MacArthur Park Ministry Report, September 16, 2007

As usual, not just another day in the Park!
    It didn’t look like we would have enough food. Debbie Johnson was out of town on a family emergency.
    Pastor Grande ( AKA Rob ) made some calls and then there were about 300 meals!!! God is good! Amen.

    We had a good group of ministry people from Vineyard including Sheri from Living Oaks, she had been part of the ministry from the early days.
     Pastor Grande had a plan to bring some homeless people from Thousand Oaks to the Park. I thought this was a great idea! But he was also planning on bringing them back. :o) I thought he was crazy but He and God had a plan.
     When we drove by where the homeless hang out in Thousand Oaks we found only one guy who didn't speak much English. Rob asked him if he wanted to go to MacArthur Park. And he did! We found out his name was Alex and he wanted to quit drinking.
    When we arrived at the Park there was a huge festival going on celebrating Independence Day for Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. There must have been over 100,000 people in the Park. After we set up Rob asked me if I had seen Alex, our homeless extra from Thousand Oaks. I said no.
     Pastor Hector told Rob we can't leave him there. And the search was on.
    This was like looking for a needle in a haystack. We went to the other side of the park where there was the most people and finally found him. He was looking for the restroom. Yeah, right!
    Pastor Hector’s son Arty gave a great testmony that touched a lot of people.
When it was time for altar call the Thousand Oaks people were called to have two of us pray for each person to accept Christ into their lives and for any needs they might have.

    I looked around and saw this Hispanic man going over to Melody. (She is probably only 16.) So I went over to pray with them. We laid hands on him and prayed in English. I asked him if he had any specific needs and he started speaking in Spanish!
    I looked around for a translator but everybody else was already busy praying with other people. I just felt God wanting me to be still and listen.
    Melody looked over at me because this guy started crying and I just shrugged my shoulder and listened. I did catch a few key words like he had family in El Salvador and Fresno so I could feel his pain. And he seemed lonely. So I prayed for God to help him with his struggles and reunite him with his family. At the end he was very thankful and was hugging us, shaking our hands, and seemed very relieved.
    It was just so bizzare that we couldn't understand each other. And I know God made it all work in His own special way. Over 20 people accepted Christ into their lives and our new friend Alex was one of them! God is alive and well. This day showed me that nothing is impossible and I'm thankful to have gone and experienced all this with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
    I want to thank everybody who helped make this possible from the people making lunches ( Like Gloria's husband Don- He made 40 by himself! ) To all who donated clothes ( Alex got some new shoes, shirts, sweaters etc.) To all who went and served. (Randy, Debbie Kermath's son came from his college in Long Beach ).
    May God bless you all in doing His work of helping the poor, seeking the lost
and making new disciples.

Patrick Gagnon

PS: After visiting the park, Alex attempted to stop drinking. He had been drunk for 20 straight years. He suffered from seizures once he stopped. After detoxing at Los Robles Hospital where Pastors Rob & Hector ministered to him, Alex has agreed to rehab and is now at Casa De Vida in Oxnard, a sober Christian Men’s living home. Please be praying for strength! This is a 6 month-1 year program.

Alex!

MacArthur Park Partner Ministries:
ACTION Foundation, Ventura County
Calvary Community Church, Westlake Village
Calvary Chapel, Simi Valley
Christian Church of the Hills, Agoura Hills
La Luz Church, Los Angeles
Jesus Blanket Project, Simi Valley
Vineyard Community Church, Camarillo
Vineyard Community Church, Newbury Park
Simi Pres, Simi Valley
World For Christ, Conejo Valley
World Impact, Los Angeles


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