The God of Hastings Street

Matthew 9:9-17  

The Calling of Matthew

 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Through Matthew, who I wrote about last week, I was able to meet a group of people who minister on Hastings Street. It is quite awesome to see the various backgrounds of those who either directly or indirectly belong to this ministry. Last night I was able to join them and worship in one of their community gatherings (every Tuesday night). One of the men who is a resident missionary is a former alcoholic and crack addict. I asked him to share his testimony with me and he did. I had to wipe tears away at one point as he told of his life and how God had delivered him from his bondage. When he finished telling, he made sure that I understood that the story that he told was not his testimony but God's. I asked him later if he would mind if I video taped his testimony so that I could share it with other believers and he said that he would be happy to. I hope to be able to share it with you soon.

After we talked some more, I discovered that this ministry had not only helped pull between 20 and 25 people off the street but is doing so by the means of a saving relationship with the Lord. One of the young men, Bobby (not his real name) who was visiting this group last night was a new believer who had also been enslaved to the drug culture of Hastings Street. He had gone into a drug treatment facility and ran into another man who was there recovering. This other man was one of the 20-25 and he is the one who introduced Bobby to our Father.

My joy in God has increased all the more. To see His love for the unlovable being reflected through obedient saints and then seeing the fruit of genuine conversion humbles me to my core. In reference to the passage in Matthew above, John MacArthur described Matthew as the " major sinner...  (and) unequivocally the vilest, most wretched sinner in Capernaum" before he was called by God. Then we see the Pharisees, the legalistic, religious leaders of the Jews who were supposedly godly who were not able to see their need for Jesus. They only needed their rules and regulations that made them dependent on their own good works.   

It is amazing how I identify with the Pharisees, in that it is so difficult to want to associate with the Matthews of the world. It is easier for me to sit at home or staying in my own sterile environment. As I walk the streets of Hastings I repeatedly see "the vilest and most wretched sinners". These are people who I have to continually remind myself that I am no different from and that we are invited to sit at the same table. I also have to remind myself that their sins are no greater than the ones that I commit. 

I too was imprisoned into a world of hatred; a world of hatred not only to mankind but ultimately and most dreadfully, hatred towards God. I was consumed with self interest and idols that captured my desires, desires that were intended to be directed towards God. Though my idols were not needles nor were they crack pipes, they nevertheless were just as powerful in that they were capturers of my worship. They were objects of my lust, objects such as money, prestige and winning to name a few. Praise God for brining me low. How great is the love the Father has lavished on me, that I should be called His child.

 

Please pray that God would continue to show His greatness by healing the death that so permeates this vile, wretched place. May we all act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. 

To Him be the glory ALONE.  

The Horror of Hastings Street

I caught a glimpse of Hell today. I went to Hastings Street which is the only place in North America where it is legal to do drugs in the open. For blocks and blocks I saw people shooting up, people smoking crack, people selling themselves. I had a pimp tell me that I needed to leave before I got killed. Words can not describe the decay and the depravity of this modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.  

God's revelation of who He is, is clearly displayed to the people on these streets. The beauty and the grandeur of  this city, the beauty of the mountains touching the seas and the beauty of the flora everywhere leaves them without excuse that there is a God. Their hearts have been darkened and they glory in their needles and their trades. They are worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator. Pray that God doesn't give them over to their shameful lusts. Pray that God does not give them over to depraved minds to do what ought not to be done. Pray that they might believe. Pray that they might hear. Pray that one might preach to them. Pray that God sends beautiful feet who might proclaim Good News!

This video is VERY shocking. It shows almost exactly what I experienced yesterday. Remember, my trip was done in the day time as was this video. I was told by several people in the area that I needed to leave at dusk. Just imagine how bad it gets when night falls.

Vancouver Prayer Update 5.9.9

Praises to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Thank you all for your prayers. Thank you for lifting up the lost here in Vancouver and thank you for lifting up our family.

I write this with a heart full of joy, a heart that is overwhelmed with God’s goodness. We want to share with you what has happened since our last update. It is long but it is worth it.

               ADDICT WITHOUT HOPE

1) I was on a bus riding through the city and a homeless lady who had to have been no more than 23 or 24 years old got on board and was fried out of her mind. I have never seen anyone look more pathetic than this poor girl. I have never seen anyone more miserable, who was hurting worse (internally), and never have I seen anyone look more hopeless. 

Worse, I didn't to anything about it. It wasn't that I didn't want to, because I did. However, I allowed two excuses to rise up to prevent me from ministering to her. First, I struggled with whether it was appropriate or not since she was a female and Megan wasn't with me and second I realized I was on the wrong bus headed away from my destination and so I got off.

Please pray that this would never happen again. Pray that when God clearly places people in my path, I faithfully share who He is by revealing His character through my life and His Truth through what I say. Most of all pray that God will provide another to faithfully proclaim who the God of Hope is to her.

              

HASTINGS STREET MINISTRY

2) The next morning I met a man on the Sky Train who God had delivered from being a crackhead and meth attic several years ago. He now has a ministry in the worst part of the city. This is no exaggeration, the area is so bad that the homeless, the strung out, the dealers, the pimps and hookers all do business on the steps of the police station. He invited me to go and help him this next Saturday night. Pray that God would grow me through my ministry while there.

The video below gives an accurate portrait of Hastings Street. It shows the hate and depravity of those without hope. You might consider using discretion and turning the volume down for possible language.

                                                         RICARDO

I met a young man while with Will (another M here in Vancouver) night before last. His name is Ricardo. He is about 26 and is from Chihuahua city and is here to study English. It seems that God has already been working on him based on our conversations. We met with him again last night and was able to clearly share the Gospel with him. We left much for him to think about and to consider. He asked for a Bible and providentially I had a Gideon Bible in my pocket and was able to give it to him. He said that he would start reading it. Pray that God would bring Ricardo to him.

POSSIBLE POLICE MINISTRY

Another incredible praise. I met two police officers, one a follower of Christ and the other a Catholic. We talked for more than an hour. Later I contacted the one who knows Christ and asked him if he would be interested in me possibly providing a Christian ministry of some type and he responded positively. I went to the internet to find some teaching resources aimed at police officers (no pun intended). While searching I ran across a guy who I knew in college 20+ years ago. He is now a director of a Christian police officers fellowship in the D/FW area. He has now got me in contact with some of the national leaders and they are excited about getting something started here. Pray that the officer who I met would desire to start something here.

                                                             DANIEL

5) I have not heard further from Daniel. He was to come to Bible study Tuesday night but never showed. Please continue to pray that God would grow our friendship and that He would draw Daniel to Himself.

                                   A CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENT IN B.C.

Since the time that I wrote the above update I went out into the city once again. I met a young man who was reading his Bible at a bus stop. After a few minutes I was amazed to find out that God is very active in this city. Though there are few churches there apparently is a tremendous house church movement taking place. He told me that there have been 68 house churches started in the last 3 years. Now you need to realize just how amazing this is. This city is a godless city. There are so many foreign gods due to the incredible influx of refugees here that it would make your head spin. Even worse most of the native (not indigenous) Canadians are either atheists or agnostics. 

God is moving among the people here. Two men whom I spoke with today were former  Muslims and another was Catholic. I also met a former atheist. All four of these men were sold out for Christ. I will be meeting with these men (all 4 are house church leaders) who will be meeting with other house church leaders so that I can ask questions and listen to their conversations in order to get a better picture of what is taking place here.

May God’s Name be known,

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