through a challenging situation. His family was not in a spot where they could house him or help him financially. He stayed at our home for a short amount of time, and eventually was able to be with his mom for a few days. As this time came to an end, I was reluctant to have him go back to the camp. We hatched a plan to see if we could find a place to stay, and help him find a job. We found the Value Place. They had a $99 dollar for a week stay. We jumped on this immediately. The trick was going to be “how can we find Jim work to keep his housing?” Our Youth Group and Church family ended up funding nearly three months of housing and food for Jim. It was great God thing for sure.
Then a miracle happened. With five days remaining on his housing, Jim was hired by the Value Place as their night person. This was a full time position, and included housing. He had attempted to get this job once before and did not get interviewed. But then God blessed him with the job on the second go around. Jim has been on the job full-time for a nearly a month. He has pep in his step, and has really turned a corner. Jim continues credit God for the things God is doing in his life.
Jim spoke in all three of our church services in January on Mission Sunday about his faith journey. He talked about what God is doing through us and the church, and how God is still restoring lives. There are so many folks on the streets of Kansas City, but one thing is for sure, there is one man named Jim whom God rescued from the streets.
We continue to do the Homeless Outreach each month, and I am confident we will continue to meet new friends. It just really takes gathering up people who have a heart for the Homeless. It takes willingness to be active in their lives, and to not give up on them.
If you have any questions for me, please feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it May God bless your faith journey!