ALL SMILES IN THE ATL

This homeless man was all smiles after finishing his lunch of homemade soup, cornbread and
pound cake. Like all the others, he was very appreciative for the food and blankets.

It was a cold and windy day in Atlanta, or as they call it nowadays - the ATL, when Love In Action arrived at Eagle’s Nest Ministries in the heart of downtown. The homeless had already started forming a line outside of the church for they had heard Love In Action Ministries was coming with blankets, gloves and food.
Some sat shivering on the curb and others stood in place jumping trying to shake off the cold January wind, which ushered in a cold front snapping what had been several weeks of mild weather. God’s timing was perfect, as it always is. As we unloaded the vehicles and chatted with the men and women lined up waiting, smiles started brightening up their faces, bringing a warmth to an otherwise chilly landscape.

It wasn’t long until we had the homemade vegetable soup warmed up and ready to serve along with the homemade cornbread and homemade pound cake. We invited the homeless inside the church and they quickly filled up the room and settled into their chairs around the dining tables. Eagle’s Nest Pastor Harold Smith greeted the crowd with encouraging words, then turned the service over to Love In Action Volunteer Staff Member Jeremy Swasey.
This was the first time Jeremy had ever spoken in front of an audience that large to share his testimony, but he did an awesome job. As he shared his testimony the men and women were hanging on his every word. Jeremy shared things that he went through in his life that many of them were going through at that moment. Jeremy told them how Jesus saved him and delivered him from the troubles and issues in his life. He encouraged them to give Jesus a chance, because if God did it for him, He would do it for them too.
Following Jeremy’s inspirational testimony, Love In Action Vice President Ken Tuck gave an altar call, and 12 responded to give their lives to Jesus Christ. That’s what it’s all about. Love In Action shows the homeless the love of God and it encourages them that they are not alone and that God really does love them and so do others.
Following the service Bro. Harold told the men and women what they were about to have for lunch. Smiles got brighter and brighter as he went down the menu. “We are about to serve you homemade soup, homemade cornbread and homemade pound cake,” he said. Love In Action volunteers served the food, then went around the room serving up seconds. Nobody left hungry.
Before leaving the church everyone was given blankets, gloves, socks, and hygiene items. It was a great day and Love In Action could not have accomplished any of it without the prayers and financial support of its partners. Your support brings the love of Jesus to the homeless in places like Atlanta, Brooklyn, NY, and Dothan and Enterprise, Alabama.
Thank you and please keep Love In Action in your prayers.

Joyce Hall, of Eagle's Nest Ministries (in white hat), hands out blankets and hygiene items that Love In Action brought for the homeless.

The homeless were very appreciative of the blankets as the weather turned cold on the day of Love In Action's outreach on Jan. 14.

This homeless man had a smile on his face as Joyce gave him a blanket and gloves. He had just finished eating a delious homemade lunch of vegetable soup, cornbread and pound cake.

This homeless man gives the "Peace" sign as he finishes his lunch. The hot soup was the perfect lunch for a cold and windy winter day in Atlanta.

Eagle's Nest Pastor Harold Smith shares encouraging words with the homeless to begin Love In Action's outreach on Jan. 14. Love In Action and Eagle's Nest have been ministering together for five years and have seen thousands of homeless accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and we have seen the homeless come off the streets to serve God and live productive lives.