"We had our first stuffing party two weeks ago and set up a table at church with all of the bags available for the taking. Everyone has been raving about them and I gave away my second one today!...It is so much fun (and a blessing) to see the surprised look on the homeless person’s face when I drive up with the bag of goodies already prepared.
I am looking forward to having another stuffing party in 2 weeks to resupply my church and have extra to sell to friends of people who go to my church. Their friends are beginning to notice that they are handing out bags instead of money and want some too. This is such a great ministry and I am so glad that God gave this idea to y’all."
Leia Horton from SW Orlando, Florida emailed us about the H2O chapter she and others started. The speech and debate club she coaches partnered with a church in the area to fill H2O bags. She describes the exciting day:
"Voices of Truth (speech & debate club), SW Orlando built the 500 bags on Saturday, March 14th. The kids came over to First Baptist Church Windermere to explain to the congregation what this ministry project was all about and the bags were distributed on two different Wednesday evenings and Sundays between all the services. Many Christians were empowered to help the homeless. Praise God! May He be glorified. And may the homeless of greater Orlando come to know Him!"
These pictures are of their bag filling day!
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Email us your story or pictures of your H2O chapter, and we'll put it on the blog!
We must go live to feed the hungry Stand beside the broken We must go Stepping forward keep us from just singing Move us into action We must go
These words from Tim Hughes' song, God of Justice, have struck me hard lately. As I sing the words, I often overlook what I am actually asking God. I'm asking Him to keep me from just standing by my pew at church singing songs about living out my faith, but instead, actually walking out the door to feed the hungry, speak out for the oppressed, and wipe the tears of the broken. The prayer in those words is far more life changing than I care to realize.
In America especially, it is easy for the church to get into the habit of singing, thinking, and saying our faith, but not really living it out. Christians here aren't pressed with persecution demanding from them true devotion to Christ like Christians in other countries. Instead, we get by with giving little back to Jesus.
I want to challenge you to go against the "norm" of our culture. I encourage you to move into action along with me. Action that goes beyond words uttered from lips. Action that stands out from the surrounding culture. Action that would go to the grave for Jesus.
Dare to be different. Dare to be unpopular. Dare to live on the edge and out of your comfort zone. Dare to make Jesus look better than you. Dare to risk everything for the sake of the Gospel.
Go!
Matthew 28:18-20"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
Homeless people are often "invisible" to those busily passing by. However, as this video shows, homeless people are no different than us and great things can happen when we open our eyes and love them.
Proverbs 28:27Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
"For about a week or two , I stared at the H20 bags sitting on the floor of my car. Of course now that I had the bags, I didn't drive past any panhandlers. Finally one day on the way home from school I took the freeway exit and was stopped at the red. I looked to my left and saw a young woman (she couldn't have been older than 20) sitting on the ground. Her weathered cardboard sign read "sleeping in car, anything helps, God bless." My eyes quickly glanced at the white bags in my car and then to the red light. I sat there for a second, nervously trying to build up the courage to offer it to her. By the strength of God I grabbed a bag, rolled down my window and asked if she was hungry as I extended my arm with the bag in my hand towards her. As she got up and walked towards my car I caught a glimpse of her face, previously hidden under a hood. Though she was wearing old, ratty clothes and was covered with a brown dust there was something beautiful about her. Her blue eyes met mine as she quietly let out a "thank you" and gave a small smile. She gently took the bag from my hands and silently resumed her position on the curb. The light turned green and I was off, probably never to see her again.
Keep in mind this all happened in about ten seconds of sitting at a red light. As I drove off I felt, excited, sad, relieved and yet challenged. This seemingly small event had me feeling so unusual, in a way I had never felt before, but I liked it. I felt like, maybe just for a second I positively impacted someone's life."
-Eric
Whether you are just beginning H2O, handing out bags on a regular bases, or have just given out your first one, we'd love to hear your story. Even the smallest testimony of how God is using you makes a big difference.
Send us your story of your experience handing out an H2O bag.
