When You've Done It To The Least Of These....

stmatthew · #1 06-26-2008, 03:04 PM

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

Around 10 years ago, God began to deal with my heart about the practical ministry outlined in Matthew 25. I wrote an article on it (that is long lost), and sat it down because I did not know how to begin to do it. About 2 weeks ago, God again dealt with my heart about this same ministry. This time however, though I was still unsure how to get going, I was well ready to simply step out in faith. So after praying, I approached Sis Alvear last week to see if she would be able to pass out clothes as an outreach to the children of Brazil if I could send them to her. She said that it would be a blessing, so I started telling everyone I am personally in contact with what we were doing, in hopes of them donating some nice clothes for these precious children. I was intent, if need be, on filling boxes with my own money if need be. So far, not one person has donated anything. So anyway, my wife and I had plans to go this weekend and purchase enough nice used clothes to fill a box, and ship them on out to Sis Alvear.

Today while at work (I am working for a thrift store that uses the profits to feed the homeless here in Knoxville) my wife came by and was speaking to the regional manager, and the regional manager is going to let her come in and sort through clothes, and is going to sell them to us for 25 CENTS PER POUND!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!! Not only is this going to let us pick and choose to be able to send more modest clothes, but it will allow us to send "more clothes, more often" than we thought we could.

Please keep us in your prayers. We still have to find out all the particulars about what is involved with shipping a box to Brazil. We also are hoping to have some future financial support. My heart is that unless this grows to the place that I have to quit working to do this full time, that 100% of any donations will go towards this endeavor.

Kay B · #2 06-26-2008, 03:21 PM

God Bless you and your wife brother as you obey His direction in this.

dizzyde · #3 06-26-2008, 03:51 PM

This is fantastic, this is Christ in action!!

The Mrs · #4 06-26-2008, 04:10 PM

That's wonderful Matt! Hope things work out well for ya'll!

Rico · #5 06-26-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

Around 10 years ago, God began to deal with my heart about the practical ministry outlined in Matthew 25. I wrote an article on it (that is long lost), and sat it down because I did not know how to begin to do it. About 2 weeks ago, God again dealt with my heart about this same ministry. This time however, though I was still unsure how to get going, I was well ready to simply step out in faith. So after praying, I approached Sis Alvear last week to see if she would be able to pass out clothes as an outreach to the children of Brazil if I could send them to her. She said that it would be a blessing, so I started telling everyone I am personally in contact with what we were doing, in hopes of them donating some nice clothes for these precious children. I was intent, if need be, on filling boxes with my own money if need be. So far, not one person has donated anything. So anyway, my wife and I had plans to go this weekend and purchase enough nice used clothes to fill a box, and ship them on out to Sis Alvear.

Today while at work (I am working for a thrift store that uses the profits to feed the homeless here in Knoxville) my wife came by and was speaking to the regional manager, and the regional manager is going to let her come in and sort through clothes, and is going to sell them to us for 25 CENTS PER POUND!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!! Not only is this going to let us pick and choose to be able to send more modest clothes, but it will allow us to send "more clothes, more often" than we thought we could.

Please keep us in your prayers. We still have to find out all the particulars about what is involved with shipping a box to Brazil. We also are hoping to have some future financial support. My heart is that unless this grows to the place that I have to quit working to do this full time, that 100% of any donations will go towards this endeavor.

Sweet! I very much believe in supporting our missionaries in any way we can. For me this has been mainly monetary support, but I did give some musical instruments I had to a missionary once. I like the idea of sending them some clothes. The people you say haven't participated in your collection efforts; are they people from your church? If so, I find that a bit surprising. Usually us pennycostals pass a lot of clothes (especially children's clothes) back and forth between families in the church. You'd think someone would have some they could give towards the cause.

Ron · #6 06-26-2008, 04:21 PM

That is awesome St Matt!

I know we have sent Balikbayan Boxes to the Philippines & it usually costs us between $100-$150 bucks and usually takes about a month to three months to get there.

Sister Alvear · #7 06-26-2008, 04:55 PM

yes, that is about what it costs to Brazil unless things have went up. However you will never know unless you are here when a box arrives how the people are so blessed. Thanks so much.

stmatthew · #8 06-26-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

yes, that is about what it costs to Brazil unless things have went up. However you will never know unless you are here when a box arrives how the people are so blessed. Thanks so much.

Sis Alvear. Get ready! I plan to ship the 1st box out by July 1st.

Folks, I need a name for this ministry. My vision is to send clothing and food all over the world to missionaries for them to be able to meet the needs of their area. Because I know the Alvears are "good ground", I want to partner with them in reaching out to Brazil. I realize sending food is not as easy as sending clothes, so I am going to have to really work on that one. But I really believe that God will give us whatever we need to see folks clothed and feed if we will but put our feet to our faith. Honestly, I have no idea what I am doing, as i have never done this before. But I am stepping out in faith.

mizpeh · #9 06-26-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Sis Alvear. Get ready! I plan to ship the 1st box out by July 1st.

Folks, I need a name for this ministry. My vision is to send clothing and food all over the world to missionaries for them to be able to meet the needs of their area. Because I know the Alvears are "good ground", I want to partner with them in reaching out to Brazil. I realize sending food is not as easy as sending clothes, so I am going to have to really work on that one. But I really believe that God will give us whatever we need to see folks clothed and feed if we will but put our feet to our faith. Honestly, I have no idea what I am doing, as i have never done this before. But I am stepping out in faith.

When I saw the pictures of the young boys playing soccer without proper foot wear that Sis Alvear posted, I was thinking "I'd like to send them some sneakers", but that's as far as I got!

I'll pray and see what the Lord opens up! There may be a shipping line that will take the packages to Brazil for a reduced rate. My sister in law works as a merchant marine with her husband, maybe she will know of ship companies that provide some sort of charity as a tax write off. Just some thoughts.

stmatthew · #10 06-26-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

When I saw the pictures of the young boys playing soccer without proper foot wear that Sis Alvear posted, I was thinking "I'd like to send them some sneakers", but that's as far as I got!

I'll pray and see what the Lord opens up! There may be a shipping line that will take the packages to Brazil for a reduced rate. My sister in law works as a merchant marine with her husband, maybe she will know of ship companies that provide some sort of charity as a tax write off. Just some thoughts.

Please let me know what you find out. It seems that I have an ample supply of clothes (adult, child, and infant) for 25 cents a pound. And these are all new/almost new clothes. Many have the labels still on them. They sell anything that is torn or stained as rags.