Feeding The Less Fortunate-Crossfire Mission
The human body requires little when it comes to basic survival: shelter, clothing, food and water. All the rest, such as entertainment, transportation and other fine things are not required for bare survival. In fact, the only other thing that becomes a true requirement to keep on living is the need for love.
Many of us take for granted what it is like to lose everything and have to live on the streets. We love our cars and houses and fancy clothes. We love our Wii connected to our big screen, high-definition television. We love surfing on the Internet, watching silly videos on YouTube. All of this, though, can disappear in the blink of an eye, caused by one of many different scenerios.
Perhaps you become laid off, and being the only provider for the family, have to declare bankruptcy and lose your house, vehicle, and belongings due to foreclosure and repossession. Perhaps a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina takes away everything for you. Even more frightening, perhaps an intensional fire claimed all you had, save your family and pets if you were lucky.
Many of us who have never experienced these tragedies never can honestly comprehend what living like this brings. The suffering and confusion is beyond us. Also quite a few people will look down upon these people, when instead they need support and compassion. This is where Crossfire Mission (http://www.crossfireministries.com/), and others like them, come in.
Owned by Leslie and John Miller, and staffed by some wonderful Christian volunteers, Crossfire Mission is one of several food banks of the Rocky Mountain region. When you enter through the front door and meet with volunteers like Linda and Dorothy, you quickly come to see that they don't care about your past or where you came from. All they want to do is help you with prayers, food, clothing, toiletries (if needed) and even free Bibles.
Unfortunately for myself, for a time I became one of these who needed help when I thought none would be available. My self esteem had become non-existent, and I needed Christ more than ever before. Walking into the Mission and being welcomed with such compassion was amazing to me, when so many others had made fun of me and my situation.
After signing up and grabbing a small box, I was led through the food pantry and I tell you that box was overflowing with food, such as canned goods, bread, rice, vegetables and even a small cake! Then I was given a clothing voucher and was able to receive some much needed work shirts. Finally, before I left, they prayed over me, and to this day I believe this helped me get back on track in life and with God.
Please consider giving food, clothing or even monetary donations to the local food banks and charities in your home town. You never know when you, too, will have the unfortunate luck and have to go in for help as well. Trust me, even if you luckily never have to rely on these services yourself, helping others is a wonderful way to give back to the Lord!