In Moore Square (click here for a map) in downtown, Raleigh, there will be hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon, lemonade and much more (we hope, anyway). If somebody could bring some guitars, footballs, a wiffle ball and so on, that would be pretty cool too.
Why are we doing this, you ask? Because who you eat with, matters. Jesus believed that with every fiber of his being and his entire public ministry gave testimony to this. When he ate with prostitutes and tax collectors, he was making a statement about who God is. And when we ignore the homeless and poor to eat with folks like us, we make a statement about who we think God is.
Other reasons:
- Because while no doubt you have friends and loved ones to spend the Fourth with, many of the homeless and poor do not. Bring your friends and loved ones with you.
- Because on holidays the soup kitchens are closed, so any free meals usually consist of bag lunches with peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Surely we can do better than that?
- Because when the poor go hungry, it ticks Jesus off.
- Because you need more friends who have less than you do.
- Because you will get to eat with some really cool people.
- Because things like friendship, community, dignity and happiness are important in the Kingdom of God.
If you would like to help, here is a list of things we really need. If you have any questions, or are planning to come out with your family or friends to celebrate with us, please email Melissa at melissa@lovewins.info and let us know.
]]>We spent an afternoon assembling hygiene kits that we will distribute late to our friends who live outside. Because of their help, we assembled over 100 kits that will provide much needed hygiene items to people who desperately need them.
You can see more pictures from their visit on our Facebook page.
If your church or small group would like to help us out here at Love Wins, please let us know!
]]>If you have photos of your Love Wins stickers in the “wild”, please send them in or post them on our Facebook page. We want your help to spread the message that love truly does win!
(You can get your sticker here!)
Our delayed-but-sincerely-heartfelt thanks goes to:
Adventure Landing
The Angus Barn
Barley & Vine
Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
Burning Coal Theatre
Brio Tuscan Grille
Carino’s Italian (Brier Creek)
Carolina Ale House
Cathy’s Paint Your Own
Champps Americana
Charlie Goodnight’s Comedy Club
The Cheesecake Factory
Chick-fil-A @ Town Ridge Square
Cold Stone Creamery
Comedy Worx
Cracker Barrel
Fat Daddy’s
Frankie’s Fun Park
Fuddrucker’s
Hand Embroidery by Katie Moore
Harris Teeter (Leesville Road)
Hooters (Morrisville)
I Crochet Therefore I Am
Imagine Boutique
Karen Spears Zacharias
Longhorn Steakhouse
O’Charley’s (Brier Creek)
Old North Images
Olive Garden
Papa John’s Pizza (Strickland Road)
Pier 1 Imports
Mason’s
McDonald’s (Creedmoor Road)
MP Originals
NOFO
Red Robin
Regal Entertainment Group
Rush Rush Music
Sam Ash Music Stores
Simply Photography
Starbucks (Brier Creek)
Sweet Tomatoes
Total Wine
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
…and a HUGE thanks to Melissa Poole and family, who pulled together all the raffle, silent auction and food donations.
]]>News & Observer religion report Yonat Shimron came out to the benefit – here’s an excerpt from her article in Monday’s paper:
Zacharias, who grew up in a Georgia single-wide, is not out to debunk Christianity. She is a believer, and her book is laced with stories of people who, she thinks, best convey a genuine Christian message. Hugh Hollowell, who founded Love Wins, is one of them.
A former Marine who gave up a successful career as a financial planner, Hollowell now devotes his life to helping homeless people in Moore Square. He is one of the people featured in Zacharias’ book, a collection of 19 stories.
About 100 people – including four or five homeless people – showed up at the Meymandi Theatre at the Murphey School for a silent auction and raffle to benefit that ministry. They listened to Hollowell and Zacharias propound their view of the Christian message – one of neighborly love.
(Word on the street is that a second article focused primarily on Love Wins is in the works…so stay tuned!)
]]>Without further ado, let’s get to the exciting stuff ~
Love Wins Benefit Party on 3/21
The Love Wins family invites YOU to celebrate with us the evening of Sunday, March 21! We are are becoming a self-standing, legal nonprofit, which will provide some perks we couldn’t receive before. Plus, Love Wins is featured in the newly released book, Will Jesus Buy Me A Double-Wide?, by Karen Spears Zacharias (and she’s coming to the party!).
- What: Food, fellowship, live music, swag, raffle prizes…did we say party?!
- When: March 21, 7-10pm
- Where: 224 Polk Street in Raleigh (Meymandi Theatre at the Murphey School, a.k.a. Burning Coal Theater’s downtown performance space)
- More Details Here
(We are in need of some help with supplies, promotion, etc., so stay tuned for more info about that soon.)
Love Wins on Facebook
We’re finally on! You can now find us at www.facebook.com/LoveWinsMinistries. Thanks to the many of you who have already become a fan…tell your friends!
…And lastly, here’s an excerpt of a review of Karen’s new book, Will Jesus Buy Me A Double-Wide?:
]]>One of the most heart-wrenching stories was about a Marine who feeds the homeless, not so he can preach the gospel, but because it is the gospel. The poem “Being Homeless” by Hugh Hollowell will open your eyes as it speaks truth where assumptions run rampant.
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
(Luke 1:46-55)
Leading up to that first Christmas, Mary wanted:
The lowly lifted up.
The mighty humbled.
The proud scattered.
The hungry filled.
The rich to experience lack.
God’s mercy.
Probably not a bad place to start. What do you want out of Christmas this year?
]]>
For about two years, I have known Mike. He is only sporadically housed and, because of a debilitating injury, he is awaiting a ruling on disability. If there is such a thing as a homeless cheerleader, he is it. He smiles, he makes others laugh and, strangely enough, he always has a camera in his hands. You will often find him with a disposable film camera, taking candid snaps. He loves it when church groups come out, because there is so much interaction, so many scenes.
About a month ago, Chad lent Mike his digital camera for a few weeks, to see what he would come up with. He took some awesome pics! As a result, we have made Mike the unofficial, official photographer for Love Wins Ministries. We are processing and editing some pics he has shot for us, but meanwhile here are some from the Fourth. In the future, we will give Mike his own author account here, so his pictures will be their own post.
More writeup on the Fourth is forthcoming (no pun intended).
]]>Three hours with people who did not look like me, who don’t have homes like mine, who don’t have jobs like mine, and who don’t believe the same way I do. I spent three hours with people who care about me not because of material things, but because I am their friend and the feeling is mutual.
Love Wins sponsored a community cookout and the poor spent time together. Some of us were poor in spirit, some poor in money, some poor in friends, but we all gathered to celebrate the freedom we have as citizens of our country. There weren’t any prayers prayed, there weren’t any invitations given, we just showed up to love and be loved. I guess like we like to say, Love Wins.
Note from Hugh: This is the first of several posts that will talk about what happened on the 4th of July in Moore Square. Pictures are coming soon.
]]>I am posting below the things we need: This list will be updated daily as offers of things roll in. If it is not on this list, we probably have it covered. If you want to help with something on the list, just tell us in the comments and someone will email you back.
The list: updated 6-26-2009
15 Watermelons
500 Hot Dog Buns
Mustard
Catsup
Powdered Lemonade
600 12oz plastic cups
6 rolls paper towels
1 box 33 gallon trash bags
4 long folding tables
2 propane grills, with tanks