Another Beautiful day in SE Roanoke

God is so good. The weather was calling for thunderstorms this afternoon but the weather in SE was clear blue skies for most of the day. Thank You Jesus.

The team God has put together for this ministry is amazing. Along with Melissa, Alex and myself. The core team consists of Jeff and Karin Cass, Bernardo, Becky B., Jeff and Kat M. and Heather Ann T. Then we have a few different people that help out from time to time.

As I mentioned, today was beautiful (a little hot but… it is mid June). We can definitely see relationships forming and growing with several of the people we a ministering to. More and more, they are opening up to us. About their lives, their hopes and their struggles. Most of them are familiar with Christianity but I would say that most of them haven’t seen it lived out in a loving and consistent way. They probably haven’t been shown a lot of grace or mercy. They have probably seen the legalistic, judgmental side of Christianity but I don’t know how many have been truly introduced to Jesus before.And that is our goal, no, our mission. We can’t break the chains of addiction that hold them down, we can’t provide them with housing or jobs or food (other than the pizza and snacks we use as “bait”), we can’t free them from their past mistakes or their present state of being, we can’t fill their hearts with hope, peace or joy, we can’t give them rest for their souls

But……….

We can introduce them to the one who can do all those things and more. Jesus and only Jesus

I mentioned “bait” earlier. I picked that up from a conversation with Pastor Buddy Osborn at The Rock (Calvary Chapel Kensington). I was talking with him about the ministry work that God has us doing in SE Roanoke because of how similar, albeit much smaller, it is to his ministry and he said that for this type of ministry you have to have bait to draw them in. If you want to have any chance of having a conversation or building a relationship with them, you have to offer them something that they want and seriously, who doesn’t want pizza and Sunny D. Those are the two main items that we use as bait and that bait has allowed us to tell dozens and dozens about Jesus, to pray with people and love them right were they are. On the corner of Jamison Ave and 13th Street in SE Roanoke, God uses Emilio’s pizza and Sunny D to soften hearts, to plant and water seeds. I have no doubt whatsoever, that He will also bring a harvest from that corner.

Any and all prayers and support are very much appreciated, especially prayers.
We are so blessed by and thankful our regular supporters and our prayer warriors all over the world.

Current needs:

• snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, etc.)
• bottled drinks ( water, Sunny D, Gatorade, etc.)
• deodorant (men’s and women’s)
• socks (mens, women’s, long, short, white, black, whatever)

Thank you, we love you and may God bless you.

Derek, Melissa and Alex

Buchanans in the Wild