Christian/believers live on the streets and are seeking and walking with the Lord in ways that would put most of us non street people christians to shame. My experience with them has been: "They are about as real as real can get". This is lacking in the churches.
Often medical problems, loss of jobs and no family put them in the streets; and not to mention living pay check to pay check.
It is hard to relate to street people unless you've walked in their shoes. Just one 24 hour trip made quite an impression on me. Their community/sub culture boils down to: "street people" and "people that don't live on the streets".
Is the Lord calling you to minister/evangelize to the people on the streets? Have you walked in their shoes for one day?
I'm writing this because of this burden i have about believers going to
street people with and attitude that turns the homeless off. Many of the
Christians talk down to them. Street people are not stupid and have a keen
sense of discernment about this; and can see right through people and their
false fronts--including christians. One day in their shoes can change that
attitude. This is what i recommend: Seek
the Lord on this above all things; and go on his leading/command.
a. Fast for
a few days
b. put on your
dirtiest ragged clothes
c. don't shave
for a day or so--like the weekend
d. carry a
bag/water
e. find a shopping
cart and push that around for awhile
f. watch
the reaction of the people around you
g. try panhandling
h. Talk to
street people about life in the streets.
I. Find
a place to sleep/doorway et.
J. Don't carry
any money or visa cards or and atm card.
K. Do this
for 24 hours.
Ask the Lord to lead you and show you what it's like in the streets.
My first 24 hour trip into the streets: