My most precious times are going down to the ghetto to bless the families. God is made this into such a large ministry that the people we have blessed are worshiping God every Saturday morning when I get there. They physically do not let time ever get their way. The only thing they care about is give glory to our King. Another thing I like is how they anoint everything. I am amazed that families come never know how much each family has received in the past.
When we started this ministry in the ghetto, God was physically sending people to us to the ghetto King Sooper store to bless. But in the last six months or so Lydia and her parents, who were the first ones in the ghetto we blessed. I asked them how they find the families that our King blesses each week. They said, “We started praying for the families that we are to find each week, but God said this is not enough. I want you to go out into the community and talk to people. We also pray for the community before we go out and meet people. We go door-to-door and asked how everybody is doing. We are pretty tightknit community and we basically all know each other. When I enter a house God will reveal to me that this family is in need. I will ask them how things are going, and they will admit that things are not going as good as they would like it. So Sonny, this is how we find families just by asking. Sometimes when we are talking to one family they will say so and so over there in that house they’re not doing good at all. Things are really tight for them right now. When I find the families I ask them to meet us at the store on Saturday at 10 o’clock. We have a surprise for you. I never mention anything about money but I say come and experience what God can do. You have to walk by faith and not by sight.”
Another thing that is you unusual about Lydia and her family is that they anoint all the doorknobs on the houses they come into contact with. They want these homes to experience the power of God’s blessings.
Before God had us get involved in the ghetto ministry, I use to go see the gangs as early as 10 o’clock. But God had other plans when he had us start this ghetto ministry. God is amazing. It is though he stops time. The time I spend with these families all morning and early afternoon does not interfere with the gangs. They are not ready for me until I get there. The gangs always follow my schedule. That is because of the power of our God. He can do that.
When I finished up with these families today, I headed to the park and where two gangs would be looking for me looking for me. God had me pick up some kites that he was going to use to bring these guys closer together. I did not know who they were, but they knew who I was. They just wanted prayer and they were hungry. They said, “We don’t want to fight anymore. We want to change our lives.”
Whatever God is doing in the gangs right now is amazing. The way God changes their hearts causes many of them to give their lives to Jesus Christ. Their numbers are greatly diminishing. Both of these gangs wanted to go back home but they were not certain if they wanted to go back home because of what their dads did to them to cause them to leave in the first place. They all said, “I am not going to go back to the house that is in the same conditions as I did when I left it.”
I looked at the leaders and replied, “Give me your dad’s phone number and I will call them. I’ll all find out if he’s a drunk for you.”
I called one leaders dad and he answered and asked me who is this. I said, “My name is Sonny and I know your son.” His dad was concerned and asked, “Is my son OK?” I answered, “He is doing great. I am just concerned about how your life is right now. How can I pray for you.”
His dad replied, “I used to be an alcoholic which made him run away from home five years ago. I have not touched one drop of liquor cents that. I’ve given my heart to Jesus Christ and I’m doing activities with the church.”
The other leaders dad said, “I have been crying out to God for my son because I have missed him greatly. I have not touched drugs in over four years now. I now reach for the word of God in place of the drugs.”
The phones were on speaker so both gang leaders and their men could hear what was going on in their family life. This was very encouraging for both gangs. They began to say that their dad’s are Christians now. He is different like the dad I used to know. Both dads told about how they are now actively involved in the church in the youth ministry and other things they do to serve God. When I mentioned that your sons are here by standing next to me, the dads began to cry.
The gang leaders began to ask a lot of questions about our ministry. I told him that blue Mustang provides food for your breakfast. The gang leaders asked, “Is he a gang leader?”
I replied, “Yes, he’s a gang leader of a Christian gang.”
One leader said, “That’s cool.”
I said, “He got his nickname from the Latinos from the leader Lorenzo.” I was shocked that he knew who I was talking about.
He said, “I like that guy. He’s not mean but man does he ever command the authority. We have a lot of respect for that guy. You tell blue Mustang thank you for the food because we are always hungry.”
It is amazing how many times when dad’s sons leave the home that there is all life change that goes on in the dad’s because of their sons action. But as I called each family and confirmed to their sons that there was a change that was going on in their home environment, they became excited to go home. Soon a bunch of families and friends started showing up as their sons gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. Many of the family members who hadn’t accepted Jesus Christ did today when they saw what happened when Christ entered the life of their sons. You can listen to the entire story below: