Tag

serving the homeless

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, College Park, Community, Community Service, DRIVES, Empowering Youth, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Give Miles Away, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Leadership, Life Change, Life-dares, Love Beyond Walls Story, Love In The Trenches, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Needs, Organization Update, Partnerships, Party for a Cause, Passion, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, , Sole Beauti, Struggle, The Local Church, Vision, Volunteerism

Seven nights – Hardship & one week

If I could be honest, I have experienced many hardships in the first week of living on top of the bus for 30 days! Below are the top seven hardships:

1) It has rained two nights out of the seven nights. Both nights I got very little sleep.

2) I have received hate mail, and shots taken at me for sleeping on top of the bus.

3) I have spent tons of hours in solitude (which can be a great thing as well)

4) I am sleeping in a very confined space, and it gets tiring being in a cramped up space.

5) It has been very emotional at times knowing that we have a strong desire to serve those who are less fortunate.

6) It has been very cold. Although I am in a warm space, it ca be very difficult when I want to get some fresh air, and the cool air pushes me back into the tent.

7) I still have a long way to go. In fact, I have 23 more nights to live on top of the bus.

Although these hardships are real, I know that God is with me, in me, and leading #lovebeyondwalls to do more good for people who are often times forgotten about.

Terence

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community Service, Diversity, Empowering Youth, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Give Miles Away, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, Leadership Development, Life Change, Love Beyond Walls Story, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Needs, Organization Update, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, , Sole Beauti, The Local Church, Vision, Volunteerism

Night 5 – Coffee & a kid with no socks!

This morning I feel passionate. I have completed five days of the 30 days I’ll be on top of the bus. Why? Because yesterday over fifteen people stopped by at random to check on me and keep me encouraged to continue going the distance. It’s always good to get company when you are in solitude.

It started with a cup of coffee… The community down the street heard that I was living on top of bus, and a lady from the community brings a cup of coffee during the morning around 6AM.

What was so inspiring was that she was walking to work on foot. Her words were thank you for what you guys are doing for people in need… First time I shed a tear up here…

Then later that day a random 12 year old (riding a bike) from the community stops by and starts a conversation with me. He asked what the bus was because the graffiti caught his imagination. “I”m living up here…” I said. Then with a snarky look on his face, he asks why.

So, I explained and then noticed that he wasn’t wearing and socks… It was around 39 degrees outside. We talked more and I found out that his family had been experiencing homelessness as well. He said that his aunt was, and that his family was in trouble too. I was blown away because he was extremely vivd in his explination of his experiences. I think he said, “We won’t have a Christmas tree because the rent man says we have to get out…” He reminded me of why I am living on this bus…

Although the two stories are different, both are connected. Both the lady and the young man are from the community, and both expressed in some sense a deep need for makeovers to happen (personally and in the community)! I hope they both come back by… I hope at some point we will be able to help them both… Until then, the cup of coffee below and the boy on the bike is what God used to get me through night number five.

I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I have 25 more nights to go.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Community Service, Corporate Sponsorships, DRIVES, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Home, Leadership Development, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Needs, Organization Update, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, Sole Beauti, Struggle, Uncategorized, Vision, Volunteerism

Night 3 – Support from Angels

Yesterday was rough, but I made it through night number three… I made 50+ hours on top of the bus… I am living on to of a bus in a very confined space in a tent away from my family, and normal comforts of life. No TV, regular bathroom, walking area, refrigerator where I can creep around the house to get my favorite snacks, no recliner of comfortable sofa… You’re starting to get the picture.

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In fact, someone asked me “what has been the hardest thing you have had to deal with while going through this journey?” My answer is simple… Being alone, and not having all that I think I need.

But, I am also learning some very important truths. One being that you don’t need a lot to find joy, peace, and happiness. All you need is God’s strength, and valuable relationships around you.

Over the last two and a half days, over 20 people have called, stopped by, and reached out to me to let me know that I was not alone and they were praying for me. That brings me joy! One of the top people has been my wife. She has brought my kids by, and have sent me words to uplift me during this time. In essence, it has been the relationships I have around me that have given me the strength to continue. This reminds me of one of my favorite passages in the scriptures written by Solomon about friendship. It reads (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV),

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I know some people may still wonder to themselves  “this still doesn’t make any sense at all.” However, I am still standing on my convictions that it does.

If we are able to raise the funds for the Mobile Makeover Bus, we would be able to makeover homeless individuals, provide support for families in need, and launch a program that teaches people skills next year in 2015. I’m asking you that you get on the bus with me, and help me take a stand for people who are in need of hope, diginity, and support.

If it was not for my support, I’d give up this journey. So I can only imagine what people feel who have none at all, or feel like they have no sense of self worth. We care for those people… Help us support them so they too can take a stand in life and feel valued. Below is a clip from yesterday highlighting why I am doing this… If you would like to help us raise the 50K it’s going to take to convert the bus…click [HERE] Terence

 

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community Service, DRIVES, Empowering Youth, Engagements, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Love Beyond Walls Story, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Partnerships, Passion, Poverty, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Serve, Serving, Sociology, The Local Church, Uncategorized, Vision, Volunteerism

Why Get on the Bus? – Mobile Makeovers!

About a month ago now, I had a conversation with my family. Specifically, my wife. She looked at me and asked me a very important question. She asked, “What are you going to do to take a stand for what you believe in?” I responded. “What do you mean?”

It short she was making a bold implication, “If you believe that God wants you to make over lives with this bus, then be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish that.” Thus we both agreed that I could live on top of the bus 30 nights in a row to bring awareness to several issues, and do whatever it took to help those we are seeking to help (Staying on top of the bus from Dec 14-Jan 14).

Therefore, yesterday I decided to publish the story and let the world know what I am attempting to do so #lovebeyondwalls can restore dignity back to more people through our makeover bus… I have gotten pretty negative responses, but I have also gotten some positive responses.  However, what matters most is that I take a stand for our cause, and what God has placed on my heart to do. 30 nights is a long time, but with support I can do it…

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My heart is filled with so much compassion for youth who live in single parent households (especially after the tragic events that have occurred recently), and families who struggle day to day in communities that are broken and often times lifeless. I know the makeover bus is not the full answer, but we could use it to start the process of helping/serving those we can touch and help, and mobilizing more compassionate people.

In fact, I overcame a number of odds myself and had a life makeover… I was once a high school dropout, juvenile delinquent, ex-gang member, grew up in a single parent household, was very misguided, and troubled in my teenage years and a portion of my early twenties. However, I beat the odds by God’s grace… (If you’d like to read some of my story, I wrote a book in my younger years called “U-TURN.” It’s the story of how my life was made over and how I turned my life around).

Therefore, this bus means more to me than lights and cameras or bells and whistles… It represents the power of life-change. It symbolizes that lives can change when people take interest in other people by helping them take a stand for their lives. It represents that hope is still near, and that dignity can restore brokenness. I don’t have a perfect story, but God used people to get me to where I am today.  Someone helped me so we (#lovebeyondwalls) want to help others.

Honestly, I am asking people to do four specific things… 1) Pray, 2) Share the story, 3) Give so we can reach our goal, and 4) Serve by coming out to help us when we start the process.

I truly solicit your prayers as I attempt to take a stand for homeless people, youth, and broken communities that need more that words… They need makeovers. Pray that God helps us change this bus so we can possibly change lives.

Terence

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community, Community Service, Diversity, Education, Empowering Youth, Family, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Needs, Partnerships, Passion, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Resources, Sole Beauti, Struggle, Transform, Vision, Volunteerism

Get on the bus – Mobile Makeovers!

Below is a brief video introducing the next campaign, and why #lovebneyondwalls is attempting to do this!

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In 501c3, 90 Days, Be the Church, Campaigns, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Empowering Youth, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, Life Change, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Needs, Organization Update, Partnerships, Plant Love, Poverty, Project5K, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, Sole Beauti, Struggle, Techie News, Uncategorized, Violence, Volunteerism

We put Graffiti on the Bus – Take the bus!

Have you every wanted to see something happen so bad that you would be willing to do whatever it took to see it through, and make sure it happened.

Well, that’s the exact space I’m in right now. Around Sept, we were donated a bus, and dreamed of launching a mobile bus that would provide full makeovers (barbershop, closet, and showers) to this who were in need in the city of Atlanta. And, honestly it has been a really slow process.

I didn’t think we’d transform the bus over night, but each day that passes, I am becoming more and more compassionate about making over communities by building relationships, and launching a program that will give people skills who are in need. Especially after seeing the tragic events that have taken place with people killing homeless people in the city of Atlanta, the horrible police brutality cases, and encountering more families with youth in desperate need.

In fact, we are so passionate about this, I am about to stay on the bus a total of 30 nights until we can raise the funds to change this bus so we can reach people. This is by far the craziest thing I have ever attempted to do, but I am this fired up to see our organization play a major part in stopping violence, providing dignity to those in need, and serving more people as time progresses.

I am literally six days away from staying on top of a bus for 30 days to raise awareness about the need to see lives change. Below is a picture of the bus we have spray painted and put a ramp on top of where I’ll be staying.

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Terence

Terence Lester
In Campaigns, Collaboration, Community, Community Service, DRIVES, Giving Tuesday, Global, Gospel, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Mission, Missions, Organization Update, Raising Awareness, Serve, Serving, Story, Struggle, Vision, Volunteerism

Giving Tuesday!

It’s Giving Tuesday, and we hope LBW is in your plan for giving this Holiday Season.

There are two quick-and-easy ways to support LBW. Firstly, you can simply visit our site, and make a contribution [HERE]. Every gift powers us to serve more people, and spread hope and love!

Secondly, you can give toward our “MOBILE MAKEOVERS BUS” campaign [HERE]. We are aiming to retrofit a bus to reach those who are under resourced in Atlanta.

If you experienced any of our service projects or stories this year, or if you believe in our efforts to reach those who are in need, please make a tax-deductible year-end donation.

givingtuesday

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, College Park, Community, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Engagements, Family, Family Values, Fighting for the Hopeless, Great Commission, Homelessness, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Love In The Trenches, Mission, Missions, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Partnerships, Passion, Plant Love, Poverty, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, , Sociology, Vision, Volunteerism

Sponsor a Makeover!

You can sponsor a makeover today by clicking the image below!

Mobilemakeover

LBW Team

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community, Community Service, Diversity, DRIVES, Fighting for the Hopeless, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, LeaderSource, Life Change, Life-dares, Love Beyond Walls Story, Mission, Missions, Movement of Doers, Passion, Poverty, Raising Awareness, Resources, Serve, Serving, Violence

Update on Robert!

Received a phone call and picture yesterday from Robert! He yells and says, “It’s cold outside and I’m no longer homeless… I’m headed to church.” We are super happy for this young man who decided to take a step toward change! We are grateful God connected us… He has cleaned up well.

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LBW Team

 

Terence Lester
In Be the Church, Campaigns, Collaboration, Community, Community Service, Current Events, Fighting for the Hopeless, Give Miles Away, Gospel, Great Commission, Homelessness, Journey, LBW Begins, LBW Home, Life Change, Life-dares, Love Beyond Walls Story, Mobile Makeovers, Movement of Doers, Organization Update, Partnerships, Raising Awareness, Resources, , Sole Beauti, Transform, Uncategorized, Videography, Vision, VLOG, Volunteerism

No more haircuts!

About a month ago, we met a guy named Leonard digging through trashcans! We walked up to him, stopped him, and engaged into about a 45 minute conversation with him. During our conversation, we asked Leonard a very important question, “If you had one wish, what would you do with it….” Leonard paused, thought, and then said these words… “I WISH I COULD BE MADE OVER!”

He shared with us that he hadn’t showered in over two months, and he was too far from a shelter to walk to one. In fact, he was on the outskirts of Atlanta, and the nearest shelter was over 15 miles away.

I (Terence ) distinctly remember leaving there think to myself, “There has got to be a way to make people over….” Paul writes “that God has the power to make people a new creation through the good news (2 Corinthians 5:17)”

Well, to start the process of our next awareness campaign! I (and a few others) are going to go until next year without cutting our hair (starting Nov 1)…. This month also happens to be MOVEMBER (A month dedicated toward raising awareness about men health issues)

Why? I am glad you asked. Well, you’ll find out what we will attempt to do to help people like Leonard around the city of Atlanta! Pray that God continues to resource us to take #lovebeyondwalls

Watch the video below to see the bus…. Terence