DECEMBER HOMELESS OUTREACH |Recent rains and lack of food left their mark on the community experiencing homelessness near Meadowbrook Park in San Bernardino, Calif. Familiar faces appeared more drawn and many members huddled on the fringes, keeping watch over their tarps and their few earthly possessions.
Gradually they ventured in to join us for a bit of Christmas cheer and a message about God’s greatest gift—His Son, Jesus Christ.
The gifts of blankets, hygiene kits, water, coats, Bibles and more brought much-needed relief and a ray of hope, as did the message of Christ’s love. Our volunteer team mingled among the community, taking prayer requests, praying, providing service referrals and joining together for worship and a relevant message.
At the close of services, everyone also received a wrapped present (The Jesus Bible).
In all, 47 people joined us for our Christmas celebration in the park. Along with love and prayer, they received a hygiene kit, food card, water and warm clothing. About 25 people received blankets and 50 Gideon pocket-sized Bibles were distributed.
We humbly thank the volunteers who gave generously of their love and time for this event: Paul, Judy, Christine, Robert, Joshua, Russ, Mike, Jonas (who drove all the way from Encino to care for the people in San Bernardino), Judy E., Alexander, Suzanne, Keith and Shirley. Thank you also to everyone who supported this outreach through prayers and donations. A special thank you goes to Tamara, Cyndy, Stephanie, Mick, Brett, Kathy and Aaron, Virgil and Jan, Hap and Tammi, Anna Lee, Crestline First Baptist Church, Selah Christian Fellowship and the Gideon Lake Arrowhead Camp.