My wife and I took on the coordination of the foot washing ministry area and are tasked with soliciting donations from major shoe companies as well as seeking out churches to help support the Dec. 15, 2008 event in Dallas. Since the moment we committed to that responsibility we have been attacked continually by fears, doubts, questions concerning many areas, finances, etc. Today I have my first meeting with a local Pastor in our town and I am nervous, but this man is on old friend and was a big influence in my early days of faith. My visit with him will be mostly a friendship visit, but I do want to make him aware of our ministry and our needs.

Below are the final statistics from the 2007 event. As you can see, it is a major operation and was declared an official day for Dallas by the Mayor. This year we are expecting over 10,000 homeless and we have to get shoes for all these people! This what we are trying to prepare for which includes planning the procedures, guidelines, and training/ preparing the volunteers, and setting up the event area to have a smooth operation on event day.

Though it is almost a year away we have a monumental task compared to anything we have ever done in ministry. But through all the spiritual persecutions we have been under, the LORD has kept us encouraged and has strengthened our faith. God the Father continually reaffirms to me, the reliability of the Bible and secures me in my faith. My trust in HIM has also grown dramatically.

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God blessed CHRISTMAS GIFT 2007 with the following:

1,765 professions of faith (precious gifts to our Savior’s Birthday)
8,000 homeless and 2,100+ volunteers
MAYOR'S PRESENCE and A CALL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE!!!

Another added blessing: Thank God
Operation Care Dallas became debt free by December 28th. God paid it all!!!

Hot Meals provided by TX Baptist Men (Heroes on that VERY COLD DAY)
225 Pallets of gifts (thousands of Bibles, Gospel tracts, Sleeping bags, Blankets, toys, shoes, coats, personal care products, socks, T shirts, 15 bicycles, crafts)
216 partners/Sponsors/Organizations/Churches
Partnership with First Baptist Church, World Vision, TECO Express, Soles for Kidz, Buckner, Full Gospel Business men's Intl.
MEDIA coverage (4 TV Stations, Radios, Magazines and Dallas Morning news)
18 groups of praise and worship teams/entertainers
23 Hospitals/Medical providers (Baylor, Parkland, UT Southwestern, MDs)
215 pairs of eyeglasses (Campers for Christ)
1,700 pairs of feet lovingly washed given new socks and shoes
Hundreds of family portraits c/o Corporate Express
Educational grants from El Centro
Housing and Job opportunities available
Mary Kay Cosmetics (Make up) Cosmetology Career Center (Haircuts)
300 homeless from Ft. Worth (200 via bus, 100 via train)

I don't know where exactly the LORD will lead us in all of this, or what HE is preparing us for, but it is an exiting journey that is bound to reap much fruit for the glory of the God the Father and name of Christ Jesus. HE is making our calling sure, be it in the homeless ministry, or music, or even one day becoming a pastor or missionary.

1Ti 1:17 “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

(The title of my morning devotion…“I will help thee, saith the Lord.” By Spurgeon, Isn’t our LORD awesome!)

More at our personal website: thebeckhouse.org and operationcaredallas.org