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Have you ever held a diamond in your hand up to the sunlight and slowly turned it to see all the different colors shine through? The Nativity of Jesus is like that diamond: by turning it this way and that, we see different layers of meaning that teach us more about Jesus and who He is. One aspect of the Nativity that I wished got more attention, is the shepherds in the field. Especially when we consider the ministry of Oliver Gospel for the homeless, we can learn a lot from the shepherds about God’s heart for the poor. JESUS ANNOINTED TO PROCLAIM GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, it was common for Jesus to be found guest preaching (to use modern terminology) at different synagogues in the region of the Galilean countryside. But there’s one particular sermon (if you will) that I want to draw your attention to. Look at closely what happens at a synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, as recorded in Luke 4:16-22: “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,     because he has anointed me      to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners     and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked." In this sermon, Jesus is making an incredible statement about His identity and mission. Much could be said about Jesus’ statement that He is “anointed.” But, for today’s purposes, pay close attention to the mission here. What is Jesus anointed to do? He is anointed “to proclaim good news (the gospel) to the poor” and more in the verses that follow. There are huge implications for us today in these words, and we find many examples in the Gospels of Jesus demonstrating this truth in his actions. THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE THE GOOD NEWS IS ANNOUNCED ARE THE LEAST ADMIRED IN THEIR SOCIETY Keeping in mind Jesus’ sermon, revisit what happens with the shepherds of the Nativity in Luke 2:8-21. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,     and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’" Did you catch that? In Luke 2:8 we not only learn that these shepherds are working the “graveyard shift” of watching the flock at night, but they are “living in the field.” We often romanticize the life of a shepherd today. I don’t know about you, but I cannot stop seeing an idealized image of King David with his curly hair playing a harp under a beautiful tree with a gentle sleeping lamb nearby. Sounds relaxing! But the context behind the powerful imagery of shepherds in the Bible is that it could be categorized as a “dirty job” in the Greco-Roman world of Jesus’ day. Not only is it hard, blue-collar work . . . but it is not well-paid or very respected in the society of Jesus’ day. Don’t miss it: these shepherds are living outside the city, in the fields with their animals—maybe even with everything they own. I’ll let you come to your own conclusions from there! As Jesus says, He is anointed “to bring good news to the poor;” and so the very first people to hear the good news of the birth of the Messiah (the King!) are poor shepherds living outside in the fields. Wow. And the pattern doesn’t stop there, throughout the Gospels, Jesus proclaims the good news over and over to the most unlikely and unexpected people. It all culminates in the first person to encounter the risen Jesus—it’s not Peter, John, or James, it’s Mary Magdalene. Let’s get back to the story of the shepherds. What do they do as soon as they hear the good news? It reads in verses 15-20: “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." After hearing the good news, the shepherds rush off to Bethlehem to see the newborn baby. I imagine great excitement, many even a shepherd tripping as they rush off together to meet the newborn King. After meeting Jesus, these shepherds don’t wait long before continuing to announce the good news to others! They remain in a spirit of worship, reflecting on all that God had done and the things they had seen and heard. There is so much we can learn from the shepherds: immediately responding to the good news with joy, telling others, and worshipping God. It challenges me not only to try to model my own reaction to the good news after their example, but also to look around me for these types of faithful servants of the Lord. In fact, it’s possible these types of Gospel-centered people are found in the most unlikely of places. Maybe they’re living in the woods off the interstate or found wandering in Finley Park. Wherever they are, don’t miss it! They may have something important to tell you. Prayer: Lord, in the season of Advent, we celebrate your birth. Your birth reminds us that joy can be found in the most unlikely of places, even a stable of animals and in the company of shepherds. We remember those moments with warmth in our hearts; moments that reveal your heart for humanity. Help us to be more like the shepherds, who upon hearing the good news hurry to worship you and tell others about you. Thank you for bringing light into the world and for proclaiming good news of freedom and forgiveness to us. Amen.

Christmas festivities are in FULL swing now and I am here to share with you my 5 favorite activities to do this time of year! Whether you are a Christmas enthusiast (like me!) or not, these ideas are sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Caroling This classic tradition is a wonderful way to bless your neighbors this Christmas. Growing up, I remember how intentional my parents were to meet our neighbors. By inviting them into our lives, we have had the opportunity to share the Gospel with many people! Caroling is a chance to meet your neighbors, maybe for the first time, and share the love of Christ with them through song! I recommend that you choose 4-5 classic Christmas songs that everyone in your group knows the words and tune already. Here are some of my favorite versions of classic Christmas songs to check out! Joy to the World – Hillsong Worship Angels We Have Heard on High – Phil Wickham O Come All Ye Faithful – Pentatonix Deck the Halls – Tenth Avenue North We Wish You a Merry Christmas – Bing Crosby (My family always closes our caroling with this song!) Bake Gingerbread Cookies The holidays are usually filled with tons of baking in my house. With multiple parties, house guests, and gift exchanges each year, it is crucial to have an ample supply of sweet treats on hand in December! Below is my favorite Gingerbread cookie recipe: Ingredients: 5-5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 tsp ginger 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cloves 1 cup butter 1 cup granulated sugar 1 1/4 cup molasses 2 eggs, beaten Directions: Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat until just melted. Add in sugar, molasses, and eggs. Mix well, remove from heat, and cool slightly. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in the center. Mix well into a dough. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Refrigerated dough will keep for up to a week. Preheat oven to 375 F. Roll out dough onto a floured baking mat to approximately 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on a greased cookie sheet, or use parchment paper. Bake for 6-8 minutes for small/medium sized cookies and 10-12 minutes for larger cookies. Let the cookies cool completely before frosting them. Store in an air-tight container. Enjoy! If you make these cookies, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! See Christmas Lights Another tradition in my family is to go look at lights around my neighborhood and city. We all pile in our old minivan, cocoa in hand, and admire all the decorations, and of course we are blasting our favorite Christmas songs the whole time! If you don’t live in a neighborhood that does a lot of Christmas lights, there are often parks, zoos, or even neighborhoods that have drive-through light exhibits. I have compiled a list of Christmas lights to see in Columbia below. If you aren’t local to the Midlands, you can find these easily with a quick Google search! Saluda Shoals Holiday Lights on the River Riverbanks Zoo Before Christmas Lights Magnificent Dancing Lights Display (residential: 133 Autumn Oaks Ln, Lexington, SC 29073) Carolina Lights at the Fairgrounds Make your own garland I love making my own Christmas decorations because then they are completely original and making them is half the fun! This DIY dried orange garland is super simple to make and results in a beautiful decoration for your mantle, wall, or tree! Supplies: Oranges or other citrus fruits such as lemons or grapefruit (I typically use naval oranges and sometimes blood oranges or Cara Cara oranges if I can find them!) Sharp knife Cutting board Parchment paper Cookie sheet Tapestry needle String (I use bakers’ twine) Instructions: Preheat your oven to 190⁰ F. Using the knife, slice your oranges on the cutting board into ¼ inch slices. Make sure that you are cutting perpendicular to the orange sections, so that each slice shows all of the sections of fruit. One medium orange makes approx. 8-10 slices. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange your orange slices on the sheet in a single layer and bake for 2-4 hours, flipping the oranges about halfway through. Adjust the bake time based on how quickly the oranges dry out. This can vary by the orange, so be sure to check on them every hour or so to make sure they don’t burn! Once the oranges have cooled, use the tapestry needle to thread the string through two points at the top of each slice, that way the slices will hang flat. Use however many slices you need for your desired length. Hang on your mantle, wall, or tree! Have fun incorporating other Christmas elements like cranberries, pinecones, or pine branches! Read an Advent story or devotional While all the festive activities are loads of fun, this season is also particularly significant because it is Advent: the anticipation and celebration of the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of resources online and in print that provide Scripture, devotionals, and reflections on this season. Below are some of my favorite Advent studies and books. For the family: Jotham’s Journey. This book is a story of a young boy living during the time of Jesus’ birth. Full of adventure and excitement, this is a great evening activity to do with your kids. Each day’s reading includes a piece of the story and an application section. For women: She Reads Truth Advent. I love this beautifully designed Advent guide because it focuses on Scripture passages that tell the story of Christ’s birth. There are recipes, crafts, and hymns included as well! If you start the book at the beginning of Advent, you can join the online community of women around the world who are reading it too! For men: He Reads Truth. I haven’t read this one myself, but I have heard great things! It is set up similarly to the She Reads Truth Advent book and includes historical and cultural background information for deeper understanding of the Christmas story! I hope you find this list inspiring as you enjoy this season with your friends and family! I want to hear your favorite Christmas traditions! Let me know in the comments below! Merry Christmas! Hello! If you don't recognize my name, that's because I am fairly new around here! My name is Laura, and I am the Marketing Specialist here at Oliver Gospel Mission. My job includes everything from social media to print design, branding plans to press releases, and a lot in between! One of my favorite parts about my job is that I get to hear people's stories of transformation and write about them. You will see my name pop up on occasion here on the blog as I tell stories of transformation from our guests, volunteers, and donors! Have a story you want to tell? I'd love to hear it! Email me at laura.camplejohn@olivergospel.org.

This fall, Through Our Eyes Project came to Columbia. A lot of our residents here at Oliver Gospel were participants and even winners of the photograph contest. Watch this video to hear about the heart and impact behind this project! Hear the story behind Jaiymee and Terrell's photos here:

In the early 2000s, Walter was at the top of his game. Along with working in the film industry, Walter achieved success in selling at a large retail store. Despite his hard work, he never received a raise for his achievements. After four years, he talked to his supervisors about it. Disappointed with their answer, he put in to transfer to a store in Greenville where he knew he would get paid more. He had a friend up there to stay with, so he went. When he showed up, the staff told him they never received any transfer paperwork and didn't have a job for him. He stayed with his friend and lived on the little savings he had. One day, his friend moved away, and Walter couldn’t afford to live there on his own. He decided to move back to Columbia, where it was more affordable to live. He had a friend who had given him a small amount of money to live on for a while until he could find a stable job. The 2009 recession hit, making it impossible to find a job and his friend’s money was running out. One day, on his way to look for jobs, his car blew up. Smoke everywhere. Now, he had no money, no job, and no car. He took a bus back to his place, grabbed a sheet, wrapped it around his neck, and said “This is it. I have nothing to live for.” He tightened the sheet around his neck and right before he was about to pass out, he heard a voice come into his head that said “Stop! I’ve got more for you to do.” And then the hymn, I Surrender All, came into his head, and he began to sob. He loosened the sheet and just cried in the presence of the Lord. “The next day, my brother told me that Oliver Gospel Mission had an open position. I walked to the front desk and explained my story, asking about the open position. Henry, the front desk attendant, kindly said, 'You don’t need to work here, you need to live here.'" So began Walter’s six-month stay in our Rebuild program, where he was able to secure temporary housing, search for available jobs, and learn the tools and skills to be successful in his future. Throughout Walter’s past, he searched for success, love, and true happiness, but he kept coming up empty. When he came to Oliver Gospel, he experienced the love of God and true happiness. Happiness only comes from the Lord, not our circumstances. To this day, Walter continues to experience the goodness of God and his faith inspires him to advocate for those around him. Have a story of transformation to share? Email laura.camplejohn@olivergospel.org - we would love to listen!

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a myriad of memories, traditions, and emotions. If you are anything like me, traditions are a significant component of this time of year. The repeated sounds, tastes, smells, and activities from year to year trigger my brain to reminisce on the past, on the sweet innocence of childhood, on the deep impact of certain family members, on the fundamental importance of gratitude and joy. All it takes is one bite of my grandmother’s stuffing or one dance number from the Macy’s Day parade to transport me back in time to any given year. You probably have had similar experiences to what I just described. There is something about this time of year that prompts reflection and ritual. While there are often sweet and joyful memories associated with the holidays, for those who have experienced any form of loss, this season can also be a painful reminder of what is passed or what is missing. I am sure that you have felt this sense of loss before. You may even be feeling it now. This dichotomy between nostalgia and pain that comprises the holiday season can be difficult to reconcile; it can be so bittersweet. For those in poverty, loss is a daily reality—loss of jobs, housing, family members, education, and dreams. As the holidays prompt us to reflect on our lives and perhaps some painful memories, those in poverty are bombarded with the reality of the losses they’ve experienced. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mindy, our Director of Transformation here at Oliver Gospel, to talk about what the holiday season looks like for those experiencing poverty or homelessness. In some ways, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just days to survive, like any other day of the year, Mindy explained. When your basic needs aren’t being met, it is nearly impossible to prioritize things like holiday gifts, traditions, or meals. Through ministries like Oliver Gospel, our neighbors move beyond survival and learn how to thrive, whether that is as small as having turkey on Thanksgiving or as big as gaining the skills necessary to gain employment. Mindy also clarified that while there are differences, people experiencing homelessness are humans too! They usually want the same things out of the holidays as you and I do – community, food, warmth. But, due to their circumstances, they have limited to no access to those things. They would love to cook a full Thanksgiving meal and share it with their friends and family, but if they don’t have a place to call home, they wouldn't have a kitchen to cook in, much less money to buy all the food. Sadly, they may not even have family or friends to spend the holidays with. One of the biggest needs that our neighbors need during the holidays, and year-round, is community. “When people are not in community, they are marginalized, and they are left out.” Mindy said. Thanksgiving and Christmas are celebrations. Celebration happens in community, so building relationships is the first step. Receiving a fancy meal or a Christmas gift are important and certainly add to the holiday experience, but the gift of relationship persists far beyond this season. Community is the building block for success as a person moves out of poverty. With a support system to love and encourage them, their chances for success and stability are so much higher. A critical step in creating community for those experiencing homelessness is through volunteering on a regular basis. Mindy encourages volunteers to consider volunteering on a monthly basis because that consistency is what opens doors for deep relationships. “The really fun, good stuff—where you're getting to hang out with the men, or you get to hang out with the women at Toby's and you know their kids’ names and they know your kids’ names—that's where we build community.” Another way to partner with us in transforming lives is through prayer. As Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching, please pray for our neighbors experiencing homelessness in our city. Pray that through community and shelter, that they would feel the love of Christ, and this season would be marked with joy rather than sorrow. Pray also for our staff as they work long hours over the holidays to make this season the best possible for our guests. Pray that the Lord would energize and sustain them. Today, as I admire the trees changing colors and relish the crisp air, I am reminded of how bittersweet this season can be. If you have ever experienced the pain or loss over the holidays, our prayer is that you find comfort and peace in Christ and in community. We are praying that during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season, you will feel loved and cared for, that you will be surrounded by a community who supports you and know that we love and care about you here at Oliver Gospel!

A local 6th grader, Joshua, and some of his fellow martial artists, recently hosted a Ninja Race to raise money for Oliver Gospel's Toby's Place. Joshua and his friends, who had recently tested for their black belts in Tae Kwon Do, were required to do a community service project to earn their black belts. Tasked with finding a charity to support, Joshua had heard about Toby's Place through his mom and church, and felt God prompt him to choose Toby's Place. He saw the need to help women and children experiencing homelessness and was excited to support a program helping people not much younger than him. Joshua said that he was glad he picked a Christian organization because Toby's Place doesn't just meet people's physical needs, but we also share the Gospel and tell people about Jesus. Together with Legacy Martial Arts, Joshua raised about $500 for Toby's Place! We praise God for how He is using Joshua, and many others like him, to transform our community with the love of Christ!

37-year-old Jimmy Perry works as a line cook at Oliver Gospel’s Men’s Center. After being tossed by the waves of addiction, loss, and hard times, he made it to where he is today with the help of the community surrounding him. After losing his mom at the age of four, he was sad to know she would miss out on most of his life. His dad raised him and his siblings well, but he still mourned not having a mother figure growing up. In her absence, he became close with his paternal grandmother until she died in 2011. That was when he hit rock bottom and fell into a downward spiral. The father of two young kids and supported by a family that loved him, his sister encouraged him to enroll in Oliver Gospel’s Recovery program. After graduating from Oliver’s Gospel’s program, he was hired as a line cook in the Men’s Center kitchen. Jimmy says he healed at Oliver Gospel because here he “began to truly know God, was surrounded by Christ-minded men: the staff, residents, the public that we feed.” The contribution of each community member around him from his time as a resident and now giving back as a staff member, are all a part of Jimmy's transformation. “Having somebody listen to your story, listen to where you are coming from, to know that they are here with you. You are not by yourself. To see the men going through the program like I did, I don’t feel so alone now.” Jimmy is an encouragement and bright light to our community through his experience and tenure at Oliver Gospel. He makes the dining room and kitchen a fun place to be and loves without abandon. Because of his own life experiences, Jimmy makes our community stronger and knows how to listen to and love those in need of community themselves. Need help? Click here. Have a story to share? Email communications@olivergospel.org - we would love to listen!

I had the opportunity of sitting down with Christian Albertsen, our new Community Engagement Coordinator, to ask him some questions about himself and his vision for his role at Oliver Gospel. Throughout the interview, I was struck by his commitment to follow Christ’s example in loving the poor and his eagerness to mobilize the community to change lives. I hope you enjoy hearing from Christian Albertsen below just as much as I did! INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN ALBERTSEN Interviewer: Christian, I’m excited to be with you today! I think our community is eager to learn more about you and your role at Oliver Gospel. To start us off, could you tell me a bit about yourself? Christian Albertsen: Well, I am the product of a military family. My dad was in the Airforce stationed in Japan, where he met my mom. I'm half-Japanese and half-American. I lived in Japan for 8 years, then in New Mexico for 4 years, and ended up in South Carolina for the past 13 years (I'm 25 years old now). I went to Columbia International University and graduated with a B.S. in Youth Ministry, then went on to Southeastern Univ. for an M.A. in Ministerial Leadership. I'm recently married to my lovely wife Rachel as of August 2020. We love being outdoors and going hiking in the mountains with our dog named "Bear." Interviewer: Ha ha that's a great name: “Bear. What kind of dog? Christian: German Shepherd. Interviewer: Ah, I love German Shepherds! I think they get such a bad rap. Christian: He's a super friendly dog, like he gets used to people really quick. He'll bark maybe the first time he sees you, and then he sniffs you…and is totally fine after that. Like literally lying down in front of you wanting a belly rub. Ha ha! Interviewer: I need to meet him sometime. Sounds like you've got quite an amazing family. Christian: Yes I do. [I’m] very thankful. Interviewer: You didn't mention this in your introduction, but I also understand that you've helped plant 2 churches. That's very impressive being only 25 years old! So, after all of that, why Oliver Gospel? What brought you here? Christian: It's my best attempt to respond to Jesus' example and call to empower and mobilize community. I want to be part of mobilizing the community and the Church to help those that are less fortunate. That's a really big draw for me. Interviewer: That's great, Christian. I can see how that would be a draw for you in light of your education and experience with the church. So, you see your faith being an integral part of your job? Christian: Absolutely. Jesus is drawn to the poor; we see this throughout the Gospels in the Bible. I want to follow His example and help others do the same. Interviewer: Tell me about specifically about your role at Oliver Gospel; what does it mean to be the Community Engagement Coordinator? Christian: Wow. [That’s a] great question. I think it's just that. Community Engagement to me means mobilizing the different aspects of community to get involved. Scripture talks about the importance of the Body of Christ as a whole--each part--having a vital role to play in loving our neighbor. First, educating community members in what they can do and their role in what it means to "engage and transform lives together through the Power of Christ's love." To help them realize that they can contribute and make a real difference. And then secondly, mobilizing them with an action plan that matches their values, skills, and time. In that way, I serve as a guide: I’m helping people, who want to help people, help people. Interviewer: Oh my -- I love that. I think that sums it up very well. I'm struck by how important this work is! I think it's of such value for the community to know who you are, and to know that their church, business, or family/friend group can contact you to see how they can make real impact. Christian: I think there's a lot of people out there who do want to help, but just don't know how. Interviewer: And that's where you come in. Christian: That's the hope!

My wife and I just got a dog—a six-week-old Australian Shepherd, to be precise! If you know these breeds, they grow to be medium sized dogs with lots of energy and big furry coats. Right now our puppy is a small sized dog with lots of energy and a big furry coat. As many of you know, FIRST priority with a new puppy is—you guessed it—potty training! So, I set a timer on my phone to go off every 20 minutes to let me know that I need to take her out again. My dog and I dread this alarm going off. As soon as I open the back door, carrying my puppy outside to the place we both do not want to go, we felt it—that terrible Columbia heat. Every 20 minutes, as I took my dog out to the backyard, several things happened all at once: My glasses fogged up so that I could not see The world around me was suddenly damp and my clothes began to stick to my skin—so that it felt almost like swimming My dog panted and whined … and, finally, my dog did not go potty. And after all of that—my dog runs back inside, has an accident, and lies down beside the AC vent to cool down. Well, that’s the way it goes (she’s really a great puppy . . . I promise). Why am I telling you this? I’m trying to demonstrate a point, even describing what we all already know: Columbia summers are miserable. Last week was hot in Columbia . . . very hot. One day we had high of 96°F and another with whopping 100% humidity rating. It was miserable to go outside—at all. Do you know what it feels like? Here’s the kicker. I visit that heat; there are several hundred people downtown who live in it. That’s why I’m thankful for outreach opportunities like Oliver Gospel’s annual Beat the Heat. Beat the Heat is an annual event Oliver Gospel does several days in the summer. Pelican’s Snoballs provides delicious shaved ice, and Oliver Gospel has shade, fans, cool water, and a place to rest. Anyone in the community is welcomed to cool off, rest from the hot sun, and enjoy the company of others. Best of all, I think that Beat the Heat is actually about Jesus. The Gospel of John is unique among the four Gospels in the Bible. It is structured around seven signs that Jesus performs and seven “I am” statements that Jesus makes about Himself. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus not only tells people who He is . . . He shows them. Those seven “I am” statements are: “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) I want to draw your attention to the first “I am” statement Jesus makes about Himself in John 6:35 it says, “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” In Jesus, I believe our thirst is satisfied—in our faith today and permanently when Jesus returns. But, like Jesus does throughout His ministry, He not only tells people who He is . . . He demonstrates it through His kindness, friendship, mercy, authority, power, service, miracles, and in everything else He did. Beat the Heat is Christ’s love expressed through Snoballs, cool water, and shade from the hot sun. Why does Oliver Gospel do events like Beat the Heat? Because we love people, want to provide joy and rest, and want to not only tell people that Jesus satisfies their thirst and gives them rest—but tangibly shows that truth in everything we do. Thank you for helping us touch the lives of the hundreds of men and women living without a home in the Midlands. We’d love for you to join us for a sno-ball and some shade too! Click here if you’d like to volunteer or here if you’d like to make a donation. Feel free contact me at (803) 567-2204 or will.huff@olivergospel.org for more information!

Jerry grew up an hour from New Orleans. As a young adult and member of the Navy, he moved to Texas with his wife and started a family. They lived a quintessentially American life with a good-paying job, owned a house, and married with a few kids. Life was good! Until it wasn’t. Jerry moved to Columbia for a better-paying job to create a nest egg for his growing family. Though leaving his family was tough, he knew it was best for them. Upon arrival in Columbia, he had more trouble than he thought finding housing. He lived out of his car for a few weeks until his wife recommended that he stay at Oliver Gospel Mission until something else became available. He describes finding Oliver Gospel as an “oasis”. He was able to get a good nights’ rest, meals, and a community of like-minded men during his time with us. He still keeps in touch with staff and men he met here. Seven years later, Jerry is still working the same job, with his family now close by. He loves his job and is thankful that Oliver Gospel came at the right time to make sure he didn’t lose it. When asked to describe Oliver Gospel in one word, he chooses “purposeful.” He says we live our purpose intentionally. Jerry’s story is not unique. Many of our guests seek jobs in places far from their families to provide for the present and future. When they arrive and face hardship, those jobs can quickly be rescinded, leaving them homeless and hopeless. Oliver Gospel is here for anyone that might find themselves with a stable job but no housing. This is one of the many ways Oliver Gospel helps prevent situational homelessness for many. Need help? Click here. Have a story to share? Email communications@olivergospel.org - we would love to listen!

God has a lot to say about helping the poor. With more than 2,000+ verses in the Bible (wow!) about loving the stranger, widow, orphan, impoverished, immigrant, and helpless among us … the Bible makes it clear that this is important to God’s heart and the Christian walk. Just like He rescues and provides for us – so should we for others. Instead of listing all 2,000+, here's 14 verses about helping the poor that stand out to us here at Oliver Gospel. We hope you find these passages encouraging, challenging, and motivating (just like we do!). 1) Psalm 82:3 “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” 2) Psalm 140:12 “I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” 3) Proverbs 14:31 “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” 4) Proverbs 14:21 “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” 5) Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” 6) Isaiah 58:6-8 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” 7) Luke 3:11 “John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 8) 1 John 3:16-18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 9) James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” 10) Luke 14:13-14 “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” 11) Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.” 12) Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 13) Psalm 35:10 “My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” 14) Luke 6:29-36 “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” So, what verse stood out most to you? Are there verses we didn’t include that have impacted you personally? We’d love to hear about it! Take a minute to send us an email at ogm@olivergospel.org and let us know your thoughts.

Summer came to Toby’s place fleeing a life of addiction, loneliness, and pain. At six months pregnant, she knew something had to change so she could provide for her future daughter. After dropping out of high school three different times, she became addicted to drugs, was in an unhealthy relationship with her boyfriend, and found herself pregnant at 19 with no place to live. Since coming to Toby’s Place, Summer has grown and changed in so many ways! She is graduating from high school the first week of June, learning to care for her six month-old daughter, and actively working as a barista at the Oliver Gospel Roastery. Summer says without Toby’s Place, she would likely be dead and definitely would still be living on the streets. Are you or someone you know in need of assistance? Reach out to our Connections Manager, Kanisha Keitt, at kanisha.keitt@olivergospel.org or call (803) 254-6470 ext. 1020. Visit our Get Help page for more information.