It’s been over two years now that I’ve had the privilege of working with men and women in need, and I can say without a doubt that I love it more than I ever have!
The love I have for my homeless family downtown Texarkana can only be explained by God. It brings me great joy to see them each day, and I love nothing more than to listen to them. And when they are struggling, my heart breaks for them. I know, I know.. this probably sounds like some corny post. But I just feel so very blessed to still be passionate about what it is God has called me to. So often I see other people working with homelessness who lose their passion and zeal.
The road has not been easy. The city of Texarkana has been making it difficult to move forward, and we’ve been trying our hardest to make things right. We’ve even recently had a facebook group start saying that our passion for Christ and for the men and women in need is misplaced because I Love Evelyn doesn’t stay open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It breaks my heart that our desire to love and take care of men and women in need is coming under fire from the city and other Christians alike.
I’ve never pretended to know exactly how to go about taking care of the homeless. I’ve messed up plenty of times. I am learning, trying to figure out how to best meet the needs. That’s why I Love Evelyn as an organization has been such a mess – I am not an organized guy! I don’t know how to run an organization! But I do know that I love my God and I love my homeless friends, and that passion is what moves me forward each day. I feel as though God is slowly granting me wisdom on how to deal with things that I encounter.
When I started working with men and women in need, I thought it would be difficult. Surprisingly my homeless friends have not been difficult at all; it’s been the people on the outside.
To all those who think that I Love Evelyn has created a homeless problem downtown, or to those who think that I Love Evelyn is misguided in our mission, I apologize. I assure you it was never my intention to bother you or cause you any discomfort. All I’ve ever cared about was ministering, loving, and providing needs for men and women in need. I don’t care to make waves. I don’t care to argue. I just want to be involved in the lives of those people who are in need.
With or without the organization I Love Evelyn, I will still work with people in need. I don’t need an organization to do that. It’s my dream. My passion. My calling. My God given purpose. And I will continue to pursue that at any cost.
