California knows how to party...

...a little too well. Tupac might not be so proud, now that Los Angeles is home to one of the largest homeless/addict populations in the United States. I depart tomorrow afternoon for Los Angeles, to serve this population on the streets of Skid Row. During the trip, my church team will be working with Set Free Church to distribute clothing/necessities, serve meals, conduct Bible studies, facilitate church services, street reach, and generally love on the unloved.

Set Free Church was founded in 1993 in a storefront building of Yucaipa, CA. Led by Pastor Willie Dalgity and his wife, Marsha, they made it their mission to take the message of Jesus Christ to the streets of their community to minister to the homeless, hurting, addicted, hopeless and forgotten people in needs of God's love. Sixteen years later, there are more than 60 Set Free Churches scattered throughout California and the United States.

Set Free Church is different than any homeless shelter or addiction program. Among providing for homeless men and women, they hold daily chapel services to share the good news of Christ. If a man or woman accepts Christ, they are offered the opportunity to board a bus to the "Ranch," a camp two hours away in the California desert where it's "beans, rice, and Jesus Christ." This gets the homeless out of their destructive environment. After arriving at the camp, addicts are given around a week to detox naturally, and then begin discipleship alongside the others. It's 60 days of intense Bible Study, prayer and worship. The participants also learn some job training skills, life skills, etc. After 60 days, the participants are required to get a job, and they move to a "halfway house" of sorts in Compton. Some participants go on to start Set Free churches in other parts of the country---the "redeemed" homeless are mentoring the "lost" homeless. This same model of an inner-city church and "ranch" is used at all 60 Set Free Churches

Here's a little bit about what we will be doing on a daily basis:

Saturday, July 11 - Arrive

Sunday, July 12 - Downtown LA at Skid Row Church: Lead devotional

Monday, July 13 - Los Angeles Women's Home: Build relationships, give manicures, love on these women.

Tuesday, July 14 - Set Free Women's Ranch in Yucaipa, CA: Build relationships, lead devotional, love on these women

Wednesday, July 15 - Downtown LA at Skid Row Church: Lead Bible studies, fellowship, serve meals, pass out clothing/necessities

Thursday, July 16 - Downtown LA at Skid Row Church / Street Reach in Skid Row: Lead Bible studies, fellowship, serve meals, passout clothing/necessities, invite those on the street to come to outreach fair

Friday, July 17 - Downtown LA at Skid Row Church / Street Reach in Skid Row: Lead Bible studies, fellowship, serve meals, passout clothing/necessities, invite those on the street to come to outreach fair

Saturday, July 18 - Downtown LA at Skid Row Church / Street Outreach Fair: Conduct street fair with free food, clothing/necessities, live music, preaching, etc.

Sunday, July 19 - Depart for Home

I would appreciate and covet your prayers while I am away. You can pray specifically for safety, focus, authenticity, love, kindness, mercy, and acceptance. Also---I'm a bit under the weather with a sore throat, and I would love prayers for healing before my trip. If time permits, I will blog while I'm on the trip. Until then, thank you for your thoughts and prayers!