A Story and a Dream

One of the items on my bucket list is to write a book called, "The Story Behind the Smile" or "A Story and a  Dream." and in it, have different pictures of the homeless or poor with their "story." Maybe someday. I really wish I had a picture of the man to go with the story I'm about to tell you. Maybe I will someday soon. I had mentioned in a previous post that everyone has a story. We all have a past, dreams, failures, lessons learned that have made us who we are. Every decision we've made both good and bad have led us to the place we find ourselves in today. Had we made one decision differently, we might have found ourselves in a completely different circumstance.

Last week, I was answering the phones at Rescue Atlanta, and I received a phone call asking for a gentleman named, "Bobby Smith." (Name changed for privacy). I tried to tell the man that we didn't have a Bobby Smith that worked there, but we had a public phone in the back where people could make calls, but I had no idea who that might be. He went on to explain that Bobby had called his place of employment to let him know he had found the man's wallet and wanted to return it to him.  The man on the phone said his green card was in his wallet and he desperately needed it and was going to come up to Rescue Atlanta anyway.

When the man arrived, I walked him to the back where alot of our visitors take showers, do laundry, and use the phone. To be honest, I was quite skeptical that we were going to find "Bobby."  When we walked into a big group of people, I asked one of the guys who lives there..."Hey, do you know anyone named Bobby?"
That's when this older African American man with a scraggly beard stepped out from the crowed with a smile and said..."That's Me!" I had only seen him one time since I have been working at Rescue Atlanta.  We stepped into the lobby and Bobby handed the man his lost wallet. Everything was there, including his green card. The man was so thankful and said, " I wish I had something to give you. I get paid next week and I'll bring something by for you." Bobby said.."You mean you're gonna give me something?  I just wanted to do the right thing and give you your wallet back."  The man with his reclaimed wallet left and I commended Bobby for doing the right thing.

Well fast forward to this week. Bobby would ask me on occasion if the man had brought anything by to which I sadly had to reply, "No." But I told Bobby that God blesses our obedience and that regardless if that particular man came back, God would bless Bobby for doing the right thing.  On Wednesday while Bobby was eating breakfast at Rescue Atlanta, I pulled up a chair and sat knee to knee with him so I could look him in the eye. Bobby told me that he was hoping the man had left some money because he was going to bring his mother some groceries after Bible Study (we give away food bags), but she lived on the other side of town and he was gonna have to walk because he didn't have bus fare.  I told him not to worry, that he would have bus fare by the end of meeting. He smiled and said, "That's my blessing."

Then I looked him in the eyes and said, "Bobby, I want to know your story."
Looking very shocked and confused he said, "Why?"
"Because I know you have one, and I want to know it," I replied.
His eyes brimmed with tears and I wondered when was the last time anyone cared to "know" him.
Almost aggravated he said, "Well I was a crack head!"
Immediately, I locked his gaze and with every bit of sternness in me I said, "No Bobby, crack is what you DID, but that is NOT WHO you are. I don't want to ever hear you use that word to describe yourself again. You have allowed yourself to believe that you have nothing of worth to offer and that is just not true. Tell me about when you were younger, your family, your hopes, dreams, anything."

Bobby went on to tell me that he went to medical school for 3 years, but did not finish because he had trouble with spelling and saying some of the larger medical terms. He went to Vietnam and served there. We didn't get into the specifics, but I'm assuming that in Vietnam there was some Post Traumatic Stress issues. He started using heroin and other drugs. He said that now all the VA wants to do is put him in a psych ward and dope him up. His expression softened, he lowered his voice, looked me in the eye and said, "But I don't want to be on dope. I'm not crazy." He also told me that he has a daughter and 3 grandchildren that he does not have any contact with even though they only live 30 minutes away. He found out 3 years ago that they were looking for him. He had a phone conversation with them but never met up. He was too ashamed of who he had become and didn't want to talk about the past anymore. He is no longer on crack. He said his addictions now are drinking a coke and having a cigarette.  He smiled and said..."But I have a plan. I am going to go back to school in 2 months for fixing refrigerator units."  I validated this choice and told him I believed he could do it.  Service started and I went back to my office to get his bus fare so I could give it to him after lunch.

When I gave Bobby his bus fare he said, "I need to ask you for one more thing."  I have to admit that at first I was thinking.."ok...here we go." Unfortunately sometimes when you give an inch you will find yourself being asked for a mile, but God quickly convicted my attitude when Bobby said, "I am supposed to be getting a check from the VA in the amount of 1300. I just have to provide them with some paper work and a local agency is helping me with that.  But Morgan, when I get my check, will you and your husband help me learn to budget my money? I want to do the right thing."

I said, "Of Course we will!"

When I saw Bobby yesterday, he had a smile on his face and an extra pep in his step.  When he walked in the front door of Rescue Atlanta he said, "Hey..I started working on something last night and when I finish it, I want you to read over it." I said, "Great. What is it?" He said, "It's a vision for my future." I said, "Well I am excited to read it."

Let's be honest.....a homeless ministry is the last place you expect to have someone want to return a wallet with everything in it. It just goes to show that the stereotype is not always right. And I'm thankful that the man who had he wallet return got to experience that. I hope he told everyone he knows.

The main thing I learned though is the importance of community and mentors. Think about a time in your life when you felt discouraged. You may have an a seemingly impossible task in front of you.  Maybe you felt like you couldn't do it. Maybe you felt like no one would even care if you did. And think about a person who came along side of you and encouraged you, spoke hope into your life, and walked with you as your personal cheerleader until you accomplished it. OR....stood by your side and encouraged you and comforted you if you didn't get the result you wanted.

We all need those people in our lives and we all need to be that to someone else.

Who can you encourage today? There are lots of Bobby's out there with a story and a dream.

Maybe you need to review your story. Are you living in your failures or do you need to learn to "re-tell" your story - learning from the past, living in the moment, but pressing on to the future.

I can promise you.....your story is important and with a purpose. Start sharing it.

For His Renown,
Morgan

The Changing Face of Homelessness

I was going to do a blog about how to talk to the homeless, but found myself simply wanting to type: You talk to a homeless person just like you talk to your neighbor or friend. You start with LOOKING at them and saying, "hello." However, I know that many people are intimidated by the homeless and usually are tapping their steering wheel hoping the light will turn green so they don't have to feel awkward as the homeless guy with the sign sits and stares. Or maybe you cross the street to avoid having to walk by a man or woman with a change cup. I wonder if its really that people are afraid or more afraid of feeling guilty if they don't do something. Maybe you simply don't know what to say or will be afraid you don't know how to help them. Or maybe you are the person who thinks..."They probably just want money for drugs or alcohol, they just need to get up and get a job."  The fact is...you may be right about that for some people, but the problem is when we assume its all people.  Homeless has become a label that is associated with LOTS of assumptions.

I saw this video on a friends Facebook page and it gripped my heart. It's about 13 minutes long but I think you will find it very insightful. I personally ask you to take the time to watch it and pass it on. It's about the changing face of homelessness in our country and especially how it influences kids and families.

Click Here to Watch Video 

There are many Americans, maybe even you, who could be one or two paychecks away from not being able to keep your house or car. What if you had an injury and didn't have insurance? What if you lost your job and didn't have another one right away? What if you didn't have a family to depend on? The truth is, any of us could find ourselves in that situation.

Let's look at the definition of homeless: having no home or permanent place of residence. Homeless doesn't mean that you live under a bridge. You can have a roof over your head and still be considered homeless. There are thousands of people who are sleeping on the floor of a friend or families home and are still considered homeless. There are families where the mom and dad are working, but its not enough to pay the bills. They are having to live in a temporary hotel room or in their car...hardworking, honest individuals who can't seem to make ends meet. They are considered homeless.

One thing I have discovered in my time working with homeless individuals  is that each person has a story, but rarely do people stop and ask them what it is. Many of them have family or kids that they have been estranged from. Many once had a great career. Many have dreams and hopes for the future. Many simply want someone to treat them like a human and give them their identity back by using a name. I can promise you that it's not as easy as "just getting a job."  If a person finds themselves in a situation where they have lost their ID...it can be a very long process to get an ID. It's really hard to get a job without an ID, a contact phone number, or address.  So rather than assume, judge, or be in fear.....start by asking a question, "Hi, what it your name?" And you don't have to give them all your money. That's a common misconception. It kills some people to have to ask for it.

Unfortunately there are those people who are homeless and give up. There are those who will take your money and use it for drugs and alcohol. It is a sad reality. But it doesn't mean they all do. You do have to exercise discernment and you do have to be careful. I'm not telling a single female to roll down her window in downtown at night, alone. I'm just saying, the next time you find yourself in a position to look away, choose not to. Smile. Look at them and smile.

I came across an article that was written by an ex-homeless guy. I really liked the following quote:

"People ... reached out to me with genuine concern and said, 'Hey, how are you doing?' and meant it," he says. "You know, we don't have to empty our pockets every time we see a homeless person. But to offer a word of cheerful encouragement, instead of a hurtful comment — how hard is that?"


You can read the entire story here: Ex-Homeless Speak Out to Change Perceptions


I love to study and learn about the people  Jesus really spent time with.
They weren't the most popular, wealthiest, stable individuals. It was the people who were trouble makers, outcasts, poor and dejected. Why is it (generally speaking) that a lot of times the only time we hear sermons on this is to prepare the congregation for an upcoming outreach or mission trip?  Like its a one time a year thing or something.(Again, generally, I do realize there are some awesome churches that live and breath helping the poor). If we are willing to go across the world, we need to be willing to go across the street, or downtown. Love thy neighbor....be it in the gated subdivision or the hood. We all live in the same world. Associating with people different from us with the purpose of being the hands, feet, and heart of Christ is not being OF the world. It is living out some of the greatest commandments of the Bible. People should see Jesus in us. That goes for those that are closest to us to those we pass by on the street.

"Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously." 
 Matthew 10:5 (The Message)




If it sounds like I'm on a soapbox...I am. I'm so passionate about this topic.


If you really want to help but feel uncomfortable giving out money, here is a practical "kit" you can keep in your car to give away. I don't suggest giving money, however, there are times when God specifically prompts me to do so. In those moments I know that what is done with the money is not my responsibility, I'm only being obedient to what God has told me to do. That's why I say to pray for and use discernment. The Holy Spirit will prompt you with what you need to do and take care of the rest.

We will always accept donations at Rescue Atlanta, but if you would rather give to a local organization in your neighborhood...please do. If a person is helped. Praise God. We're all on the same team.
If you would like to send homeless kits or items for homeless kits to Rescue Atlanta, please send them to:

Rescue Atlanta, Attn: Morgan Paddock, 410 Englewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA  30315

If you need helping finding a local place to donate to, message me, and I'll help you locate one in your area.
I would suggest keeping a few in your car to have "on hand." Pray specifically for God to put the people who need them in your path. This is a great project for a bible study group, youth group, or school group.

Suggested Homeless Kit Content:

1 gallon Ziploc bag
1 Juice box
Throat lozenges
Trial size Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen
hand sanitizer
hand or face lotion
packaged hand wipes
lip balm
soap/shampoo
Small selection of ready-to-eat protein rich food such as:
   Cheese and crackers
   Power bar
   Tuna in a bag (no cans requiring an opener)
   Vienna sausages
   Beef jerky
One sweet item such as canned fruit or pudding
Plastic utensils and napkin
Washcloth
Small bible or bible tract
Bus Schedule
Prepaid phone card
Gloves/ knit beanie 
Resource list for the homeless
Pair of men's socks

Be a blessing. You will in turn be blessed. 
And remember a simple smile is worth gold to someone who rarely gets one.
If anyone ever wanted to find Christ when he was living....I'm sure you would have found him sitting among, "the least of these."
May we all be a little more like Jesus today.



For His Renown,
Morgan

Crazy Beautiful: MY heart is so full it might bust!

Today was one of those days that I will forever hold dear to my heart. I love to walk through the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and see the familiar faces and get hugs and give smiles. I love making eye contact with everyone and telling them "Good Morning." I love when the teenagers get there and all come up to me to give me hugs and catch up on the week. It is such a blessing to love and be loved.  I know many of you are waiting to hear about our friend "Sam" from last week. If you missed knowing who Sam is, please stop, click on the following link and read "Sam's Story" before continuing: Sam's Story.

After telling Sam's story last week, many people were prompted to action. I received gift cards and money and I know others are sending some as well. Trust me, everyone was a part in making a blessing for Sam possible. Anything excess we receive will just be used to bless more children.  My step sister and her husband were in town for the night, so after dinner we all headed to Target together to get some things for Sam. With the combination of a gift card and some money, we were able to buy Sam a new shirt, pair of jeans, bag of socks, 2 pairs of gloves, a pack of underwear, a pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of waterproof boots. As a bonus, I found a Spiderman book bag in our clothes closet to put everything in.  I prayed all week and especially this morning, "God, Please bring Sam back this week so we can bless him."

As soon as the Children's Bus arrived, I went outside to look for him. I found him playing tag in the back of the building with some other children. He ran over to me and I said, "Do you remember that I told you if you came back this week, I'd have something for you?" He smiled and I said, "Come with me." We went into a classroom with Glenn and my step-sister and her husband and gave him the bag full of stuff. Today he had a big hole in the middle of shirt which made the blessing even better. As I unpacked each item he almost looked in a state of shock. When I pulled out the socks he said, "WOW SOCKS! I didn't have socks to put on today! I had some yesterday, but I didn't have any today!" With that, I looked down at his dirt covered shoes and said, "Sam would you like to wear one of your new pairs of shoes?" He nodded and I asked him which pair he would like to put on.  In the sweetest little voice he said, "Well........it's kinda wet outside so I think I should wear the boots."  After he put on his new socks, I knelt down and tied his shoes tight. He then wanted to put on his gloves and hat right away. We snapped this picture before he went into the Sanctuary. This truly is one of my favorite pictures of all time.

When I went into the Sanctuary, Sam introduced me to his brother and his cousins. I found out today they all come from really sad circumstances.  Sam was so sweet that when he introduced them he told me their shoe sizes as well. They all said, "Can we have a pair of shoes too?" I assured them that while I couldn't help them all today, I would help them as soon as possible. (On a side note I was told that the children's pastors found a pair of boots exactly like Sam's, in his brother's size. It was not ironic that we had those on hand!)  I went and sat on the front row and left Sam sitting with the kids a few rows back.  A few minutes later, Sam walked up to me with his back pack on and said, "I want to sit up here next to you." MELT. MY. HEART. I sat with my arm around him through praise and worship. Precious and unforgettable moment. (Side Note: I got his brothers sizes this week, so that's my current project.)

I decided today that I would not let any of the youth/children SIT during praise and worship so I was on my feet running around from row to row, singing, dancing, joking around with them, and getting the kids on their feet singing. It was a lot of fun. In class today, Glenn taught them that what they put into their minds will come out. He used media as an example: Garbage in. Garbage Out. He asked one girl what CD was in her CD player right now and she named an artist who is a Gangster Rapper. When Glenn started to say something about it, she cut him off and said, "But I know a Gospel song too"....and proceeded to belt it at the top of her lungs....HILARIOUS. He used video's and music to help with the lesson. It truly was awesome. He played a few LeCrae (Christian Rap Artist) songs and many of the boys knew all the words and were singing along. Some were shocked to find out that he was a Christian artist, simply because they had heard it somewhere other than a Christian station. (On the slim chance that any Christian artist breaking into a secular music scene should read this: You ARE making a difference).  When it came time to look up scriptures, Glenn said, "Who wants to read a verse?" and half of them shot up their hands...we were shocked yet encouraged that they were so eager.  Last week we had 5 Middle School Kids, this week we had 15. They got to be a hand full towards the end, but I think we are gaining their trust, and doors for conversations are opening.  Please continue to pray for us.

We also had our first "Birthday Blessing" in our class. We gave one of our guys a Devotional, his favorite Candy, A Phase 10 Card Game, and a little pocket coin that said "Blessing" on it. I wrote in the card that he should carry the coin in his pocket and know that he is loved and prayed for every day. I forgot to take a picture because I was handing out Rice Krispy Treats, but I'll get one of him next  week. He pulled me to the side later and gave me a hug and said, "Thank you."

So I'm forwarding those hugs and smiles we got today on to all of you and saying "Thank YOU." 
Thank you for your support. Thank you for your prayers.  Thank you for sending blessings so that we can bless others.  My step sister and her husband spent the morning with us at Rescue Atlanta and were truly floored. I pray that many of you will be able to join us on a Sunday morning some day.

For those who want to know how you can help specifically at Rescue Atlanta:

1. Birthday Blessing Sponsorships are about $15. Our goal is to do one for as many children as we can. We have a church that is looking into sponsoring this, but if we get excess, we can always do more.

2. Back to the Basics Sponsorships - This averages around $50. This allows us to get a new outfit - shoes, hat, gloves, shirt, socks, and underwear for a child who really is in a desperate situation.

3. Tower of Towels Sponsorship -  Donation of Bath Towels. We have hundreds of people that shower on a weekly basis in our facility. We try to provide them with a towel so they can try off with something clean when they get out of the shower. Target has towels on clearance right now for $2.48. Would you consider sending some or sending a donation towards it? A Towel Drive is a super easy and helpful thing to do, especially for a school club or bible study or youth group.

 4. Blessing Blast Sponsorship - This can be for any amount and allows us to use your financial blessing where we need it most. Rescue Atlanta serves hundreds of people on a weekly basis and sometimes needs arise that we need to take care of quickly. If you are willing to just be a blessing where we need it most, this gives us the most flexibility in who and how we can bless.

5. Power Prayer Partners - as much as we need financial blessings to survive, more than anything we need your prayers. We know that God is the giver of ALL things and we know that prayer is a powerful tool to receiving the things we need. There are many people who would like to be able to give but are not in a position to do so at this time, and that's ok. We are praying for YOU that God would bless you abundantly so that you too may one day be able to financially support the ministry of your choice.



If you feel led to give, or would like to discuss doing a drive of some sort at your church to help us collect the items we need, please email me: morgan@rescueatlanta.com All financial donations are tax deductible.

I am so thankful to be part of a HUGE family that has such giving hearts. Thank you for reading this blog and for taking this journey with us. Please pass it on. We want as many people in on this as possible because it is so much more of a blessing to give than to receive.  And please continue to pray God's provision for us as well. We are still trusting God every day for everything, but we do it with confidence that He is NEVER late! :)


1 John 3:17-18 - If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.


For His Renown,
Morgan

What You See Is Not. What You Discover...Is.

While I was living in Vancouver in the Summer of 2010, I stayed with an incredible family. The Dad, Haupi, was a pastor, and I had worked with him my very first summer. He impacted me greatly that first year and even more so this last trip. In the morning, he would sometimes have a cup of coffee waiting for me when I came up from the basement and we would sit and talk. There are two things that will always stand out in my mind that he taught me. "Trust, but Verify" and "What You See Is Not, What You Discover Is."

Today I want to talk about the second. "What you see is not. What you discover is." It kind of goes along with the old phrase, "You can't judge a book by it's cover."

When I was walking the streets of inner city Vancouver at night, handing out snacks and drinks, I automatically looked for the people who LOOKED like they needed it the most. There was one night i particular that I will never forget and forever changed how I look at people.

One night, my team mate Katie and I were walking in the Oppenheimer Park Area of Downtown East Vancouver.  It had been a great night of meeting people and serving those we came into contact with.  We only had a few minutes before we were supposed to meet up with the rest of the team to head home.  We had 1 donut and 1 cup of juice left and we were "Looking" to give away our last serving.  It was dark and really not a great time for 2 young females to be out alone so we stayed near the park where there was lighting.  As we approached a man on a park bench, I squinted to see if he "looked" like he was in need. The elderly man was dressed in pretty nice clothes, and honestly looked kind of out of place to be quite honest.  If I were to try to find a picture to go with it the following is the best way to explain it.

We were looking for someone like this:

And the man we actually saw sitting on the park bench looked more like this (his back was actually to us):

I literally thought, "Oh there is someone who needs it more than that man. He looks like he could go buy it himself."  So we proceeded to walk past the man.  That's when I "felt" the presence of the Lord and "heard" his voice more clearly than I ever have in my life.  Just as I had walked by, I was stopped dead in my tracks and God said to me, "Morgan, turn around right now and offer that to the man on the bench."

I didn't really understand why, but Katie and I turned around and went over to the man who we later learned was Joe.

Me: "Hi, my name is Morgan, this is Katie, and we just wanted to know if you'd like to have a snack?"
Joe: "Yes, thank you." (we sat down on the bench next to him)
Me:  "How are you doing tonight?"
Joe: "Well, not too good actually. I was actually on my way back to my apartment (he pointed to a nearby building), to kill myself, and someone I know saw me and told to sit on this park bench for 5 minutes and they would be right back."

I could not believe what I was hearing and felt totally unprepared for how the conversation would go. I remember turning to Katie and saying, "Pray, just pray."

As we talked to Joe, we found out that he used to be a preacher.  He had made some really poor choices at a point in his life and the consequences of them were that his family left him. He had a wife and kids and was a pastor to a church body. I never found out exactly what he did, but it was the start of a downward spiral. He lived in a tiny one room efficiency apartment and apparently had been involved in some bad situations. Pimps were using his room to pimp out women as well as do drug deals. This man was kind as could be. Very much a grandfather type. Feeling as though no one loved him and thinking he had nothing to live for, he had hung a rope in his room that night and was going to end his life. It was in those 5 minutes of him waiting for a friend, that God crossed our paths. Two young college girls from the Southeast and a man who seemingly looked put together on the outside, but completely broken on the inside.

To be honest with you, I have no idea what I said that night, because it was not my words. I was simply a vessel that God spoke through to Joe. I know I spoke hope to him. Reminded him of the Love of a Father that he knew deep inside but was so ashamed that he had hidden from Him.  I pleaded with Joe to not do anything that night. We prayed with him and gave him the phone number of the church we were serving with, got his information and told him we would check up on him in the coming days.

The next day when we got to the church there was a message on the answering machine...it was Joe. He had called immediately following our visit together and said the following: "Hi, this is Joe, I just wanted to let the pastor know that God sent 2 guardian angels from your church last night to save my life."

Joe was alive and he had made contact. In the following weeks, we visited Joe a few more times and before I left Canada, Haupi went with me to visit him in his apartment. We stocked his kitchen with food staples to get him by for awhile.  Joe actually went to church a few times after I left. I had given him our home phone number in Savannah so he could let me know how he was doing. He called several times in the following months.  One night, when I was not home to chat, he ended up talking to my mom for hours. He shared with her some amazing ideas he had over the years. My mom said he was an absolutely brilliant man.


We eventually lost contact. His phone was cut of and the next time I was there, he was no longer in the apartment. I had peace though, that God had intervened in his life in a way that Joe would hopefully never forget.  And I will never ever ever ever forget that night and what God taught me through it.

Sometimes the most put together person on the outside is the most broken on the inside.
Sometimes the person who looks the poorest on the outside is the richest person in Joy and Spirit.

And most importantly, "What you see is not. What you discover...IS."

Who are you walking past today because of presumptions?
I challenge everyone to take the time to discover what is beneath the exterior.
You might be VERY surprised at what you find.
It may be an opportunity to help someone RE-discover themselves.

There are "Joe's" in all of our lives and maybe we just need to say, "How are you doing today?"

Thank You Haupi, for instilling this truth in me.

For His Renown,
Morgan

The 10 Year Prayer: How God Hijacked MY Plans in Exchange for a Dream

Are you a person who LIKES knowing all the details of something before you take the first step?
Do you have those times when you set out to do something and then the complete unexpected happens?
Have you ever said, "I'll NEVER do (fill in the blank)?" Only to find yourself smack dab in the middle of it?

Well, that person was me.  I set out on a journey thinking I was going to be doing one thing, only to find myself doing the complete opposite, and things I said I'd "NEVER" do.

This is me, the summer of my Sophomore Year in college. I'm pictured with my Summer Missions Team and with one of the pastors of the church we were working at in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Shout out to my Vancouver Team and Vancouver Family)

I grew up in a pretty affluent community in South Louisiana. I never really experienced anything "inner-city" unless we drove into New Orleans to pay the token visit when we had out of town visitors. I went to church camp  every summer, but had never really experienced a mission trip. I always thought a missionary was someone who lived in another country and usually lived in huts in the jungle, didn't have bathrooms and it was FOR SURE, NOTHING I WOULD EVER DO.

When I was in college, I went to a  Christian Student Conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention. They gave us a brochure booklet filled with different "Summer Missions" opportunities. Your experience travel, food, lodging was 100% paid for.  I read through the different opportunities thinking, "Not me. Not me. Not me either."  or more like, "No. No. Never."  Then I read one that said, "Come to Beautiful British Columbia and be a part of a praise band that gives outdoor concerts in various parks and places around our city."  I was like...."Wait a minute....You want to pay my airfare to go to the Coast of Canada to sing to tourist all summer? Well if this is considered "missions"...maybe I do want in on that."

So...I applied, auditioned, interviewed....and I was accepted into the program and placed. I was psyched. I had never been to Canada. I was going on a missions "vacation" for the entire summer. Little did I know......

Two weeks before I flew out, I received a call from one of our team leaders in Canada. The conversation went something like this.

Christina: "Hey Morgan, we're looking forward to having you with us this summer, but there's been a slight change of plans."
Me: (hesitating) "Ok.....? What's up?"
Christina: "Well, we did not get the right number of people to form the actual praise band, so we're gonna have to change your assignment while you're here."
Me: (in my head....UGH) "So.....what will we be doing instead?"
Christina: "Well, you'll still be able to help lead worship on Sundays at church, but during the week you're going to help teach ESL (English as a Second Language) Classes and be part of a street ministry that ministers to the homeless, drug addicts, and prostitutes in downtown Vancouver."
(Insert Silence..........gulp........mustering up the nerve to sound totally on board and chipper)
Me: "No Problem. I'm totally flexible to do whatever y'all need."

I'm pretty sure I spent the next to weeks either in tears/panic/or dreading it.

I could write an entire blog with every single post being about what God did that summer and the stories of how God moved in a number of ways. I'm sure they will trickle in from time to time. If you know me well, you know I talk about Vancouver ALL of the time. Don't ask me about it unless you're ready to listen :)

To make a really long story short.... That summer CHANGED my life dramatically.
Do you know how many outdoor concerts I gave that summer? None.
Instead, I taught beginning English classes to elderly people from all around the world. I had a lady from Albania, a woman from Japan, and a man from China. When they came in my class they basically knew "Hello/Goodbye."  Each week I spent hours with them teaching them English by using bible stories broken down in to short sentences, many charades games, and stick figure drawings. I will never forget them being able to read back to me, stories in English, and know they understood what they were reading. Their first verbal stories were about Jesus.

Each week our group went to the worst part of Vancouver. Downtown Eastside Vancouver is known as the "Drug Central" of North America. Don't believe me? Google it.  The crazy part is, there is a huge police station located in the center of it all.  It is a much bigger problem than they can handle, so they just try to contain it.  You can literally drive/walk down the street and see hundreds of people strung out on the sidewalk, needles all over the ground, and people shooting up as you walk by.  It is a totally "in your face" experience.  We used to walk the streets at night handing out donuts, coffee,  learning peoples names, talking with them and praying with them. God dealt with a lot of my assumptions and presumptions about homelessness through this experience. I really want to tell the story of Joe, but I'm gonna save it for tomorrow....please check back and read it as it breaks the stereotypes about what we THINK we know about people by looking at them.

As scared as I was in the beginning, by the end of the summer, I knew peoples names and I actually looked forward to going on the street. I had great conversations, prayed with people, laughed a lot and learned a lot. I was also heartbroken at what I witnessed and God gave me a burden for the poor, addicted, and lost people of the city. I will never forget the moments of talking to a prostitute on a street corner, only to be left standing there when a guy in a jaguar pulled up and offered to pay her. She would say she was sorry, wave, and get in the car. I dealt with a lot of anger at the "World" that summer." But I gained a lot of love for those that society deemed as "outcast."

The picture below is of me and Allen the 2nd summer I was there. Yep, I went back on my own the second summer because I LOVED the first one.  Allen was one of my favorite guys. He was an older man who had some mental challenges, but the sweetest spirit. He was not homeless, but poor, and he walked around aimlessly many days, riding the bus, and carrying around a lunch box with his favorite "items." One ended up being a picture of the two of us as he would open up the box and show me every week. He even sent me a valentines day present the following year. It is a treasured item that I still have.

I got my first job in youth ministry following my second summer in Vancouver. I spent the next 8 years working in different churches around the south east. I was doing what I felt God was calling me to in those moments, all the while having a deep longing to get back into the inner city missions life. I prayed, longed for, and hoped for the day that would happen again.

Following a difficult season in my life in the summer of 2010, 8 years since I had spent my first summer in Vancouver, I was presented with an opportunity I could not have fathomed. The same pastor you saw in the first picture, invited me to come and live with his family for the summer. He said he knew how much I loved Vancouver and he wanted me to come and enjoy the beauty, the people, the ministry I loved and to be poured into and heal.  I had a big yard sale, literally sold almost everything I owned. I took  that money along with the donations of some amazing people and was able to spend 2.5 months there.  As soon as the plane landed in Vancouver, my eyes filled with years and I felt like I could breath again. I was "Home."  The same trip that had terrified me 10 years before, was now the biggest blessing I could have received.

I spent the summer healing, learning who I was again, and having some of the people who know me best (as far as the deepest desires of my heart go)....help me reawaken myself the dream that had seemed so distant for so many years. I was able to help out with the ministry called Open Table where we actually had the attendees sit and they were SERVED a meal at their table. No standing in line. It was my favorite day of the week. It was my favorite day of the week 10 years ago. This time though, we had bible study afterwards, which was awesome to study God's Word together. I was involved at 2 churches that summer and got to know some amazing women, reconnect with life long friends, and finally feel like..."this is it....this is what God created me to do."

This is my bible study group from my last summer there. Isn't the body of Christ amazing and so diverse?

Within a few weeks of being home from Vancouver, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a job. I was living back at home and didn't want to settle this time for anything but what I was passionate about. I met a friend of my mom's who told me about the Old Savannah City Mission and said I should volunteer. He gave me the name of the Volunteer Coordinator...Glenn Paddock.

And here I am today, typing this from a desk at Rescue Atlanta, where I now serve on staff with my husband, Glenn Paddock. :)  Every day we serve the poor and homeless of inner city Atlanta, together. We, like the ministry, are trusting God "Everyday for Everything." We pray our finances in daily.  We don't always know how we'll buy our next batch of groceries, but just about the time we're down to our last dollar, we'll get a random $50 "thinking of you" check in the mail. Whatever we get, we know is God's, and try to bless those around us. I will probably never me monetarily rich in this lifetime, but I AM rich in joy and spirit, because I KNOW that I'm walking in the calling that God has in my life.  I go to bed at night and wake up each day THANKING GOD that HE orchestrated every detail of my life to lead me right where I sit today. He took the girl from an affluent town who said she'd never be a missionary and joined her with a man who also thought he'd never do anything of the sort. Now we are  missionaries, living and working in the inner city.  If you didn't get to read Glenn's story yesterday you can find it here:Glenn's Story

I sure am glad that God sometimes hijacks MY plans to work out HIS purpose....even if it did take 10 years to understand.

This is our staff picture for Rescue Atlanta, where we now serve, together.....God is SO good.
Never give up on the dream God has placed in your heart. He did so for a reason.


Daily....living, breathing, and serving for HIS RENOWN,
Morgan

Redeeming Love: A Story of God's Redemption and a Tribute to My Husband

Today is my Wonderful Husband's Birthday. He is turning the distinguished young age of 41.

Because there are so many new people reading this blog that don't know our back story, I wanted to take some time to share about who we are and how we got to where we are today.  Tomorrow I will share my story, but today I am celebrating a true walking miracle on his birthday.

I am my husband's biggest fan.  He encourages and challenges me daily.  He is an incredible man of God.
As hard as it is for me to comprehend, because this is all that I know, he hasn't always been this way.
If you would have met Glenn even 5 years ago....you would have met one of the meanest, ungodly men you'd ever meet, according to him.  He used to live every day on a pathway to hell...even the doormat at his house said, "Welcome to Hell." Pay attention...this is a story that could happen to anyone who loses sight of what is truly important.

Glenn grew up surrounded by music and God created in him a passion and talent for it. His father was a musician and band director and Glenn and his brother, Scott, were influenced by it at a young age. In fact, his brother is now an incredible professional saxophone player. (www.scottpaddock.com). Glenn went to college with plans of being a music teacher as well. He was on a path to really being an influence in kids lives, doing what he loved...however....one decision, started a path to destruction in his life and the lives of others.

While in college, he started a job as a bouncer at a strip club. Glenn, having the business sense and people skills that he had, quickly found himself in the position of managing the strip club.  With a rock star lifestyle and  more money than he could ever make as a music teacher, he quit college and started working full time managing strip clubs in several different places on the east coast.  But it didn't stop there. Glenn started dealing/trafficking drugs, guns, and women. At different points in his life he was shuffling millions of dollars...sleeping during the day and partying all night. He did this for 18 years, never getting more than a DUI. God was nowhere on his radar.

After being tipped off, he was pulled over for a broken tail light. The cops spent 4 hours ripping his car apart to find drugs and arrested him for possession of cocaine. The state seized all of his property and assets. After serving some jail time, he found himself with literally nothing to lose...so he set out to collect some money that was owed to him.

He went to a man's house who owed him upwards of $30,000 and knowing the man would not be able to pay him, he proceeded to beat him. Glenn did not care if the man died, in fact, he knew that's probably what would happen.  In the midst of beating the man, Glenn found himself thrown up against a wall about 10 feet away.   The crazy thing was, there was no physical person there to throw him into the wall except the man he was beating, who was now in a bloody heap on the floor. Glenn tried to get back on the guy to finish the job 3 different times and every time he reached for him, something was holding him off. Dazed and confused he walked out of the house and down Bull Street. A few blocks later he found himself in front of the Old Savannah City Mission. Without really understanding what was going on, he walked in and sat on the front row as service was about to begin. This was a man who had gone from having millions of dollars, to sitting among the homeless in the city. He was not there on his own free will....God had obviously intervened in that house and led him there. As the service started and the preacher started to preach about God's love and forgiveness, Glenn found himself sobbing and broken. At the very end of the service, the preacher looked Glenn in the eye and said, "Would anyone like to give their lives to Christ?"  There was no question....that was the answer...that was the ONE thing Glenn had not tried in his life.....God.

November 6, 2008 was the day that marked the 180 degree turn in his life.  Glenn could have called someone to pick him up after the service. He had places to go, but he knew that he could not go back to the lifestyle he had lived before. If he was going to change, he had to change EVERYTHING.  He never looked back and for the next 2 years, Glenn went through the Urban Training Institute, taking daily classes to become the man God had called him to be. He ended up finishing his degree in Urban Ministry and doing a 1 year internship AT the Old Savannah City Mission, giving back, teaching and pouring into the guys, just like people had done for him. He was in charge of Volunteers, which is how I met him, when I went to volunteer for Thanksgiving and later served on staff along side of him at the mission.



Glenn always says there are consequences for every action, both good and bad. He can't turn back time, and there are scars on other people as well as him that hold a lot of pain, but I pray every day that the same God who literally ripped him off of a man and led him into a church service, will heal the wounds and restore relationship and forgiveness over time. Along with doing a 180 in his life, God has restored a dream....to impact and teach kids.  On November 6, 2011, exactly 3 years to the day that Glenn gave his life to Christ, we started our first day of work at Rescue Atlanta.  By Chance? No. A reminder of WHO wrote the story and HIS attention to details? Yes. The pictures I leave you with are from our Middle School Class this past Sunday where they helped celebrate Glenn's birthday. We are now Mama Morgan and Papa Glenn to a group of inner city Middle School Students.

God is good....no...God is AMAZING.  I not only got the man of my dreams, but a daily reminder of God's power, love, and grace for us. So, Happy Birthday Glenn. You are one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me.
I love you, the mostestestest.

For His Renown,
Morgan 

Underneath the Layers of Dust and Dirt: A Story of a Homeless Child

 Jesus Loves the Little Children

Once again....not on my list of things to blog about but I had such a moving experience this morning, I had to process it with you, my readers. Since Glenn and I have taken over the Middle School class, I've started to sit with the kids during Praise and Worship on Sunday mornings. I usually repeat the phrase, "Turn around and put your behind in the chair" more than anything. Many of the kids have a place to call "home," but some do not. Some live on the streets or in cars, with relatives, or in shelters. Most of them come dressed in nice or at the very least clean clothes, but today, God put a precious little man in my path. For privacy purposes, we'll call him, "Sam."

I was sitting in the middle of the front row of chairs when I looked to my right and on the very end of the row was a child sitting by himself. He had a jacket on, and it was zipped all the way up covering half of his face with his head down, avoiding looking at anyone. His clothes were almost filthy. His jeans had dirt all down the front. His shoes were worn and covered in dirt. I wondered when the last time he had a bath might have been. I scooted to the end of the row and said,

"Hi, I'm Morgan. What's your name?" (and stuck out my hand).

"Sam." (and he shook it).

"Well, it's nice to meet you Sam. Would you like to come sit in the middle so you can see better?"

(He shook his head and walked over and sat right next to me even though there were several chairs to choose from.)

"How old are you, Sam?"

"I'm 8."

"Did you come with anyone this morning?"

"No, I came by myself. My older brother usually comes but he isn't here today."

"Oh, So the Rescue Atlanta Kids bus picked you up?"

(He shook his head, yes).

We talked some more and I found out that he likes football and sports,and is in the 2nd grade.

He eventually removed the hood of his jacket to reveal cute little braids, beautiful eye lashes, and an adorable smile. Then unzipped his jacket revealing yet another dirt stained shirt. He was the most adorable, precious little boy. My heart was gripped....

As praise and worship started...He clapped along and eventually started singing the words to Heart of Worship and This is My Desire.....I couldn't sit there and watch him and not DO something. I scooted out the door and ran down to the clothing closet. I grabbed him a long sleeve thermal shirt. When I came back into the sanctuary I said, "Would you like a long sleeve shirt for when its cold?"  He looked up with big eyes and shook his head rapidly and I handed it to him. Another minute passed by and I whispered in his ear.."Do you know what size pants and shoes you wear?" He told me a size 10 pants and a size 4.5 shoes. I ran back to the clothing closet and searched through everything and I couldn't really find what I was looking for but grabbed what I could along with a pair of shoes probably a size too big, but it was all I could find in a matter of minutes. I put them in a bag and ran back to the Sanctuary. I handed them to "Sam" and whispered in his ear again. "I think these shoes are gonna be too big, but keep them because you'll be able to wear them soon.  Next time you are here I will have a pair of shoes for you that fit."  

I sat there with my arm around him and attempted to sing through tears..."This is my desire, to honor You, Lord with all my heart, I worship You. All I have within me, I give You praise, all that I adore is in You. Lord I give You my heart, I give You my soul, I live for You alone, Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake, Lord have Your way in me." I looked over and the little boy was singing with words with the his hands out, palms upward."

As if that wasn't enough...he started watching the lady next to us who was "Praise Signing" and he started to mimic all of her movements. If I had not had the responsibility of teaching 12 teenagers within minutes...I probably would have completely lost it.  If I had the money, I'd be at Target right now buying this kid a new outfit and pair of shoes. Actually, I promised him a pair of shoes next time I see him, so I'm trusting God will provide the means to do so.  I told Glenn if it wasn't against the law, I'd bring him home.

The first thing Glenn said when we talked after the service is..."Who let's an 8 year old go anywhere alone?"

There are many answers to that question, but what I kept thinking was..."What 8 year old, gets on a bus by himself to go to church across town?"

I read a statistic recently that everyday 13,000 people in Atlanta wake up without a place to call home. 2,500 of those are children.  CHILDREN. 

While I know a main part of my job is fundraising, grant writing, networking, volunteers, etc.......I have a huge passion for the youth and children that come to Rescue Atlanta. Some are choosing, on their own, to come. I pray that we are a safe haven, shelter, and a place where they get the physical items they need, but also all the hugs and love they can stand before they walk out into a very cold, and broken world. We are truly honored to be in this position.

Atlanta is not the only place with this issue. No matter where you are....this is happening on some level. The face of homelessness has changed over the years (I'll blog about that another time). But there is ALWAYS a need. I'm also going to blog soon about how to engage and converse with the homeless (as many people are intimidated or assume much) and also practical ways how you can help the homeless no matter where you are.

Glenn and I have decided that for our class, we are going to do Birthday Blessings. Some kids are in situations where they may not get a birthday party more less a gift. I've collected all their information including their favorite candy and the week of their birthday. The Sunday closest to their birthday, I'll bake them a cake and we are going to give them birthday blessing bags. Each bag will cost a total of $10 and will include a bible and their favorite candy.  If you are looking for a practical way to help a child and would like to sponsor one of our birthday blessings. Please let me know. We have one coming up next Sunday. It's just a little way to make it extra special. If we get enough sponsors, we can extend this to all ages of youth.

Pray for Sam tonight....God knows his real name.....I don't know his situation.  He may have a home or he may be homeless. Based on today, I would think it wasn't a permanent situation or at least one with little supervision. Please pray that he will be surrounded with protection, peace, warmth and the love of The Father. Also pray that he comes back so I can bless him with a better outfit and shoes that fit. And pray for us, as leaders. That we will be a physical, tangible extension of the arms, hands, feet, and heart of Christ. That we would have the knowledge and discernment to best serve those in need.

For His Renown,

Morgan