June 21st Prayer Update
“Delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles - to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Amy, on this last outreach, we were able to distribute eight English language bibles, one Spanish language bible, and six "Crossing Talking" books on overcoming addiction. We have wanted to offer Bible studies on a more consistent basis and are testing out an approach of spontaneous Bible studies with people we meet during our outreaches. All of our teams have been equipped with a Bible study bin containing five lessons. This has enabled team members to offer a lesson with any open to a study. We have produced five lessons, all focused on different aspects of the gospel. Please pray with us to be effective in spending more in-depth time opening the Bible with any who are willing.
In Martinez, we had the opportunity to have a long conversation with Rich, who was sitting in his van in a parking lot. Rich comes from a Christian background, but he hardly remembers anything from the past. When the team asked him if he had any prayer requests, he told us that he wants to win the lottery. Our team pointed out that there is something much better than the lottery because money is something that you can't take with you when you die. They asked him, "Do you know the gospel?" and he answered, "No." Rich received a full gospel presentation starting with gently holding up the mirror of God's perfect standard to help bring understanding of Rich's need for repentance and rescue. The conversation ended with a charge not to put off a decision to follow Christ because we don't know when it will be our last day on earth. We pray that God will stir in Rich's heart to believe the gospel. Rich told our team that he already has a Bible and didn't accept the one we offered. We pray he reads it.
In the Safeway parking lot, our team met Rosco. He was only semi-coherent but our team did all that they could to offer practical care to Rosco. They felt led to offer Rosco one of our tents and he was very happy to receive it. They prayed for Rosco's safety, for housing, and mental clarity to hear and understand the gospel.
Our team has had the opportunity to talk to John several times. After some weeks of relationship building, they were more direct in speaking of his spiritual condition. He said on Memorial Day, a gunman was in their community and two lost their lives, and others were injured. John was an eye witness. The team challenged John to recognize God allowed him to survive that day for a reason. He was asked, "If you died today, where would you be? How many more chances will you have to follow Christ?" John's response was to ask for prayer on behalf of his friend PJ who was injured in that event. John told us that he has a desire to get off the street. While he accepted prayer it's evident that he is not dealing with the main issue of his need for repentance. He was encouraged to read the Bible he had previously received.
We were thankful to have an in-depth Gospel conversation with Daniel, who has been homeless for six years. Our teams love to use Ray Comfort's evangelism model to help people recognize their sin and their need for a savior. Through that conversation, Daniel was able to quickly admit that he is a sinner, became very quiet, and listened intently to the good news of salvation. When our team asked him if he was ready to repent and believe in the gospel, he said yes, and they prayed for him. He also accepted a Bible and an addiction book. Please pray for Daniel that his repentance and faith are genuine and that he reads his Bible with a hunger to have a deeper relationship with God.
Our team received contact information for Taylor, and we were asked to seek him out. He told our team that he is an alcoholic and is angry at God. He shared that he has a church background and has heard it all before, and doesn't have a desire to repent and believe. He has been to all of the local resources to help him with his alcoholism. Taylor has been unable to see his alcoholism is a sin that requires repentance. He was willing to take a 'Cross Talking' book on addiction. Would you please pray with us that Taylor will read it? He followed our team around for a while, and it seems that Taylor is hurting for human contact and fellowship. We pray that God will work in Taylor and cause him to seek true repentance and faith.
A gentleman in the Vallejo encampment constructed this impressive bridge.
Alex told us he used to go to church when he was a kid and even started training to be a youth pastor. He married a non-believer against counsel from others, and that took him away from God. His wife eventually left him, and he has been away from church for 40 years. He told our team, "I lost my faith." The team opened up to Ephesians 2 with Alex and pointed him to verse 8, "for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God." They reminded Alex that faith is a gift of God and walked him through repentance, belief, and trust. It was a very fruitful conversation, and Alex accepted a Bible and a Cross Talking book on addiction. Please be praying for Alex that he seeks after God and leaves his life on the street.
Please pray these individuals read the Bibles they received.
Armondo - Spanish Bible
Roy - Accepted a Bible study printout to complete on his own
Alex
Daniel
Jim
Bobby
Steve
Rich
John
Matthew
Pray for those who were friendly but declined Bibles.
Matt
Maria
Taylor
James
Shayna
Rod
Alex
Rosco
Timothy
Randy
Pray for those who were closed to conversation, that God would soften their hearts before our next outreach.
Kathy - needs her foot amputated. Refused to talk with us on this occasion
Viktor - didn't want to talk to us today.
Christian
JOIN US!
Our Next Outreach is July 5th 2025
Please consider serving during a Saturday Outreach in one of the following ways:
1) Prepare Lunches
2) Evangelism at the Homeless Camps
3) Volunteer Breakfast
4) Cookies for Volunteers
Our ministry is a labor of love with the main purpose of providing gospel hope through practical means to the homeless. Thank you for serving alongside of us!
We continue to pray for those who might be able to contribute a small additional monthly gift of $25 or $50 a month to help with ongoing Hope680 expenses, including our ministry supplies, offices, and RV maintenance. We are trusting God to continue to provide through you!
FYI Our Executive Staff and Leaders (including Toby and all team leaders) are unpaid volunteers - all donations go 100% towards the running of Hope680, including administrative contractors, our facilities, and RV maintenance costs, as well as ministry supplies.