Nashville, Tennessee - Serving the Kingdom in Music City

McDonald's and God: Divine Appointments

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

During our last ATL (Ask the Lord), one of our Jr. High girls received a vision from God about the McDonald's Golden Arch. She didn't see the building, nor did she see any words, just the Arch. We really did not think too much about it because there was such little detail to the vision and McDonald's really was not part of our plan for the day.

The afternoon we headed back to Centennial Park in Nashville for an afternoon prayer walk. We had been to this park the previous two days for various ministry opportunities. As soon as we stepped out of the van one of the kids shouts out, "Look! It's a McDonald's!" We all looked over and saw what she was talking about.

This McDonald's had been there all week and we had not paid any attention to it. The park pavilion, our parking spot all week, was directly behind the McDonald's. It was difficult to tell that it was even a fast food restaurant. What was even more interesting was that the park sat a little lower than the restaurant so the sign post was not visible. Because we had parked on a street parallel to the main street the sign was perpendicular to us so we could not see any words written on the sign. The only thing that was visible was a single arch of the McDonald's "M."

Immediately, we knew we were exactly where God wanted us to be.

We headed towards the park to begin our prayer walk still uncertain of God's plans for us. As we continued, we approached a homeless man sitting on one of the park benches. The kids asked if we should talk to him. Our group leader told the kids that if they felt the Lord leading them to talk to him then they should do it. The kids were anxious, nervous, and shy, but a conversation ensued anyway. As our group drew nearer the man yelled out, "Hey, I know you!"

He was pointing at me. I had never seen him before. If I had seen him, I surely did not recognize him. But, I had to speak with him, so I smiled and said, "Oh yeah?" He smiled back and said that he had seen me at the homeless shelter a couple days ago when we were serving food. Apparently he had gone through the line at some point. We had served over 400 hundred guys on Sunday night, and I could not have picked out a single person that had passed through that line.

Anyway, we began to talk and soon he got the kids involved. He joked around with him and before long he had all the kids laughing. He then asked if he could have fifty cents to get a refill on his McDonald's drink. I told him we did not have fifty cents, but if he would like to follow us to McDonald's we would get him whatever he wanted. He immediately jumped off the bench and led the way there, all the while continuing to make the kids laugh with his jokes.

After ordering the food, we stood outside and began to talk. Within five minutes our discussion began to lead to his past experiences and very quickly our discussion became quite serious. At that moment another homeless gentlemen approached our group and asked if we were Christians. I continued talking with our friend while the rest of the group introduced themselves to their new friend. For the next half hour I was occupied in one conversation while the rest of the group was caught up in another. I don't know what the others talked about, but the conversation that I had was a total God experience.

This gentlemen had lost his job during the Nashville flood, when his kitchen that he supervised was completely washed out. Therefore, he had no means of making payments. He lost everything. He had tried at so many places to get a job but there was none to be found. he shared that he hated being poor, he hated having to beg for food, he hated that he was not able to shower and he hated more than anything that he was a worthless individual.

This opened up the chance to share about God's love for him and that God did not view him as worthless but rather as one of his children whom he loved very deeply. This fellow believed in God and could even quote plenty of scripture, but he could not fathom why God would allow something so terrible to happen to him. Above all else, he did not understand why God had not answered any of his prayers. He had been praying that that God would guide him in some way. And, if God Himself would not speak to him, then at least send someone to speak to him to give him some sense of guidance. He told me that God had not answered any of his prayers and that he had been praying each day. I looked at him and said, "my friend, your prayer has just been answered."

I then proceeded to tell him of the vision that one of our girls had been given from God. I told him that we had no idea why we were here or what God wanted from us, we were just being obedient to him. I told him that it is very obvious that God wanted us to run into him on this day at this very moment, and that I believed that God had sent us there to be an answer to his prayer. His face lit up as he told me a story that was somewhat similar. This gentlemen had not been to the park for several days. But something inside him told him that today was a good day to go to the park. He also told me that he does not like to heckle people because if anyone becomes afraid or annoyed, all it takes is one call to the cops for "harassment" and he is in jail. But, because he had seen us a couple of days ago he figured he could talk to us. He then told me about his last two weeks.

Two weeks ago this man had attempted to commit suicide, but his plan had failed. Someone found him after he had overdosed on Advil and Tylenol and had phoned the ambulance. They arrived shortly and took him to the hospital and cared for him until he was well enough to leave. He had planned on doing the same thing that evening, only this time he was going to make sure that no one was around, and that even if he was found he would make sure that there was no way that he would be brought back to life. As tears formed in his eyes he thanked me.

We began to talk about the story of Job and God's sovereignty. Even though Job had lost everything he remained faithful to God and because God is sovereign over all things he was able to provide. I challenged our friend after this story. I told him that God had a plan for his life even after all that had gone wrong. If it were not true then God would not have led us to one another, and he would have just been another dead homeless man. But God did not want that to happen.

I told him that this was God answering his prayer, and now it was his turn to remain faithful and to begin to seek after whatever it is that God was calling him to do no matter how ridiculous it may seem. That God would probably only reveal His plan in steps and that all that was asked of our friend was to remain faithful for each little step that God called him to take. As long as he remained faithful, God would continue to lead and would continue to provide for his needs.

We ended our time in prayer, and then we embraced one last time.

Asking the Lord: The Importance of Listening in Prayer

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On Monday, we went to the nursing home. We did a skit for the residents there. The skit was about the peer pressures and temptations that we go through growing up. The residents really enjoyed it.

We then went around the nursing home and visited with random people.I had a nice conversation for about 45 minutes with a man named Billie Joe. He told me about his life.

Later that day we did ATL's ("Ask the Lord") and we all sat seperately with our Bibles and asked God to tell us where to go. I got a picture of an African-american toddler with a ponytail in her hair and a little dress on and she was holding someone's hand.

Later on we went to the fellowship hall and we helped get meals ready to hand out for the homeless for dinner. There were many people who showed up, so that was a little sad but i was glad to be helping them. On the way back from helping the homeless we were on our way to get dinner, and we passed a bus station.

I wasn't really paying attention, but one of the other kids on our mission trip was. She told me to look and i looked out the window and in the bus station parking lot, there was a little African-American toddler girl in a dress and she was holding her mom's hand and she was with her dad and her other siblings.

We decided to be pretty bold and we stopped the van and a few of us walked down the street to them and we asked if there was anything that we could pray for them about. They said no, but it was still cool to see God work that way.

Nashville Mission Trip: Unbelievably Good (So Far)

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The groups arrived safe and sound on Sunday!

This group is phenomenal and have had such great attitudes. Yesterday morning we had a listening prayer teaching as well orientation. In the afternoon we ministered in a park. A crowd was drawn in by a table of evangelism magic. Almost 70-80 people! Near the end of the afternoon we witnessed several salvation decisions!

The teams let everyone know they were giving out free bracelets too! They made 100s right in front of the kids. As they made them they used the beads to explain the salvation story!

Today we're working at a warehouse where stuff has been stored from flooded homes. So today will be cleaning, organizing, painting etc... busy service day today!

Also, we've been invited by a church member who has a pool to enjoy an evening of fun!

Everything's going great and we're excited to continue seeing God work around us! Thank you for your continued prayers

Prayer, Poverty, and New Perspectives: Nashville Mission Trip

Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

June 20th-25th

This week in Nashville God moved in a way that is so brilliant that it can only be attributed to a God as beautiful as ours. A wonderful group from Ochechobee Florida arrived on June 20th and stayed in a Nashville suburb, Smyrna. During the week we served at various locations; Nashville Rescue Mission, Thompson Station Church, La Vergne High School, People Loving Nashville, and the Downtown War Memorial. At these locations we were faced with the decay that encroaches on God's amazing design.

As the days went on it was wonderful to see how the homeless population was ministered to. My Ochechobee friends started opening up and relating to people that come from such a vast and different background than the ones that they are accustomed to. It seems as though from the very beginning God had ordained for the people of Nashville who are without homes to be loved on in a new and different way than ever before.

One of the things this group enjoyed most was going to the War Memorial downtown every night and feeding dinner to those who are hungry. We were very tangibly serving the homeless in a way they desperately needed. It was during these times that we used the food as an easy way to start a conversation and build a relationship. As the nights followed we began making new friends and establishing regulars. It was more than heart warming to see that God's love transcends any class system that is pre-established in our minds.

One girl Kayla was amazed at how God spoke to her this week:

"As we getting ready to leave our base and go meet our friends in Nashville on our last night at the War Memorial we were late and were afraid that they would think we weren't coming and then leave. When we arrived the friends who I've been hanging out with all week were not there and I began to get discouraged. About this time I was led into a prayer asking God to bring our friends back down the Memorial so that we could see them and talk to them one last time. As the prayer closed and we said amen, no more than a minute later here came my homeless friends. After we left and I began thinking about it, I was amazed that God actually cared enough to listen to my prayers and answer them."

This is one story out of a group of many whose lives were changed in such a huge way. During this week my Ochechobee friends and I were both challenged to step outside of our comfort zones and talk to people who are facing many things that we may never face. It was a beautiful week that challenged us each spiritually and left us thirsting even more for the God who deeply desires us.

How Listening Prayer Works on a Mission Trip

Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Listening prayer is an essential part of any mission trip that Adventures In Missions offers. On the field, we teach you how to hear God's voice and practically apply it in a ministry setting.

Here is one participant explaining how that worked with his group:

It's Okay to Have a Little Fun on a Mission Trip

Sat, 8 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of our participants Jeremy shares a funny story from an "Ask-the-Lord" exercise the team did during their spring break mission trip to Nashville. Here's the video:

Praise and Worship on the Mission Field

Fri, 7 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On any AIM mission trip, worship is an essential element to keeping the group focused and re-energizing them after a long day of work and service.

One evening during our last mission trip in Nashville, the trip leaders turned the worship portion of the evening over to the group. Here is a clip of the college group leading one another in praise and worship:

Nashville Flood

Fri, 7 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An enormous storm hit Nashville last week and caused massive flooding in the area. It's said to be the worst flood in middle Tennessee in the past 500 years.

A week later, the community is still recovering.

It rained nearly 14 inches, which is over a quarter of the annual rainfall, in two days. The Cumberland River flooded, homes were ruined, families had to be evacuated by boat in some areas, and many businesses were shut down due to water damage.

While the waters subsided in most places after the rain relented on Sunday evening, there was still more flooding the following day due to the river swelling.

Most schools were canceled for the week, but now life is beginning to return to relative normalcy... for some. Businesses are re-opening, people are returning to work, and it's once again safe to navigate popular streets and roads (however, not all).

However, life is far from "back to normal" for many, especially those without flood insurance (which accounts for the vast majority of homeowners whose houses were damaged) and for those who have been forced to flee their homes. There is also a growing concern that Davidson and Williamson counties may be in short supply of clean drinking water. Both counties are under a mandatory water conservation order.

Churches and local groups are helping those in need, but there is still work to be done.

Some have even compared the situation to that of a post-Katrina New Orleans. While it's probably not fair to compare one disaster to another, it definitely goes without saying that the damage is unprecedented in Tennessee's history. To date, 18 people in Tennessee have died, 10 of which were Nashvillians (according to MSNBC, as of May 5, 2010).

Those who have been around long enough to see significant flooding in the area in their lifetimes say they have never seen anything quite like this.

Nashville has been declared a disaster area by President Obama, and aid organizations are rushing in to help. There is an estimated $1 billion in damage, and 50 counties have been affected.

Although, initially, there was little national news coverage, more and more and now becoming aware of the severity of the situation and doing what they can to help. Nashville celebrities such as Taylor Swift have made significant donations to relief efforts and asked others to join them.

You can watch a CNN report on the Nashville flood here.

If you're wondering how you can help, please begin by praying, and read this post about ways to help Nashville.

Also, keep checking back with this blog, as we will have more to share soon. (Subscribe to our email alerts.)

How to Ask the Lord on a Mission Trip

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Phil explains what an "ATL" (Ask the Lord) looks like on a mission trip, an important element of every AIM project:

Learning Listening Prayer at Centennial Park

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Phil, a student from James Madison University, shares the following story from the team's first day of ministry during their Nashville mission trip:

Hearing God's Voice in Unlikely Places

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jeremy shares his experiences from the Nashville mission trip:

My expectations of God, life, poverty and myself have all been blown to pieces this week. I'm still not sure what I expected coming to Nashville, but this was certainly not it.

I came to a new understanding of God this week in the realization that the more I think I've come to know about Jesus the more I understand I have absolutely no idea. I heard God speak to me this week... in both clear and nondescript ways.

One of the ways I came to experience God in an incredible way was through a man we met named John. He told us about how he has spent his life being a "stoner" in his words. He told us that Jesus spoke to him that morning. Teary-eyed, he explained to us that "the Host of Hosts called me his today; He called me home."

This was an incredible experience hearing God's voice spoken through him and into my own life.

My own experience, while not as dramatic as John's was deeply moving and exciting. I got to spend time in prayer, asking the Lord what he wanted me to do here in Nashville, and all I kept hearing was "rebel" over and over again.

After some prayer with the group, we ended up going down on Broadway and spent the evening singing, hanging out and worshipping along with asking passersby for prayer requests.

This was truly an incredible night of answered prayers and kingdom-come worship and community.

Life-Changing Conversations in Nashville

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the trip participants shares how their mission trip to Nashville impacted them:

This week was incredible. God opened up my heart to a new city and new people.

Today, I met Allen, and my heart broke for him. He had been homeless for three hours before our group approached him. We walked up to him, and he was very kind.

The conversation was very natural. We talked to him about God's love and we told him about our friend Thomas at the Mission.

I don't know whether he will end up at the Mission, but I pray that God will protect him and watch over him.

The best part about this week is that it opened my heart and mind to conversations I would have never had even considered before this week. I believe with my heart that I am walking away knowing how it truly feels like to love like God loves for the first time.

I am forever changed.

When the Thrill of a Mission Trip Goes Away...

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's been nearly three weeks since our group left Nashville. The high has surely worn away, and reality has settled into it's normal spot in our lives. But what lives is something that none of us expected to receive.

I, for one, walked into the church that first Sunday evening completely naive to idea of "mission work". I assumed we'd feed a few homeless people, pick up some trash on the street, maybe pray a little bit and then be on our way. But what followed our arrival would certainly leave a huge impact on my life. Through ATL (Ask The Lord) Walks, countless hours organizing shelves, and even Line Dancing, I found myself growing closer and closer to Christ.

I remember praying one morning and feeling this incredibly, warm feeling come across me. I listened to the sound of music playing as we worshiped, and knew that what we were doing was of God. The situations He put us in challenged us and required us to turn to Him when we felt overwhelmed. No matter how discouraged we may have gotten, the mood never changed.

Nineteen of us traveled to Nashville that week. A group of unsuspecting young adults who would serve as jars of clay for God's treasure and love to flow from. Looking back on my week and how it has affected the weeks that have followed, I am fully aware of the Lord's impact on my way of life. It's because of what HE did in Nashville that I can live differently.

I pray that I continue to be bold and pursue Him with urgency.

How to See Jesus More Clearly

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Jeremy reflects on a week of ministry in Nashville:

Wow! What a week! I cannot even believe how much I learned about and grew with the Lord. It was simply amazing. Nashville was the perfect city to do God's work. We came with open hearts ready to serve, but had no idea what God had in store for us.

We began the week deep in prayer, training ourselves to really listen to God's words. As we began our journey at the Nashville Rescue Mission, more lessons were learned.

Thomas, the warehouse manager, showed us how important it is to love with your whole heart and fully trust in the Lord. His lively personality was contagious as we could only help but smile. He told us his story, which broke our hearts and introduced us to the many wonderful things that the mission does for the homeless of Nashville.

I felt truly blessed to come with this wonderful group of individuals and strengthen my relationship with God.

There are few moments in our lives when we truly whole-hearted mean the simple redundant phrases we use on a day-to-day basis. We constantly utter clichs like, "Man, you gotta try it, it will change your life..." but I can honestly say that coming to the music haven of Nashville, TN changed mine. I saw so many faces this week that just made the mysterious power of God so real to me.

One of the most amazing things I have encountered in vivid color this week is God's voice. I am a chronic blabber, I can chat with the best of the best, but it is amazing to me how clearly you can hear the gorgeous voice of God when you simply listen.

I came into to this week with one goal: to see Jesus more clearly. As I squinted throughout the week letting the glorious image in front of me gain focus, I realized something so amazing. Jesus was everywhere I looked. He was in the eyes of the man that held the door for me, he was in the eyes of the musicians that bellowed ballads on Broadway St., and he was especially in the eyes of those who reached out with a hungry heart and empty belly.

I expected to find a spark within myself this week to help the least of these and found a fire. I love loving, and this week, God showed how to love with everything I have. It is in one simple lesson: love like he did.

From the stories of warehouse managers who came from nothing to the other end of the spectrum in helping his homeless comrades to a man still striving to find a dollar to feed his friends and not remembering the last time he slept under a roof, Jesus was everywhere. I learned that as long as I see Jesus around me that I should love with every fiber of my being, and knowing the heart of Christ tells me that I am going to be loving like him for the rest of my life.

God is Limitless

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The final night of the trip, we asked the team to share some memorable stories and reflections. Amy shares how her mission trip to Nashville impacted her:

God is limitless unlike I've ever imagined. I came into the week wanting to serve and I knew I would have the chance but I didn't know what chances God would give me to grow. He gave me the strength to listen, He gave me the strength to speak, He gave me the strength to pray and He gave me the strength to pull Him out of the box I'd unknowingly placed him in.

"Break my heart for what breaks yours" would be a big theme for my week. We had done Ask the Lord (ATL) activities throughout the week, and I knew I was learning and growing but one evening, an ATL scavenger hunt led me to the final piece of my heart being broken.

Our entire group started at the riverfront and broke into smaller groups to listen to where God was calling us. The color yellow. A Field. Red Cowboy Boots. A Neon Sign with bulbs on the outline and a vivid description of a man with a beard were images placed in our heads. We set out for the street of Broadway and began searching. We saw bits and pieces and finally we came to the Opry Originials store that was yellow on the outside and the sign was neon outlined in bulbs; inside, we found nothing. Outside, we found Glen.

Glen is 63 years old and a Nashville native. He was wounded in his right leg and infected with a staph infection that led to his leg being amputated. He was homeless, he was in pain, he was hungry and he was joyful; even with his circumstances, he was joyful. My heart broke like never before because I couldn't imagine being in his place and all the people who may overlook him and place a "homeless" stigma on him and continue on their way. All we did was stop and talk to him and he taught me so much. These are people out their suffering, they aren't just unfortunate or homeless, they are people who need love... they just need love.

Outreach on the Streets of Nashville

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, we had our first AIM mission trip here in Nashville. The group was a college-age group from Virginia (mostly James Madison University students). At the beginning of the trip, I explained to the group that they were going to be challenged to grow in new ones, as we introduced them to situations where they were forced to rely on God.

One of my favorite moments (there were plenty to choose from) was early on in the trip when the group got together after supper and prayed together, asking God for direction.

As images of orange cones and stoplights and neon signs popped into their heads, we decided to hit the streets and do a night-time outreach. We didn't have a prepackaged ministry agenda or much of a plan, just what God had told us through prayer.

So, we started walking.

After passing a streetlight, some orange cones and coming across several other signs that had all come to the group through prayer, we figured that we were on to something. The group stopped in front of the Hard Rock Cafe on Broadway and Second (several of them saw a picture of this restaurant as they were praying).

As we approached the steps where we were going to set up, Emily stopped me and said, "I saw this exact scene in my mind when we were praying."

Jeremy started playing his guitar, with a few others joining in to sing some worship tunes, as hundreds of people passed by, on their way to or from a bar (there isn't much else on Broadway). We set out a tip jar, but when a man approached to drop a few dollar bills, we corrected him: "No, sir, that jar is only for prayer requests. We can't accept your money, but we'd love t pray for you." His eyes got really large, but then he smiled and wrote down a request, dropping it into the bucket.

This continued for about an hour -- prayer requests, worship songs, and ice cream (yes, ice cream). It was more like a party than an evangelistic outreach. Relationships were made, fun was had, and the Holy Spirit moved on a street corner in downtown Nashville.

Matt spoke with a homeless man. Amy took pictures. Phil offered to pray for people.

The group returned to the church, singing worship songs the whole way. When we debriefed the experience, they were all amazed, as they recounted how nearly everything that they had heard or seen in prayer actually came true that evening. It was just the beginning of an amazing week full of moments where God's presence clearly intersected with reality in a noticeable way.

Photos courtesy of Amy Gwaltney, one of the trip's team members. See more here.

Photo Blog: People Loving Nashville

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A little over a year ago, Ryan Lampa started getting together with a few of his friends on Monday nights to make dinner for about ten homeless people. Today, the core of friends has grown to about 30 people, and the number of homeless fed has grown anywhere from 80 to 150. They call themselves People Loving Nashville.

They don't do it for recognition, they don't do it because it makes them feel good, they do it because there are people on the streets who need love, a friend, and a good meal.

Ryan and his friends gather together before they distribute food to pray and bless the night.

The hungry and needy line up outside the Tennessee capital building waiting for food to be distributed.

The meal tonight was beans and brisket with coleslaw and sweet tea. In addition to food distribution, there is also a clothing table for anyone to grab some new clothes.

Volunteers spend the night getting to know those who come. There are many strong friendships that have been built over the past year with the regulars. (Left) Jonathon introduces himself and offers a cookie to a newcomer. (Right) Courtney chats with some old friends about their life.

Many of the homeless receive more than just a meal or clothes when they come. Here, Dwayne is receiving some prayer and encouragement to believe in God's power.

Nashville Mission Trip: Chaos and Peace

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Sara Willard (Harrisonburg, VA), a participant on a college break mission trip to Nashville, recently wrote after her trip:

So continuing on the theme of lessons learned during the Nashville trip, I think one of my friends said it best when they said just when they feel like they are beginning to know God and understand him, he does something so incredible and crazy and complex that it feels like you don't know him at all. I feel like that's what this whole week was. Just when I felt like I was getting some sort of a handle on God, he blows my mind.

As I was talking with my roommate tonight, she reminded me of this verse: "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand." -Philippians 4:7a

Man, if just God's peace exceeds anything we can understand, then think about how far over our heads the whole of God goes!

Regardless, God opened new doors for me this week. He showed me new ways to communicate with him and to new ways to grow and new things to look forward to in our relationship. Christ is stirring in me things I didn't even know were possible for me to desire. Christ has begun a great work in me and he is continuing it!

The song for today is one that I've loved for a long time but it wasn't until I heard it this week while we were working at the Nashville Rescue Mission that it really hit home for me. Check it out.

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
All I can do is surrender

Whatever you're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something heavenly

("Whatever You're Doing"- Sanctus Real)

The fact is what Christ is doing in me is something so much bigger than me. Something we talked about this past week was how we are building the Kingdom of God. We ARE the Kingdom. Where ever we step we are planting seeds for the Kingdom. My point is that as God is continuing this great work, one that feels a little crazy and chaotic, I have peace knowing that it's not all about me. He is building me to be a strong woman warrior in Him. He is calling me to follow his will and I have to the choice to obey or wonder aimlessly. And to be perfectly honest, I have never been more ready to follow God in whatever he wants me to do. And I mean WHATEVER. I am surrendering it all to him, listening for his voice, and obeying his clear call.

The restlessness has returned. This week was a taste of what my heart desires, of the closeness of an amazing community of believers and a closeness with Christ that was supernatural and beautiful. I'm already missing Nashville and our group. Being back in Harrisonburg is so surreal. I can't even really explain it.

Lord, please still my heart. Calm my restlessness. Help me continue to plant the seeds of your Kingdom right here where I am.

Homeless Ministry in Downtown Nashville

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

AIM staff member and worship leader Matt Snyder shared what happened Monday night during the college break trip to Nashville last week:

It was composed of ragamuffins. Nobody had their junk together and all of them felt drawn together to just serve. Tattooed arms, gauged ears, and scruffy clothing was the style. Each breath they took in sucked in creativity and exhaled expression because these artists dreamed what God dreamed and painted it into a reality you could taste, touch and see. Under the cover of darkness, an army of Light was gathered. And all 22 of us joined them.

People Loving Nashville started out simple enough. A group of friends got together and decided that they wanted to feed the homeless people downtown. They started out making ten meals and handing them out to whoever would take them. Then they decided to make meals and get to know the people that they handed them to. Ten meals turned into twenty, turned into fifty, and now on some nights turns into three hundred or more.

We gathered around the old war memorial in downtown Nashville last night. The sight reminded me of my days in Church on the Street. I loved it and sighed a breath of relief. My spirit shattered as we made our way closer to the group of men eagerly awaiting their next warm meal, smiles in tote. I immediately felt at peace and made my way around getting to know some of their stories and dreams.

Mark moved from Connecticut eight years ago to live with his brother. After working several jobs, sickness won the battle for his life and he hasn't been able to get a job since. Now he's on the street looking for something, anything to provide for what he needs. His dream is to get into the music industry and become an R&B producer.

Mary Kay was a beam of radiance. She stood in line to get some new shoes. As she made her way to the front, she slipped on a pair. "Mary Kay! Those look so cute on your feet!" on of the girls told her. She immediately began modeling them. "Thank you! They sure do feel nice. I can even wear them in the rain!" She walked away a new woman.

Yancey had a speak problem and a slight drug addiction, but he taught me that B.I.B.L.E. stood for "basic instructions before leaving earth." He thought I was kidding when I told him that I had no idea what that stood for. He threw up his hands and laughed when he realized I was serious.

These three and the seventy or more others collectively have centuries worth of stories, worth of life lived. Their dignity last night was getting to share those. And we had to drag our group away so they would get sleep and be prepared for their day of ministry today.

I love that darkness is so easily defeated with a smile, a meal, and a classic conversation. I love that there's a tribe of revolutionaries - a remnant of sorts - gathering in Nashville to change the city through such a simple act of service. And I was honored to be a part.

Learning Listening Prayer in Centennial Park

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a blog from Steph Connors, the trip photographer and cook, about the first day of ministry we had together:

This week I'm in Nashville, TN out in the mission field. We are working with a group of college students from James Madison University who, instead of soaking up rays in a tropical paradise on their spring break, have chosen to challenge themselves on a inner city mission trip serving the homeless.

They too are looking for a break in routine and an opportunity to step outside of their comfort zones.

And they're finding it.

As we, the leaders, prayed and prepared for this trip, we received words that were to serve as themes for each day. Monday's word was Release.

When we initially talked to the students, many were holding on to control, fear, anxiety and anxiousness. None had ever really done any kind of homeless ministry, and quite frankly, the homeless scared many of them.

So we encouraged them to release all of the control, the fear, the uncertainty; we encouraged them to release their expectations for the trip, and their stereotypes of the homeless; and we encouraged them to release the ways they think God moves

They learned about listening prayer and put it into practice as they walked around Centennial Park.

Most were uncomfortable walking up to a stranger to say "I feel like God wants to say to you..."

But they gave it a chance and met some great people along the way who just needed a little encouragement in their day.

More importantly, though, they themselves were encouraged as they gained confidence and realized it may sometimes be awkward and uncomfortable, but it's all a part of loving and building people up, and in the end, loving His people is all God wants us to do.

Photo Blog: Nashville Rescue Mission

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the main ministries we worked with in Nashville

was with a local homeless shelter called Nashville Rescue Mission.

They provide lodging, food and clothing for those who are facing hard times as well as recovery programs for self-destructive behavior.

We spent our time organizing the donations in the warehouse which was a big job, but really helps them serve more effectively.

The team from James Madison University in front of Nashville Rescue Mission

Nashville Rescue Mission receives hundreds of donations every week. They receive so many on a regular basis that they send surplus shipments on to other ministries and relief efforts like in Haiti.

Organizing toiletry and hygiene items into their respective boxes.

Amy stretches to put away a pair of pants as she

organizes the clothing donations.

Sara Willard arranges the shirts by their sizes. The clothing storage room waits for some attention.

Everyone works fervently to organize Amy works behind a sea of travel-size
all the donations. toiletries.

A sample of a typical meal served by The Mission: coleslaw, crackers, banana, bag of pork rinds, and pasta with vegetables, rounded off with doughnut holes for dessert.

The group listens to Thomas, the warehouse manager, tell his personal experience with Nashville Rescue Mission. He went from a comfortable life with a loving family to one of shame and addiction on the streets. He went through The Mission's recovery program and has now worked as the warehouse manager for five years.