wakebird » Kingdom Living http://wakebird.com an acrobat's search Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:35:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 AIDS Services Foundation Story http://wakebird.com/2007/03/27/aids-services-foundation-story/ http://wakebird.com/2007/03/27/aids-services-foundation-story/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:51:00 +0000 wakebird http://wakebird.com/2007/03/27/aids-services-foundation-story/ So I was working yesterday at the OC ASF on a mailing to send to supporters and doing some help with an email about the OC AIDS Walk and in the office behind my little desk is the Housing Services Supervisor. While I’m working a man walks in to meet with the Housing Services man about help with his living situation. I can’t help but hear the conversation and it was my first taste of what ASF does for people. This person was a homosexual male who attends a popular church in the area and was just diagnosed with HIV a few months ago. He is struggling to make ends meet with having to take time off for treatments and feeling sick from before he started medications and some other things. It didn’t sound like he was in a great financial position before he was diagnosed, but now it’s even more difficult – especially emotionally. He is going to receive some help from ASF for this month’s bills and then they are going to meet with him again to see if some potential employment opportunities work out.

I didn’t get to meet this man and I don’t even know his name, but I was praying for him throughout his meeting while attaching labels to envelopes. That’s bridgebuilding.

Another housing services person was acting all funny because I am a pastor and I had to say again that I don’t mind if they cuss. But then she said, “Wow, I can’t believe you are a pastor.” And she acted all weird and flustered, so I said, “If you ever need to talk…” She just laughed but it’s cool that I could make myself available.

]]> http://wakebird.com/2007/03/27/aids-services-foundation-story/feed/ 0 OC AIDS Services Foundation http://wakebird.com/2007/02/28/oc-aids-services-foundation/ http://wakebird.com/2007/02/28/oc-aids-services-foundation/#comments Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:45:00 +0000 wakebird http://wakebird.com/2007/02/28/oc-aids-services-foundation/ I wasn’t going to post about this for a while but Mike has forced my hand with this post about the OC AIDS Walk. Our church has been on a series that is casting vision to our people for being more involved in our community. These need to be consistent ministry relationships that are close to our community where we can eventually talk about Jesus. Mostly we want to live Matthew 5:16 of letting our light shine before people so they see our good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven.

I knew that I was going to Kenya this summer with our high school students and an organization called Christ’s Hope ministering to people who have AIDS or are affected by AIDS. So I thought, why help across the world, but not at home? Then I started searching online for a good AIDS organization in Orange County and I found OC AIDS Services Foundation. A week ago I went to a Volunteer Information/Orientation Meeting at their office in Costa Mesa. It seems like they are doing good work and I can get involved in some different ways – starting with helping in the office and the Food Pantry. Then working at the OC AIDS Walk on May 12. Later I could deliver meals to client’s homes or drive client’s to the doctor office or things like that.

I’m excited to break some barriers between evangelical pastors and the AIDS community. It should be challenging, but fun and rewarding in a Kingdom-sense.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN ME ON THE AIDS WALK ON MAY 12.

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