Gifts from God... a beautiful community in Sarasota, FL

This is an email that Tom and I received early Monday morning.  It's from Deb Gangemi, a dear friend of Children's HopeChest who has partnered with us on different events and projects and definitely is living a life of joyful compassion with her husband and two sons
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Hey Tom and Daniel!  I thought of both of you while at service yesterday.  The Gangemi family is part of Gifts from God, a church for the homeless, not because we are homeless but because it is the most alive group of His believers we have ever been around.  It's is one of the fastest growing churches in town, with many people who aren't homeless showing up. 
 
Yesterday's sermon was about being grateful for the blessings we have, then segued into the plight of the millions upon millions of orphans, homeless and starving children in the world.  While a large number of the people attending are homeless, they are wanting to know how to care for those who have less.  I am humbled and driven to my knees by these people!
 
They have started a Saturday morning activity where people can come and have breakfast, then they go out into the surrounding area (a very poor section of town!) to give food away, share the love of Jesus, play with the kids and help the elderly.  Over a ton of food was given away this past Saturday!

Gifts from God also has a car ministry to get working cars into the possession of homeless single moms so they can get a job and get to it (some of the cars are fixed by the homeless men)!  Another is a residential ministry to help men get out from under the bondage to drugs and alcohol addictions (and those men serve at the Sunday services!).  Food pantries.  Basketball games for kids.  Their goal is to "love them until they ask why".
 
The children's ministry has grown to 140 kids (we have over 1400 homeless kids in our county!!!!)and the youth ministry to 30.  They are expecting 300 kids at a Happy Birthday party for Jesus in a couple of weeks.  On that day, they are planning to give new sleeping bags away, as well as toiletries and warm clothing to the adults.  There is a vibrant women's Bible study meeting, so the men chose to start one and had 50 men show up the first night.  This is all happening in an open air pavilion, where people start gathering early on Sunday morning, even though the main service doesn't start until 3 PM (after free haircuts, medical care and clothing give away, but before the free supper).
 
I was speaking with the preacher's wife about a book she recommends I read (Heidi Baker's Compelled by Love).  She wants to borrow my copy of Fields of the Fatherless.  I readily agreed!
 
An astounding thing is happening here: people with homes, money, resources, talent are showing up.  The common thing binding all of us together is this: we love Jesus and believe with all we are that we are His Body.  I feel like I am on the Great Adventure of my lifetime!

I thought of both of you, and how I think you would have been blessed to watch a band of His big kids, who in most ways would be deemed unfortunate by many, go be Him to a world that is lost and hurting.  I can only imagine how welcomed and at home you would have felt. 
 
The Kingdom is near.....................and it is very dear.......................

Comments

[wendi]

that is one of the most amazing and HOPEful things I've read in many many days, my friend...thank you for sharing this, Daniel!! Wow! What have we become?

[Melinda Devenouges]

This is so inspiring! Thanks for sharing. I love it that those who are being served are now serving others. Isn't that what it is all about? It renews my hope. Lately I have been questioned on my heart and passion for the orphans and was told "this is not for everyone" so to know that there are people with nothing (at least monetarly speaking) that are willing to give of themselves, just really makes me happy!

[Steve coats]

It is such an incredible high for me to hang out with the homeless people and just love on them. We take a group of about a half dozen or so on the 4th saturday of every month to a homeless shelter here in Bend, OR called The Shepherds House and serve them a hot dinner, do a few worship songs, and i give about a 15 minute (or so) message. I just feel like that's where Jesus is hanging out in Bend on that night. We serve a mighty and powerful God, and it's awesome to be where He is. Those guys just want someone to talk to! We send a van down on Sunday night to pick up anyone from there who wants to come to Journey (our sunday night service) and anyone from the homeless camps. I wish I had a bajillion dollars to at least clothe them well, and feed them well, and put a good roof over their heads. But for now, hopefully, the love of Jesus will just spill out and get on them.

In Him
Steve