70x7 - Put on love

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A Street Ministry

We are dedicated to bringing hope and recovery to people engaged in at-risk activities by sharing Christ’s love, compassion and forgiveness.

Abide Ministries 70x7 Street Outreach is a ministry working directly with people on the streets of North West and Central Detroit. The Street Outreach team uses a van as their mobile base. From the van we provide sandwiches, juice, hygiene kits, prayer and a list of referrals for services such as shelter, food, and rehab. Our main vision and purpose for this outreach is to show people of all walks of life that God loves them, without bias and desires a relationship with them, to encourage them and to give them hope.

Our focus is primarily women engaged in prostitution, and substance abuse. We also reach out to others engaged in various at-risk activities.

For More information contact:

Donna McCauley
313-801-2204
70x7outreach@comcast.net

Put on love

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Col. 3:13-15

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks. Outreach has had some wonderful positive encounters with our friends on the streets. But the encounter that has been running over and over in my mind was a birthday luncheon with one of my first contacts when 70x7 started. It was such a beautiful luncheon that I almost started crying again just writing about it. On Friday I picked up Cindy for her routine doctors appt., then we headed over to Taylor to pickup Yvonne, the birthday girl, to take her to lunch. I have to laugh when I think of how the Lord has brought us all to this point in time.

I met Cindy years before I met Yvonne but we really did not connect until after I met Yvonne. They were both in residential treatment at the same time, knew the same people, yet have very different journeys. Cindy came to Christ while in treatment and Yvonne chose to follow her own path claiming she turned her life around. Well, as we all know Cindy surrendered to Christ and has been an inspiration to everyone who meets her, while Yvonne struggled through her recovery. I watched and prayed as Yvonne got a job and apt. and then lost them both after relapsing. We would see her on the streets again and she would ask for prayer so that she could get her life back on track. She professed a belief in God but felt she could handle her own recovery. For almost 10 years I watched this lady pull it together, pat herself on the back and then fall back into her old street ways. About 2 years ago I noticed a change in her attitude when I would talk to her. She started asking more questions about Jesus and even started asking about things totally unrelated to her own walk in life. It was like watching a flower bloom!

Then Friday comes and it’s Yvonne’s birthday!! We are sitting at the table chatting away about life and Yvonne says, “The only one I want in my life now is Christ. I’ve finally surrendered and realize I’ve made a mess of my life trying to live without Him.” The conversation just came alive then. Cindy’s ears perked up, Yvonne started sharing more about her prayer and Bible time each morning before she starts her day. Cindy and Yvonne are on a roll now just talking about different scriptures. Yvonne tells Cindy how she wishes she had listened and opened her heart sooner to the peace and joy found in a relationship with Christ. At this point I’m so overwhelmed with joy that I just sit back in my chair and start crying. Listening to these 2 ladies talk about where they came from and how Christ has transformed their lives was a little glimpse of heaven. Thank you Jesus for blessing me with this opportunity to see and hear two of your precious children talk about the joy they have in you!

Blessings,

Donna