June 2006 Report

Come-n-get-it! Sack lunches are being served.
No one minds waiting in line for a minute or two.
This photo is from June 7.

DESTINATION: WASHINGTON D.C.

Filling The Void is the 2006 regional winner of the Jefferson Award for public service. We’ll represent Tulsa at a national event in Washington D.C. on June 20. Special thanks go to Andrea Randle – who nominated the organization – and to everyone who partners with us through your prayers, friendship, time, talents and finances. Click the following links for a video and interview about the award.

ANOTHER NEW RECORD

The month of May featured five Wednesdays. That was ample opportunity for our growing base of kind, caring and committed volunteers to distribute 375 sack lunches – another new monthly record. We’re so thankful for everyone (Becky, Candy, Dawn, Hannah, Holly, Joyce, Juanita, LaKishea, Melinda, Mike, Roxanne and Sherry) who has come on board in the past couple weeks to bless others.

HEALING HANDS

A major part of our ministry is offering to pray with people. It’s their choice, and most folks accept our offer. On June 7, we came across two ladies (Karen and Tonya) seeking a friend and some divine intervention. Karen is battling cataracts. Tonya – who was sitting outside the courthouse – said she was in trouble. Three of our female volunteers listened to their hurts, held their hands and prayed with them. In Mark 16:18, the Bible says, “They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.”

KEEPING OUR COOL

Let’s face it. Taking sack lunches out to the city streets in the sizzling summer heat can be a sweaty endeavor. That’s why we’re thrilled to tell our faithful foot soldiers about the refrigerator that just arrived in our new volunteer center. It is stocked with ice-cold beverages, including bottled water, Starbucks Frappuccinos, fruit juices and sparkling spritzers. Please, help yourself!

LARRY AND GARY

Mental illness is a real problem. We’re seeing it a lot. About three months ago we met Lori, who said she was part of the Kennedy family. Recently, we learned more about two men – Larry and Gary – who sure look and act like twins. They’re convinced they’re related to the King (not Jesus, Elvis). Pray for them. God can give anyone a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind.

ONE WET WEDNESDAY

We weren’t sure what to think. On May 10, the skies opened up right before our outreach was set to begin. We quickly came up with a “plan B” to deliver the sack lunches to a bus station in case our usual crowd didn’t show up outside near 3rd and Boston. To our pleasant surprise, almost 40 people braved the rain. They gathered under a couple of trees to hear God’s Word and get a good lunch.

HANDOUTS THAT HURT, NOT HELP

On May 18, we witnessed a “no-no” at the downtown post office – a mother and daughter giving a dollar to Barry, a self-professed panhandler. God will honor their good-faith effort to help others. But please, never give money to a homeless person. We had to learn this lesson ourselves when we started in 2003. It seems so innocent, but we’ve seen what they purchase – things that keep them in bondage.