Cigarettes and Condoms

I disagreed with my brother-in-law,(also a Sallie Officer) about handing out cigarettes from an Emergency Service Support Vehicle. I hated both the idea and the practice.
I always saw things as black and white, right or wrong and was a 'stickler' for keeping within Orders and Regulations.
Just imagine my shock when years later, we were discussing the idea of carrying condoms in our Street Outreach vehicle for emergency supply to the prostitues on street corners, as part of our ministry! The idea of condom supply seemed at first, abhorrent and wrong, but the issue was not one of contraception or even morality! It was about caring, health and safety, even survival for these girls who were hugely at risk.
We were reminded about our reason for ministry. 'Caring for people, Transforming lives and Reforming society,' all of course with God's direction and help.
If we wanted people to survive and be around to accept our ministry, we would at least have to try to keep them alive.
Only when we hold the 'rule' of WWJD (What would Jesus do?) alongside these issues do we get any clear understanding of The Right Thing To Do!
When we speak of such things to Salvationists, there are some who get up and leave. They so disagree with our actions. How can we best prove our love for these?
The question here must be, 'What does God think?' I'm happy to be judged by him .... He'll get it right!

Friends

We have been friends for 11 years now. She was a 'street hostess' who used to throw her arms around me on the street corner and greet me with enormous hugs.
Had a call from her a few weeks ago.(Yes we still keep in touch) She wanted me, along with my wife to come to an engagement party. It was great to see her happy at last.
Today I got a text from her and she asked if I would 'Marry her'. After the response, 'I'm already married' and I imagine hoots of laughter I texted again to say I would be delighted.
It's been 11 long years but I am learning that often God does some of his best work over a long period of time.
He made the world in six days but His crowning Glory was mankind.
It's taken Him over 60 years to knock the rough edges off this bloke!

Fish and Chips anyone?

The young Glue-sniffer referred to in an earlier post, had all her teeth removed.
What makes that remarkable, was the fact that she was just 24 years of age.
The Government very kindly not only paid for her surgery, but also for the new dentures. They had been manufactured and she had them inserted immediately.
She looked great. I mused that this might be the start of a new beginning for her and watched to see how she might be affected by this transformation.
Just imagine our emotions when she turned up without her dentures, gummy, hollow cheeked etc.
We enquired about the new teeth, thinking maybe there was a problem and she was having adjustments made. She related that the family had bought some Fish an Chips and that she had tucked into them with great gusto. The teeth got in the way so out they came and were wrapped carefully in some of the paper surrounding the meal.
Meal over, the wrapping paper was consigned to the open fire, roaring in the fireplace. You guessed it! Teeth and all were consumed. Of couse this lass was far too poor to be able to consider insurance.
It seems to me that some folk are just hard to help.

Current Evangelism ideas

Chapel Brass is a small group of musicians who are reaching out to ex Salvation Army bandsmen.
Folk we used to play with who have left banding are invited to join us and 'have a blow'
What great guys have come and now join with us to use again their God given talants.
This idea could take off and spread to other cities and towns world-wide!

Pimps or minders

Eleven years ago we were driving down Manchester Street in Christchurch New Zealand.
This was in the early days of our Street Outreach Service (SOS) programme.
I was sitting in the front passenger seat with the window down. We rolled to a stop and I called to the lovely lady on the footpath, "Would you like a coffee luv?" Out of the bush a man's voice yelled, "Yes please, milk and two sugars"
No doubt about who he was minding!
God created mankind to be God-Centred.
Adam's sin made us Self-Centred.
Jesus died and rose from the dead to restore us to be God-Centred.
WOW that just blows me away.

Sluts,slags,whores,prostitutes

Why is it that we call these ladies such vile names, yet the blokes who use them - we call clients.Such a respectable name, don't you think?Over a ten year period working with these 'Street hostesses' I discover most of them are real nice people!I was present in our Local Council Chambers when one councillor began berating these women for throwing used condoms over the fences of private homes and creating a nuisance. I said, "Hello" (a word used in our hose a lot by my much younger friends and family) and to great effect I thought! "It's not the girls who did the dastardly deed ........... It's the blokes!"Again an injustice perpetrated on the vunerable-visible. But no self-respecting street hostess would clean up afterwards.

By what name are you known?

People call me Bob.
That's great. Both mum and dad did.
Some call me Uncle Bob.
That has a nice family ring to it.
One girl from the "street" asked if she could call me Dad.
That was worrying. I couldn't see a family resemblance. Did I know her mother?
Why would she say that?
She went on to explain her background. Years of abuse etc.
"You are the first male who has wanted nothing from me." Sure, call me dad if you like.
Some on the streets called me Major Bob, others just Bob.
One lass called me 'major pain in the arse.'
Now there was a name I loved. It spoke volumes about our relationship.
But more about her in later blogs.
Jesus was happy to hang out with 'streeties' and take his reputation from the outcast, the unloved, the unlovely.

ME TOO!