I spent the morning at We Will Go Ministry in downtown Jackson yesterday. I was so touched and moved by the experience, that I wanted to share some of it. But, as i set down to write a blog, I can't even put it into words. David and Amy Lancaster are about a mighty work for the Lord. There is no other way to describe it. If you know ANYTHING about downtown Jackson, you know its rife with drugs, prostitution, murder, every sort of violence known to man. Everything you can think if is bought and sold down here...people included. And this family, called to missions...was called to sell their suburbanite house, and move to the heart of it all. So they did. They sold their house and move their family onto Congress Street. (if you are from around here, YES I said congress street. off fortification street). The bought a house The Love House, 4 years ago and moved in. Their kids play outside, they walk the streets. Their sole goal is to be a light in the darkness...and they ARE. Then they bought another house, two houses down, the Peace House. Another couple moved in. The house between them, a crack house. The houses behind them, crack and prostitution houses. Then, they bought the house between them (Faith House)...and the house behind it (Hope House). The three houses behind them, currently still full of all kinds of violence, and selling of everything...while they are not for sale have been shown to the Lancaster's as "next" and will house people who come to Christ and want to be discipled to go out and spread further into Jackson. Amy told us yesterday she sees one for single guys, one for single women, and maybe one for small families.
Yesterday, volunteers were working on one of the new buildings...Faith House. I was part of a group from our church to go down. The Faith House has four apartments in it. The vision for this building is to house other disciples...either singles or couples, to move in and help with the ministry. Our little group painted one of the apartments. Just a couple of months ago, this building was full of drugs, prostitutes, and all sorts of litter that goes with it. Now, its clean and being renovated. We worked along side some of the people who have been reached...ex crack addicts, who are so thankful they have finally had someone care enough to tell them about Jesus and his love. Churches from all over were represented, working in different buildings, doing different things. It was amazing. These properties are 100% safe. The peace of God is there. The people are protected...and they are making a difference. Yesterday, the Faith House was also dedicated, with prayer and praise for the Lord on and around it..a very amazing experience. The Lancaster's really do see people with God's eyes...lost sheep that need the word..not judgment for their choices.
It opened my eyes...to the horrible things people go through right here under our noses. Sure, missions to Africa, China, the Middle East...all good things, and all needed. But, if you feel like you need to be doing something, but those far off places just don't seem to be the answer...Look in your backyard. Look in inner city Jackson. For a lot of the people on my friends list, you aren't more than an hour from 3rd world conditions. And YOU can make a difference. They need help doing everything...packing goody bags, painting, cleaning, just loving. I am totally going back. I don't think it can be explained it words. But in just the few hours I was there, I was forever changed.
There are so many stories...
They have church outside, every Sunday, with a baptismal in the back yard of their house.
The police, when people get out of jail in Raymond, and have no one to go to, drop them off on this block, because they know the "crazy white people" will help
Local drug dealers, who haven't accepted Christ yet, will bring people to the Lancaster's, all hours of the night, because they know that the "Crazy white people" never turn anyone away.
AC, one of the men helped...found Jesus at their kitchen table, a 90 lb crack addict who had lived in a dog house for 2 years. Now, a healthy, vibrant servant of the Lord...painting along side us, breaking out into song.."Worthy is the Lamb" every time it came to mind.
And on and on and on.
http://www.wewillgo.org/Site/Welcome.html
