Love Is An Action

Today was one of the most rewarding days of my life. Life Church organized a Block Party in the heart of Downtown OKC. The day started early...we met at Life Church at 8am. We carpooled with our Life Group...they are SO awesome. On the way downtown, we stopped at WalMart to pick up some hair clippers. Once we arrived, there were hundreds of people from all the Life Campuses wearing blue shirts that read - Love Is An Action - Block Party 2007. We met in a field, prayed, read scripture and then we each received a bracelet to give to a homeless person to let them know someone loves them and is thinking of them. We all walked together to the block party location. It was incredible. A man named Tim,purchased an old crack house and decided he wanted to make a difference. Let me tell you, today, Life Church made a difference in a lot of lives. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever experienced. We unloaded semi-trucks full of clothes, blankets, toys, water and almost everything you can think of. People donated and purchased these items...it was amazing. The homeless lined up inside for haircuts, food and there was even an area set up for photos. Someone brought a backdrop and took photos of families. I overheard one woman say she had never had a family photo taken before. At one point, Brett and I were sitting on a pew inside the building and one of the guys (the brother of our Life Group Leader) started praying, passionately with this man. Come to find out, this homeless man (probably in his 30's) told him he was on his way to commit suicide. They hugged afterward and you could tell, the man just needed someone to care. As the day went on, we served lunch, helped people pick out clothes and personal items and listened to one of the Life Church bands sing praise songs. I think the thing that touched me the most, were the children. There were tons of children, of all ages. We took three garbage sacks full of Sierra's clothes and toys. We saw one little girl walking across the street with Sierra's backpack. They were so happy to get anything. But most of all, to have people love them. I don't think I've cried as much as I did today. Brett was amazing...he is one of the most generous, giving people I have ever met. He walked up to men sitting on curbs and talked to them. He put his arms around people and told them he loved them. I'm a very lucky person to have Brett in my life.

Today was just the start of more to come. We've made a commitment to do this more often. Not to wait until someone else organizes it, but to take the initiative to go downtown ourselves and let people know they are loved.

KB