March 30th, 2009 § 0
Just a quick heads up that March’s newsletter went out on Friday of last week. If you did not get yours, let me know – some folks said theirs was booted to the spam folder in their email client. And if you are not subscribed, I hope you will consider it.
Also, I included a link to our donate page, but the donate button was on the blink. If you wanted to help support us and tried Friday, go give it another try. It should be working now.
February 12th, 2009 § 1
Just before Christmas, I was at a meeting of Social Justice oriented pastors. During a break, I was talking with a pastor who works for [Really Huge Denomination] at the Regional level. She is ‘over’ many churches, and was really interested in what we are doing. She mentioned she would like us to talk about me talking to various small groups and pastors in those churches. Then she asks me “Where is your office?”. The conversation lasted about 12 seconds after I told her I work from home, but not before she said “Oh, I had no idea you were so small…”.
I have to tell you, that was a little disheartening. In fact, it was downright depressing. Partly because, of course I would like to have an entry to so many churches, with the endorsements of their higher-ups. We have goals we want to accomplish that would be much easier with the support and financial backing a Really Huge Church could give us.
But the most depressing thing was that I had somehow failed to communicate that we see small as a blessing. Small, to quote the title of a book well worth reading, is beautiful.
You see, because we are small, we know the names of the people we buy shoes for. Because we are small, I can blow off the whole afternoon of appointments to go sit in a hospital room with a friend who tried to kill herself. Because we are small, I am welcome in the soup kitchens and the shelters, even if I am not so welcome in the board rooms and the churches. Because we are small, there is no need to make up metrics that justify what we are doing out here. We are free to love people and pray for peace and work for justice and have confidence that God, when all is said and done, bends that way.
That being said, all living things must either grow or decay, and Love Wins Ministries is no different. The last six weeks have found us in conversations about how we can help build more relationships between folks with houses and folks that live on the streets without becoming ‘institutional’ and stagnant. Or how we can capture the freedom of smallness I just described and yet be acceptable (or at least accessible) to people and organizations like that pastor lady, who values size over substance.
Over the next few weeks and months, lots of changes will be happening. We will be discussing some things on our blog we have not before, like our boots and shoes ministry, and you will be hearing from other voices over there as well.
In the meantime, keep praying for us as we build, grow and seek the will of God while we, in our small way, keep loving folks most people would rather just went away.
December 6th, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends,
As much as I like writing these emails, they necessarily have to take a back seat to the actual work of ministry itself. I almost did not get this one out to you-not because of a lack of material or information, but because of the time demands created by being in this sort of intensive ministry.
Pardon the format, but If I did not write it this way, then this month it would not get written.
Updates:
Many of you have asked about James and Ruby. They are much better off than they were. James has almost fully recovered and is back to doing odd jobs, which takes a great deal of economic stress off of them (and us). While they are struggling less than they did, life for them is only returning to the normal level of chaos and confusion that is living one week away from being on the street. James is looking for a more permanent job, so if you know of someone who needs a handyman/mechanic type, let me know.
The Gathering (another thing many of you have asked about) is still going, and going great. We are still meeting, still trying to love each other and still working out what following Jesus in our world looks like. Hopefully after the first of the year we will make it more public, but right now we are still trying to own it before we can share it. Continue to pray for us and if you want to send a small check to help us pay rent on the meeting room, that is always appreciated.
I went to Cincinnati a few weeks ago to hang out with Bart Campolo and see how their ministry works up there. Bart and his family were very gracious and helpful and because of some of our discussions, it will eventually lead to improvements in the way we minister to our poor and homeless friends. I am, however, still having nightmares about the 22 hour bus ride.
Last Tuesday I spoke at Peace College during their chapel service for Hunger and Homelessness week. In addition, I am teaching at Raleigh Mennonite Church this weekend and on Monday of next week, I am giving the message in the chapel service at Campbell University. In short, I am speaking a lot, which is, as Martha Stewart used to say, a good thing. If you have a small group, Church, Sunday School class or anything else you need a speaker for, hit me up. I use complete sentences and everything. 
Over the last month, I partnered with Connections Church in Cary to collect warm clothing for my friends who are feeling the recent cold front that has hit Raleigh. Last weekend about six of us passed out hoodies and socks to some very cold people.
Thanks Connections people!
In short, I am still here, still building relationships and helping some very broken people learn how to love in the way of Jesus. Doing ministry among and with people who seldom change is at times, discouraging. There are times I wish I could brag more about life changing encounters or financial turn-abouts. And while those things do happen, what is much more common is folks who were hurting yesterday still hurting today. The difference is that now they no longer have to hurt alone. That, I think, is no small thing.
Love wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
October 15th, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends,
It was the middle of the night when my phone rang. I answer it, a bit afraid, for no good news comes in the middle of the night.
It was T–, and she was crying. “B– is gone, and I don’t know where he is.” In between the sobs and the occasional wail, it comes out that he had left for work that morning at 8am and now, near midnight, she had not heard from him. He had never shown up for work.
This would be scary to anyone, but B– has a history of heroin and crack use and yesterday was payday. In addition, B– had left the Cripps a while back when he decided to try to turn his life around, and death threats had been issued. Before she had called me, T– had already called the hospitals and the jail. No one had seen or heard anything from him. B- was missing.
“I am scared to be out here alone. B– protects me. Who is going to protect me now?”
Together we decide that the safest place for her tonight is at the bus station, where the homeless have allies who watch out for them and she can sleep unmolested. She begs me to stay on the phone with her, and we talk for over two hours as she walks to the bus station. The conversation wanders from her childhood, to Raleigh, to her kids with three different men, to B— and his addiction problems to how disappointed she is with how life has turned out.
Finally, after 2am, she tells me that she is safe at the bus station and is going to try to get some sleep. I tell her to call me when she knows anything. “Thanks for everything”, she says. “I had no one to call and tell about B–. I just wanted someone to know.”
Just so you know, B– showed up the next day. It seems there was a misunderstanding; something about cousins, and Durham, and a lost cell phone. That was his story anyway, and no matter how feeble it sounded to me, T– was happy to see him, and that night, they were back in the park, together.
When you boil it all down, this is what I do: I give people someone to call. Someone who cares, someone who will sit on the phone for two hours in the middle of the night and listen so a burned out homeless woman will feel safe. I have a shoulder they can lean on, an ear to listen to their stories, hands they can hold when prayers seem unanswered. It is nothing special; like most things all it takes is the will to do it.
Some updates:
Again, it is only because of you and your support that I am able to be out here, answering the phone at midnight when things go wrong, getting sick people groceries and sharing the love of God in the way of Jesus with some pretty awesome people. Thank you for letting me be here in the broken places.
Love wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
September 3rd, 2008 § 0
(NB: We always post our email newsletter on the website about a week after we send it to our subscribers. The newsletter was delayed last month, which is why the August newsletter is posted here in September…)
Dear Friends,
The astute among you will note that the August newsletter almost ended up being the September newsletter. The letter this month has been hard to write, not because I don’t have things to tell you but because I have so much to tell you and I try to keep these letters to a reasonable length. Finally I was forced to give up any literary aspirations and just dump it all before you. In no particular order, here are a few things that are going on:
Looking over that, it looks like a full plate, and it is. But add to that the day-to-day work of standing in line, taking people to the grocery store, negotiating with landlords, helping people move, praying with people who have no hope, standing in the rain in the soup kitchen line, visiting those in jail, throwing parties for those who got out of jail and what you end up with is one very tired, very drained, but very happy, Hugh.
I am so happy to be out here, working for His glory, to His purpose. That you allow me to be out here, supporting me and our work with your financial gifts and your prayers means so very much. That there is so much to do only serves to emphasize the necessity of what we are doing and the need for your help to accomplish it.
Together, we get to be hope to those who have no hope, to speak for those who have no voice and to love those who thought the world had given up on them. Being out here is never easy, but there is good in this world, and it is worth fighting for. Thanks for helping me fight.
Love Wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
August 1st, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends;
One recurring problem we have in our mission to work with and minister to the poor and homeless population of Raleigh is that of how to disciple those who have decided to follow Jesus. I know many of you represent various churches that would be more than happy to have these people attend your Sunday worship services and, in some cases, that has happened. However, we have to face the fact that many of them have had bad experiences with the church in the past, many are not comfortable surrounded by people who are obviously from a different class than they are and some are “pre-christian” – you cannot take it for granted that they have heard of the Sermon on the Mount or The Parable of the Good Samaritan.
Because of this, we have decided to put together a weekly gathering of sorts, where we can build some structure, begin to build relationships across class boundaries and build some accountability with each other as followers of Jesus. We envision a time of bible study and discussion, followed by community time where we discuss our prayer requests, our struggles and triumphs. Monthly we plan to eat together, each bringing items as we are able. While many of those who gather with us will be homeless or poor, we envision the participants being from a variety of class backgrounds and ethnicities. In fact, we are committed to it, celebrating the diversity found in the Kingdom of God. You may be homeless, an accountant, a pastor or a banker, but we are all equal in the Kingdom of God.
If you look at the description I wrote above, you will see it does not look like “church” and that is on purpose: we are not starting a church. The people I serve do not need (nor will they participate in) a lecture. They need discipleship, accountability, relationships, models, inspiration, to be loved and someone to love. In fact, we all do.
Right now, several of us are working s an Ad-Hoc planning committee, working on putting this together and discussing the finer points. Everything is on the table as we discuss times, frequency, venues, styles, order, and so on. As you can imagine, we need your help in the following areas:
Prayer
A lot of prayer has already went into this, but we need much more. We need prayer that we will be guided to make wise decisions, that resources are provided and that, above all, we glorify Him as we embark on this additional phase of our ministry here. If you would commit to pray for us, we would be very grateful.
A Venue
We are looking for a place within walking distance of Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. We envision starting with 10-15 people, so we do not need a huge space initially. For several reasons, we do not want to do it outside nor in a private home. Oh, and we have very little budget (practically none), so very inexpensive or free would be good. We are very partial to doing it on Saturday afternoon late, but ultimately, I suppose venue will determine time. If you know of such a venue, please reply to this email email me and let me know.
Financial help
The way we are envisioning it, the only real expense will be whatever we need to spend on a venue. We already own Bibles, prayer is free and monthly meals are potluck. However, we may need help to pay the rent if we have to. Any donations you wanted to send specifically for this (info on how to do that is here) would be very appreciated. If you would like to be kept up to date on this aspect of the planning, please reply to this email email me and let me know.
As we add additional ways we minister to the poor and homeless of Raleigh, it brings new challenges, new relationships and new chances for growth. As always, I thank you for supporting me, for praying for me and for allowing me into your lives, wallets and email inboxes. Together, we can work to demonstrate to the world what love in the Way of Jesus looks like.
Love wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
July 8th, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends,
If you come into this expecting to save everyone, you will be dissapointed. You will not get most addicts to stop using crack, you will not get everyone a job and you will not get most Christians out of their nice, safe suburban churches and get them actually engaged in loving people who have less than them.
These things often do not happen.
But sometimes they do.
And sometimes, you are grateful for what you can get, like the guy who calls you, so excited because he got a two week ticket at the day labor place. Or the couple you help get a place to live, and they actually pay you back for the deposit you fronted them. The church that takes you in and asks ‘What can we do to help you?”, and then they do it. The ‘bag lady’ who offers to lend you money when you mention you left your wallet at home.
None of these things are big, I know. But, then again, one image Jesus uses again and again is how things start small and grow into something extraordinary. And the longer I do this, the more convinced I become that God’s love expressed through relationships is pretty much the only thing that will change things out here and in fact, anywhere.
So, out here we are not trying anything too big. We are trying to love people, to get to know them and get them to know us. Don’t get me wrong; we want to change the world. But we know that history tells us that the only thing that has ever changed the world was a small group of dedicated folks.
This Revolution (and don’t be confused, we are talking about no less than that) comes about by having supper with Ramon. It comes from making sure Betty has Tylenol. It is about taking Tammy and Brian shopping for groceries. It is about playing in the park with Terry and Jamal. It means watching William lay on the sidewalk and draw, and laying down next to him and asking questions about his art. It is walking to get a milkshake with Chris and Steph. It is plotting a cookout for your neighbors with Alyssa and John. It is a Revolution where the weapons are relationships and the stakes are priceless.
So that’s what we do… small stuff. Unimportant stuff. Minor stuff. Revolutionary, world changing stuff. Some of you are out here with us, are supporting us, are beside us, pushing against boundaries, fighting for the people society has given up on. And some of you are not. For you, we invite you to believe, just a little bit, that another world is possible, and then come alongside us and help us to build something really, really… small.
Love Wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
May 26th, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends,
One question I get asked a lot, especially by those in traditional churches, is about my statistics. How many people I work with get off the street, how many get sober, how many get ‘saved’. I have to tell you up front; I have crummy statistics. But I am OK with that because I have some awesome stories.
Like the young couple I was talking to right after they heard her mother was in the hospital with heart trouble and they had no way to get home (200 miles away) to be with her. They are upset and crying and depressed and really pouring it out to me. While we were talking, an ‘evangelist’ pressed a tract in her hand and told her that if she gave her life to Jesus, he would change her life. As a result of that day, that couple and I have an ever increasing bond that has led to them making serious changes in their life. That evangelist saw a statistic, but that couple and I have a story.
Or the guy who braved the snow to visit my friend Renee in the hospital, bringing a collection of fruit, peanut butter sandwiches and crackers he took up from the other homeless. When I scolded him for coming, he looked me in the eye and told me, “Hugh, all my life I have not been worth much. I have been in and out of jail, in and out of rehab, in and out of relationships. I am 38 years old and you are the first person my whole life to ever tell me they are proud of me. I love you, man. I am here for you.” All those Social Workers saw a statistic, but he and I have a story.
There is the lady who had to leave her husband because liquor was destroying her life and he refused to quit when she did. She moved into a small hovel owned by a slumlord where she could barely pay the rent. When ends did not meet one month, the landlord filed eviction papers. I went to court with her and all the money but $50. The statistics said we did not stand a chance, but when she showed up in court and he did not, we got the eviction overturned and bought a few more days to raise the money. Now she is still in her house and still tells her friends the story of when she and I went to court.
Stories, not statistics. Names, not numbers. Meals, not metrics.
You see, we operate from this crazy premise we see in the teachings of Jesus that love, once given, spreads and grows (sorta like yeast, or a mustard seed…) and takes hold and, in small ways and in incremental bits, works to change us, then each other, and then, the world, working towards truly making it on earth as it is in heaven.
The way it happens is not through statistics but through stories shared over a plate of food, on a walk through the park together, sitting with them in the living room while a loved one dies in the bedroom. It takes being there.
You guys bless me incredibly by allowing me to be out there, touching lives and building relationships with people the world has written off but God has not. That you support me in doing that with your prayers, your time and your money mean more to me than I can ever say. Because of you, some people who have reason to have a low opinion of the church get to feel what the love of Jesus feels like.
Love Wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
April 15th, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends,
When I write these letters, my gut instinct is to tell you a feel-good success story about mission work here in the inner-city. This is largely from a desire to protect you from the gritty realities I see. As a result, you may have a somewhat skewed view; a sort of Lake Wobegon version of the inner city, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, all the children are above average and the love of Jesus is on everyone’s lips. Is that Kumbaya I hear in the background?
Well, the reality is quite different. Where I am most days is very dark and very oppressive. I am surrounded by people with no hope, with little vision and few dreams. I have seen the ravage of crack, the sure knowledge of certain death by full blown AIDS, the face of hunger on a child and the desperation in a mother’s face as she tries to convince the workers at the Plasma Bank that she should be allowed to sell her blood for the third time this week so she can buy medicine for her sick child.
A typical day (if there is such a thing) may find me sitting on the steps of a church with a crack addict as we wait for the soup kitchen to open, being run off the steps of a church by the cops, or sitting in the dark with someone whose utilities just got cut off, with the certain knowledge the temperature will not get above 50 degrees for the next week. Some days I try to convince women who are 6 months pregnant that they should at least consider quitting smoking, other days I sit with a women as she grieves the loss of her son the State took immediately after she gave birth last week. I listen to stories of betrayal, of sexual assault, of brokenness, of longing for love.
However, in the darkest of days, I see a glimmer of the love that shines through the darkness. Sometimes it is something big, like someone getting a job that can get them off the streets. Sometimes it is the alcoholic who tells me she is four days sober. And some days, it is just the guy in the soup kitchen sitting next to me sharing his excess food with the obviously hungry guy across the table. In the depths of darkness I see the promise of resurrection, the hope of love, the promises of the God of the second chance.
It is in my nature to want to fix things, and sometimes, that happens. Sometimes I am able to use my education, my relationships, my skills and your money to solve problems, remove obstacles and help change to happen. Much more often, however, as a friend of mine recently reminded me, working with the poor is often not about fixing them or getting things done. No, most of what I do is share the rough journey with them, sitting there with them in the dark after the lights have been shut off.
Recently I have met and worked with some awesome people who want to help us love people. A few of them have provided some financial support, some have donated practical items such as socks and toothbrushes and others are praying for us and the work. Please never forget that while I may be the “point man” and the one who writes these letters, the work is made possible by a team of folks, both on the front lines with me and in the rear, providing support.
Right now, our biggest need is for reliable, predictable income. If you are able to commit even as little as $5 or $10 a month, this would go a long way in helping us to write a budget and take on bigger projects. If this is something you are able to do, shoot me an email and we will work out the details.
Thank you for your love and support; I thank God for you all.
Love Wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell
February 13th, 2008 § 0
Dear Friends,
I recently made a short video about my missionary work here in Raleigh (the video can be viewed here) and in it, I said Jesus is all about stretching my comfort zone. Never is that more apparent to me than right now.
If there is one thing I now know that I did not realize 6 months ago when I began this journey, it is that creatively loving the poor and homeless takes time and money.
Whether it is sitting in the Social Security office helping an immigrant get his papers straight or taking a 19 year old runaway to the bus station so he can go home or listening to a pregnant woman tell me why she refuses to leave her abusive boyfriend, it takes time. It takes money too. Bus Passes so people can go to work, long distance phone cards so people can call home and repair burnt bridges, simple birthday gifts (because dignity and fun are important in the kingdom of God), clothes for a job interview, bus tickets home, groceries for the lady who was sick and could not work last week or just fifteen dollars so an immigrant can get his ID straightened out, it adds up quickly.
I have wrestled with how to deal with this for months. First, I considered doing less. Maybe I should limit what I do to only a few individuals. Maybe I would only help the homeless on the weekend. Maybe I could… Nope. I am as certain as I have flesh upon my bones that God wants me to be out here, loving these people, helping them to be reconciled with their families, with their society, with their God.
Maybe if I worked more? The cold simple truth is that I cannot earn enough from my freelance work to support both myself and the mission work that I do. Well, maybe I could, but it would involve working so many hours I would have nothing left over for mission work. Besides, much of what needs to be done must take place during ‘office hours’, meaning any writing I am getting done is having to wait until late at night, or, more often, the wee hours of the morning.
No, the only way I can do what I have no doubt God has called me to do is with your help. In short, I am stepping way beyond my comfort zone in asking you to support a new ministry that will communicate the endless, life changing grace of God to the poor and destitute, first to those here in Raleigh, but I pray eventually far beyond that.
Of course, in a very real way I am asking you to support me as an urban missionary as well, to give me as much time as possible to creatively love the hurt, lost and broken people that surround me here in Raleigh.
Many of you know what I do out here and how passionate I am about this. For those of you who do not, I look forward to sharing more with you through these newsletters and when you come to visit us as well. In the meantime, I hope and pray that you believe in me enough to help.
I want to share with you a few things I am working on, so you will have a better idea of where your money is going. Here are just a few of the projects I want to implement with your help:
There are many more; honestly, I could go on for pages. These are my more lofty goals; in reality, I will be spending most of my time just loving people that society has turned their back on.
I realize the list of projects above is oriented toward meeting physical needs. I questioned this approach often in the early days, but my friend (and fellow worker) Chad showed me how, by meeting physical needs, we can earn the right to be heard and thus gain inroads to build friendships, help them gain longterm stability and have meaningful spiritual conversations.
Practical Stuff:
Starting a nonprofit is an expensive proposition. There are legal things to be done, bank accounts to be opened, mailing addresses to be obtained, phone lines to get and so on. Our early estimates show something like $1500- $2000 needed to get this thing kicked off. After that, we will need people willing to contribute to our ongoing support, a figure that has yet to be determined, but will likely be in excess of $2000 monthly, but honestly, any amount you can contribute, either as a one time gift or a regular monthly contribution is greatly needed and appreciated.
If, after prayer and reflection, you feel like this is a ministry you can support, Thank You. At this ‘pre-start-up’ phase, our friends at Merge Community Church have agreed to accept donations on our behalf until we can get all the legal stuff straightened out.
If you want to send checks, money orders, cash or the like, please make it out to:
“Merge Community Church” & put “Love Wins” on the memo line. (It is deductible and we will get you a receipt and so on. ) Then mail it to:
Hugh Hollowell
Box 415
Raleigh, NC 27602
NOTE: This is a new address.
If you are an internet type, we can accept PayPal funds… just reply to this email and ask and I will give you the information on how to make that work.
I know I did not grace you with updates from current projects this month, tell you of my meeting with politicians or Rescue Mission officials, share with you all the cool new ministry partners I have met or told you about the many ways God is blessing the work we are doing here. However, I have done all that and more on my humble little weblog (or ‘blog, if you prefer), located at http://lovewinsalways.org/blog (yes, that is a new website).
I feel so very fortunate to be here and to be doing this work. Thank you for partnering with us to make it all possible. You are making a difference in the lives of some very cool, very loved and very poor, people.
Love wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell