The Power of God is in the Gospel

30 Days of Communion. Day 2
"Body broken"  for me.
I'm understanding that deeper.

I shared the Gospel with two Mormon Missionaries.  They were fully encoraged by my openness to share the Love of God with them as I shared the truth of the Gospel. We plan to meet again next week and discuss deeper truths. 
Holy Spirit will have a landing place.

Rom 1:16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. http://olivetree.com/b3/Rom.1.16.NIV

June 13 we sent Kayla off to Samoa, I went to the city of Portland

Tearful good bye at PDX airport sending off Kayla to Samoa for Discipleship Training School.
Lots of hugs from her dear friends.

Kayla and Brooke     Good Bye for now

I did not feel like going out for Bucket List Ministries today. Emotions and feelings need to be put in check and honor the calling. I knew it would be tough, but I also knew there would be greater victories to be had.

Adversity shows up early as I'm waiting for the train I I meet Joe. Joe has his own containers and looks at me oddly. He sell ice cream out of a large cooler on wheels. He asked what was in my buckets. I said food water and bibles. "What for" he pursued half interested. I said I go downtown to find people to encourage by sharing food, water and bibles. I'm trying to share some love with people and encourage them. He said that wont work... and spent a lot of time and energy explain all the things that people need, like free housing, jobs and better parole officers. He added he really dislikes religious people and said "I agreed I dislike them too".

Joe was not interested in discussing eternal maters, I feel we will meet again. I wrote His name in my bucket.

Some one who was very interested was Hiyan. We started talking about Mandarin Chinese, and where he came from. He was very interested in hearing about what was in the bucket. He thought that was a very good thing to share with people food and Good News. Hiyan very openly received the bible I gave him and asked for a prayerful blessing of having children and a better job. We exchanged emails and later that night thanked me again for sharing God's word with him. (I would like to teach Hiyan the Bibles treasures)

  

Dwa and her two friends were from an Arab Country. They where visiting  PSU. They were very interested in practicing there English. We talked for a while and then shared with them some pocket bibles. They gladly received them, as I began to explain the story of Jesus one of the gals got a phone call and they all had to leave immediately. I know in there country it is against the there laws to preach the gospel let alone talk with a strange man. Pray that they would read the Good News for themselves

Kevin was a really nice guy who openly shared he had a heroin habit. He did not share much of his story but was really sad that he was in this spot. Last month he had an infection in his spine and laid on the streets for hours, until the police called an ambulances, after being rejected by four different hospitals he finally got some antibiotics for the infection. This is a person I would like to really cultivate a friendship with and see him get off the streets.

Siloam  broke my heart, she is 21 years old and was hanging out with people that she really didn't fit in with. I asked her why she was on the streets. She said, " home was boring". (talking as she pasted in and out of consciousness) "too many rules at home", she later shared. She was grateful for some food and very openly took a bible. I asked If I could pray for her she gladly accepted. As  a father caring for the orphaned youth of Portland in the ministry of reconciliation I prayed over her almost weeping as I could scene the brokenness in her heart. God showed her a sweet sense of peace as she thanked me again and walked away with her friends

 She refered to the bible and told me the significance of her name: she said like in the Bible

the pool of Siloam John 9:6 "Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam ( this word means "sent")

so the man went and washed, and came home seeing"

I have 3 precious daughters of my own and would never want to see them struggling on the streets, being vulnerable and susceptible to so much danger. 

My time on the street does more for me than I will ever do for those I come in contact with. There is no greater joy than hearing the stories and sharing the love of God to those in need.

Jim Elliot said " He is no fool to give what he can not keep to gain what he can not loose".

The BLM List Grows: 7 new names in the bucket and I found and chatted with 4 people who I have met weeks earlier.

Do you love your city? Do you know it's pain?

Watch "Downtown Portland Oregon - A Typical Saturday" on YouTube

From the top of this 9 story building the restaurant is called "Departure" oddly enough some one jumped and committed suicide. Remember it was the "The thief that wants to kill still and destroy" As believers we need to show up and bring the Good News, this changes the atmosphere, only believers can help turn sorrow into joy!

First night on the streets with the Bucket List Ministries

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you...

We first fill the bucket with Pocket Bibles, food, water and nice clothing items that you would wear.

Then we get on the Max Line and head to Pioneer Court House Square

Don was the first guy I  was  able to chat with . He was in the military and served our country in 2006 in Iraq. He is 23 years old and is trying to survive on the streets by playing music. He was so nice I was taken back by his demeanor.
I feel I will be releasing a Fathers heart toward a lot of young people in this ministry already. God is amazing in that two of the seven people I encountered were my son's age exactly. (23 years old)

Here is Don ... Working for a living

Here is were the fun starts. We find people to encourage and listen to their story if they are willing to share. Crystal and Bob were really open and shared about their life on the streets. I gave them a few sandwiches and had a chance to pray for some of their needs. Crystal appreciated  the pocket bible and was encouraged that the New Testament was were you could find out about Jesus. She always started in Genesis and shortly after she would get started some one would take her stuff and she would lose the Bible.

Arron (23) and Adrian (19) two young men that are on the streets were very open also and shared their story of losing their father 6 months ago. We talked and just hungout for an hour or so. I got to feed them and share another pocket Bible. I prayed with them and encouraged them to draw near to God.They had a bold yet beautiful spirit about them and shared something very strange to them. The building across from where they were hanging out has a restaurant on the 15th floor it's name is Departure I found out and just 3 days earlier someone jumped and committed suicide. "The thief came to kill steal and destroy", I feel evil all around the city of Portland, but we walk in victory and work from victory to change the atmosphere here on earth. What if we or I could have encouraged that person and filled them with hope. These young kids on the street need more Mothers and Father in their lives to encourage  faith and trust in Christ. 

Wow, what a great time in the city. I have six new friends on the street I'm praying for, their names are on my list in the Bucket ... Thus the Bucket List Ministries

Please contact me if you want to join us or support the ministry, Thanks Mark Stilwell
Stilwellmark@gmail.com (503) 803-2615

What is the Bucket List Ministries

A big hello to you from Portland Oregon, my name is Mark Stilwell and I want to first thank you for checking out the Bucket List Ministry (BLM).
Do you ever get that nagging question in your heart that says "what will I do for the lost, the hungry, the poor and broken people of this city that really need some help." I'm excited about what God is doing in my life and I'm bursting at the seems about sharing the love of Christ with those who will listen. The lost and broken of this world are not in my church they are out there and they need to experience the love of God. I want to share with them in a very tangible way the love of Christ. It really is time for the church to leave the building.

This is called a ministry but I hope that the fruit of our effort creates a lifestyle of serving those that Christ died for. Ministry should not be like a light switch that we turn on and off. But a passionate calling that we answer every day as we walk this earth and share who Christ is to a lost a dying world. BLM was born out of a vision I got after really pressing into the Lords calling on my life. The big question I often asked what can I do to serve my city of Portland Oregon. I knew I wanted to share with the needy but also the lost. These are not only the poor but the middle class and the wealthy. Whosoever will listen to the Good News!
I also like being in the city and talking to regular people about eternal decisions. I also like street drummers and the noise that they can create. How doesn't like tapping on a bucket, right!
Put it all together and you have it the Bucket List Ministries (BLM).

Here is what we do with the buckets
1. Obtain (2) buckets (2) drum stick
    ( write on the out side of your bucket Bucket List Ministries)
2. Fill one bucket with any item that you feel would fit this description:
    (Something to sacrificially give away to show or share the love of Christ)

1. For I was hungry, and you fed me. (food, home made cookies, gift cards for Mc Donalds 
2. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. (water bottle, sports drink, cup of coffee gift card)
3. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ( lonely handmade friendship bracelet)
4. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. ( clothing , sweater , extra socks) 
5. I was sick, and you cared for me. ( vitamins, cough drops, Kleenex, chicken soup)
6. I was in prison, and you visited me. Go visit them in prison Matthew 25:35-36

3. Bring your bucket full of items that you have prayerfully filled and meet as our designated location.

4. Gather together for prayer and empowerment obtain map of the area .

5. Go find someone who needs to experience the love of God get to know them and seek to encourage them and then pray for them.

6. Always write there name inside your bucket so you can remember to pray for them.

7. Return to starting point and gather to share your experiences 

8. Drum on buckets to create beautiful music in celebration of our God

9. Encourage other friends to join in on the fun, and return next time.

Here is a youth group from back East who had fun with the song Wipe Out, Bucket Busters
Here is there story. They even sell CD's of there youth Groups Music