CRUSHED GRAPES MINISTRY |
Frank B. Smith, Director, PO Box 3009, Vista, CA. 92085-3009 |
| January 1, 2003 Greetings in Jesus from the frigid heartland of America, It is New Years morning and I have just returned from a prayer/investigative journey a few blocks away. Last night I attended part of a watch night service with three of the residents of our home led by the Pastor from across the street. I learned first thing this morning that about 1:00 AM a shoot-out with possible fatalities took place down the street. Although Washington DC has the highest murder rate per capita, Omaha is often second. God has privileged me to live in the heart of the area of gangs and shootings to raise up leaders and fellowships that He can use in these awesome days. The fulfillment of the ages has come upon us. Hallelujah! I am tempted to again write about the times, but instead, let me just recommend an anointed book: Restoring the Vision of The End-times Church by Vernon Kuenzi. You may not like the message, but I believe it is the truth. If you want to be like the scoffers who deliberately forget the truth about His coming (2 Peter 3:3-7) and bury your head in the worldly sands, this book could very well save your life. Nate Krupp at Preparing the Way Publishers, 2121 Barnes Avenue SE, Salem, OR 97306, publishes it. See www.PTWPublish.com Forgive me for the long lapse in letters. Semi-regular has not become semi-annual even though the last one was sent in June. So much water has flowed under the bridge, or better, so much grace from God has washed and carried us to the place we all stand today. Here is a short sketch of what has transpired to bring you up to date: July and August were whirlwind months preparing to move to Omaha, getting the donated RV into shape, making a quick reconnaissance trip to Omaha for a week before the wonderful family re-union in Colorado, sovereignly meeting in Omaha the person I had been seeing in a vision, farewell party at Green Oak Ranch, three week visit by my son and family from Taiwan, and the first departure to Omaha on August 25. This trip was by auto, as the RV was not finished. On this trip I visited in Yuma where a wonderful house church is now meeting; then on to Tucson, New Braunfels, the House Church conference in Waco Texas, Gardner Kansas, and finally to Omaha. On that three-week stay in Omaha before returning for the RV, God placed me with an old High School friend and his new wife in their bedroom while they slept on the floor of their office. This was one of the most humbling, humiliating, and love-washing experiences in my life. There were other, more accommodating invitations, but God was clear, "Stay and accept their hospitality and love." During those weeks, we started a church meeting north of town, met several church leaders who all began calling me "Dad," discovered 4740 No. 38th street, and began the back and forth process of accepting this location as God's will, and then rejecting it because it is too far gone and in disrepair. That process is still going on today although I am residing inside the house with four others. (More later.) I flew back to California for two and a half weeks of family, ministry, and putting everything in the RV with the newly rebuilt engine. The drive to Omaha was Divinely interrupted by a broken steering knuckle in Amarillo Texas. For three days I was parked behind the garage of some "good ole boys" while the part was shipped in from Atlanta. The "good ole boys" turned out to be hurting, church-damaged believers who needed the prayer and ministry time and the encouragement to start a church in their home. When the spiritual fixing was done, I went on to Omaha and 4740 N. 38th. The house is big and old. Built in the early part of the last century, it was added to some years later and then converted into four, three-room apartments. The owner died and his son let it run down. The gangs moved in and lots of vandalism happened. It was boarded up for over a year, the water pipes froze and burst throughout the house, the foundation is crumbling, the floors are bare, and the rear of the house is sloping. Half the roof has been repaired (nailing another layer of shingles over three existing layers) two furnaces and four water heaters have been replaced. Of the four bathrooms one shower is possible, one tub is working, and two toilets are functional. The owner, a brother-entrepreneur said I could park the RV in the back, which I did. My presence was a help to him as security while he was fixing up some things. He had planned to have it ready by September for partial occupancy in one of the apartments. I said I would want the whole house and he agreed to give me a lease option to buy the house. I gave him a small deposit. Then more and more expenses mounted for him, and his price had to go up. I paid him $750 for December and gave a $1,000 deposit, but have no written lease or option at this point. In November, he encouraged me to come into the house and sleep at night since he had to keep it warm and the RV heater had broken and the extension cord would only run a very small heater. I spent several nights on an old couch comfortably warm, but uncomfortably dusty from all the dry-wall dust as repairs were being made during the day. I went up to Minnesota for a few days the beginning of November with the folks in and around Mankato, and then had a wonderful weeklong break the end of November in Baltimore with the beautiful house church family known also as "Crushed Grapes Ministries." I returned and several people who want to follow Jesus were desperate for housing. The owner agreed to let some move in even though the house is nowhere ready for occupancy. The Open Door Mission has helped us with a refrigerator, beds and some furnishings. We were together working out the kinks and problems about a week before I went to California for family and Christmas. The Pastor across the street agreed to come over daily and keep watch. She did a great job, but told me, "I went through hell for those two weeks." California was heavenly - warm and comfortable, filled with ministry and family for a much too short two weeks. I wanted to accomplish several things and meet with certain people, but it was not to be. The day after Christmas I arrived back to my place of "residence." In sorting out the issues I learned that the police only had to come once during my absence. Since I was dealing with issues two weeks late, and grace had already been applied, no one was asked to leave. The residents consist of a married couple recently out of a re-hab community. They got married after leaving. Lisa is Hispanic, in love with Jesus, a real disciple of Pastor Ward, (the one who lives across the street), is working on lots of personal issues just like the rest of us. She is the only female that will be allowed to live in the house. Lamar, her husband, is a very recent convert with a tremendous ministry potential. He was first a big gang-member, then a Black Muslim, now a follower of Jesus. Another resident is Raye or "Champ." He lived with me a couple days in the RV earlier, and is trying to sort through a long-term relationship that has kept him off kilter for a period of time. He has the longest relationship with Jesus, is glad to be out of the drug culture, but misses the money. Our fourth brother is John Boy, recovering from his fourth gunshot wound. He is 44 years old, (probably the average age in the house except for the old guy), and is desperate to change his life and learn the ways of Jesus. He is watching lots of videos, mostly Bob Mumford's excellent series, "Breaking Out." The house family meets daily for prayer, reading, assignments, and clearing the air. The only hard and fast rules thus far are no violence or threats of violence, no drugs or alcohol. Oh yes, we've added, no girls upstairs. Each person is asked to contribute $200.00 per month for room and board. Naturally, nothing has come in thus far. The financial future is not rosy in terms of resident support, and any help from the congregations represented by the residents is not possible. In fact we've had to help out some in those situations. Another prospective resident would also be without funds. If God allows us to stay in this house, we could accommodate eight men as well as the married couple. Help! I feel like a missionary in a third world country. I need a couple of Timothy's or Barnabus', or Silas', more mature disciples to share the load, especially when I am traveling. Chris, a Green Oak alum and graduate of ACTS Bible College in Texas may be linking up in February, but more is needed. Please pray and ask if you should come and help. Also please pray for us and ask for God's clear direction on this house. The location and size is perfect. The conditions are terrible. The finances are non-existent except in the heart and leading of God. The work that needs doing could be a good mission experience for some of the other Christian fellowships in Omaha and also good training for our residents in working together and learning from some of the skilled workers. Please pray for our direction and let me hear any word you might receive. I regularly move out of the house in my own mind because it is such a huge and monumental problem. Then I am reminded of things like the scripture we used for Crushed Grapes letterheads and calling cards twenty years ago: "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." Isaiah 58:12. Wow! "Lord, is this the right place for now? Is this where You want me to headquarter in these days when Your Church must follow You by denying ourselves and taking up our individual crosses? (The cross is an instrument of painful, public, humiliating death.) Are You fixing me here, nailing me to this cross? Whatever the outcome and however long, thank You for allowing me to serve You in such a place as this and for sharing this burden with friends and loved ones." God bless you all. Stay tuned for regular (semi-regular that is) updates. Blessings. I love you, Frank  Ps: Hungersite.com is an advertising website that feeds the hungry. Every “hit” sends a meal to a hungry person in a third world country. Check it out and if you feel it’s worthwhile, put it on your favorite sites. It is an easy and convenient way to help the hungry and a good reminder to pray. |