ending life vs. finding life

With my laptop stolen, I only get 30 minutes at the library to make this post and do other errands on the internet, so this note may be even sloppier than previous notes! Here's what I want to update on in this note: What happened with the robbery, why it happened, and any other random small things.

Last week once the last game was over, an employee of the church went to put fans away in his office (it gets hot in that gym so we have fans everywhere)... he came back up and informed me that his office was broken into. People enter through the parking lot and they have three options of where they can go... right into the gym, up one more flight of stairs to the viewing room, or downstairs to get to the bathroom. Whoever broke in, went through the downstairs doors during the last game and went toward the back of the building and used a crowbar to break into one room to steal 9 computers and that was all we really knew at that point. So we called the cops and waited, and waited, and waited... finally, Mary and I had decided that while waiting we would go on up to our bedroom and get some clothes together to sleep with friends.

If you had been reading this blog from the beginning, you would know that this happened last year as well--12 computers were stolen while I was sleeping in the church. What I never mentioned was that they tried to crowbar their way onto my floor (you can see the damage done to the metal door). Luckily, the way the doors are made, it's impossible to break in and the elevator requires a key to get up. This gave my wife comfort, and as we were waiting on cops to show, she told her dad "I still feel safe sleeping up there if we had to." Not 20 minutes later as Mary opened our bedroom door did we realize that our door had been kicked through (they stole my laptop and $600 cash--Bridge of Hope reached out their arms as a church body and gave us 200 the other day! The beauty of the Body of Christ). At this point, I really don't want to discuss the next 30 minutes. Her one sense of protection she had, was shattered at that moment, and not knowing if the intruder was still in the building (and possibly still in our bedroom), she was terrified. I ask that you pray for her, for peace, comfort, sleep, etc.. as she continues to have occasional nightmares related to that event. I mentioned last year how God had protected me because it was the one night all summer I decided to wait till morning to shower. He did the same for my wife. Mary had planned on skipping all the games and going to bed early (those of you who know her, knows she likes to get to bed by 9 if she can!). I praise God that 4 volunteers were unable to make it, and because of that Mary had to keep score. Never underestimate the minor ways in which God protects us.

Unfortunately, two nights ago after league was over, they broke in again and stole the church's 300 lb safe and petty cash from another office. They had clipped several wires to the alarm system and appears as if they entered by climbing through a window. I feel like the church has gone through a makeover. There were already lots of security protocols, but now we are doing anything and everything to prevent this from happening again. I even have to search out extra volunteers so we can have guards at the entrance for league games and guards at the viewing room to make sure people aren't wondering all the way upstairs! But we are getting loads of support from players in the league. Many of them upset that people would steal from the church and from us after all we have been giving them. Many shocked that we haven't closed the league, as they figured it was expected. And now this is why I think it has happened:

Just the week before we had amazing salvation reports. Derrick came into my gym office during an open gym night and asked if we could talk. We had never met, but he was a player on the Street Kings (he had come to me because he had heard from others in the streets all that I've been doing for the area). "I know you don't know me, but could we talk in private?" We sat in my office and he began to cry--just wanted me to say a prayer, that's all... so I began praying, then stopped... "Is it confidential or can you tell me what I'm praying for?" It was his girlfriend, she no longer had a home and was living on the streets and he couldn't pay for a room until his next pay check came (he works as a security guard at Pathmark). "How much is a room?" $75 for one week--so I gave him $100, then asked if he knew Christ. He said he believed in God, but was not a Christian. As I explained the $100 gift, I explained the gift of the cross. He decided to accept that relationship that night and then he came to my first bible study, and now we are meeting one on one. But it gets better....

4 days later, Cumba leaves open gym... then he comes back with a girl. The girl had pulled up next to him in her car, offering $50 (and had up to $3,400 she was willing to pay) for him to take her somewhere she could get killed. She drove 40 miles to Kensington to end her life! Instead, Cumba (who had been at my open gym since last summer) brought her to me. "Listen to him, he'll help you... he helps all of us, listen to whatever he says" (I still kind of chuckle at that). Next thing she says, "I don't know why I'm here." "I do," came my response. What followed was a 2 hour chat, then my wife came out and chatted and then we prayed over her at the foot of the cross and she invited Christ into her life. She came to Kensington to end her life and left finding true life (she kept saying "I ran into the wrong person!"). Well as she was leaving, she refused to leave without giving us a gift. From her $3,400 stash, she gave us $200. So four days earlier, we gave Derrick 100, and then we got 200 back. We have been in touch with her by phone, and she is doing great. Hopefully we will get together for lunch.

So, as Major Wittenberg said, "Satan saw a lighthouse in a very dark neighborhood, so he ordered an attack." Plain and simple: I think that's why the robberies happened when they did. After league games, I do a walk through with Joey and a baseball bat in my hand. "Who would have thought it would come to this?" "I don't even think Satan did." Because I think Satan expected us to close everything down by now. Bottom line is, light is shining, people are being helped, being reached, being saved, and no matter what counter attack there is, we will just fight back harder. So continue praying for His good work... I only have five minutes left, so gotta jet.

Amazing Stories Will Have To Wait

This is Jeff's mom blogging for Jeff via the telephone.

"Though there are amazing stories to share from the past week, I am sorry to report that during games last night, several rooms throughout the church were broken into, including ours . My computer, along with 9 others were stolen. I will be unable to post a detailed blog until I can get access to another computer. We are ok. We have moved out of the church into temporary housing. More details to come. Please be praying. Grace and Peace...Bracken"

"You're Always Doing Bible Studies"

Salvation League has kicked off! The jerseys look incredible and the guys love them (thanks go out to Gregg Farrell and Greg Lindhart for all their help with that)... After one night, here's the update (sorry I don't have scores with me)
DBB lost to Dynasty
Rebels lost to Next Level
Deep N Pack lost to Too Easy
The overall attitude and sportsmanship was FAR better than last year. Myself and some others volunteering had a meeting last week to discuss how we can limit arguments/anger/anything that could escalate to fighting, etc. and so far it seems to be working. Our first night of devotion was given by Joey Rodriguez, pastor of Bridge of Hope (he came up with the verse for the league so we thought it appropriate that he give the first devotion over that verse). The league verse is Joel 2:32--"For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." He talked about how they did not have to pay anything for the jerseys, they were all paid for. In the same way, we do not pay for our salvation; it was paid for by Jesus Christ himself on the cross. Amen to that message! The next set of games for the other 6 teams are on Thursday; then it's every Monday and Tuesday after that. We are currently in the process of getting a banner made to hang in the gym; once we get that we will take team pictues under it and I will post them on here!

Open Gym is back to having 30-40 guys a night and back to being open until 1:30 AM--not all guys who come to open gym are in the league either! Some of these guys from open gym even came early yesterday to help me set everything up, and when I had a malfunction with the new basketball I just bought, one guy let me use his for the night. New relationships are developing--they appreciate what is being done for them (one guy even commented how the people "beg" for things like this). In the midst of these new relationships, I am finally reconnecting with old ones I have not seen in a while. Kenny and Elvin are two Puerto Ricans that I considered good friends and they confided in me last summer. I've talked about Elvin before (his brother was shot and killed over a year ago)... Well Kenny called me out of the blue a couple nights ago--he said he had forgotten that I left my phone # inside a bible I gave him (which he confessed was buried under things). Kenny's brother has also been going to Joey's church these past couple months, so I talked to him about how he needs to READ his bible, and should check out Joey's church with his brother. I look forward to continuing conversations with him. I've also reunited with some PUC guys (though there are still many I have yet to see) and that's where the title for this blog comes from. I was sitting in the gym office when I heard someone yell "BRACKEN!" It was Ken, from PUC... we got to talking and when he asked about the gym schedule, I mentioned that bible study would be starting on Friday... "You always doin' bible study," was his reply... that's nice to know.

The kid's ministry is exciting and depressing. Last week an incident happened right around the corner from the church. A man followed an 11-year old girl on her way to school, pulled her down an alley and raped her. Surveillance footage caught who the man was, and when his identity was released, the father quoted, "I hope the neighborhood finds him before the cops do." He got his wish... hours later the suspect was beaten so badly by a group of men that he was in critical condition in the hospital for a few days. As a result, some parents are not allowing their daughters to leave the house. At our first Kid's Bible Club, I asked an 11-year old boy why his girlfriend didn't come, that was his reply: "Parents won't let her out." If there is a kid that needs to go home and does not have a group to go with, Mary and I will walk that child home. The other depressing part is the fact that Mary and I have to clean the church playground every week--not just because of trash, but to make sure there are no needles or drugs lying around. In our first sweep, we did not find any needles/drugs, but we did find a bullet shell casing. It really reminds you of the power of the ministry we have to these kids now. The fact that they can come over to the church and have somewhere safe to play and be kids and GET ALONG, is a wonderful ministry for welcoming kids to the Kingdom of God. I thank God for Mary every day because of the service she is providing these kids; I could not have done it on my own. I thank God that he gave me a woman to marry who was willing to make sacrifices and live a place of potential fear/danger--but we trust in God's protection. Before we left KY, her mom took her out to buy a pair of sandals that had thick soles. I told her of the importance of this because she could potentially step on a needle--at that point, I knew that my wife was something special. This has been God's plan from the beginning, and Mary has grown much in her strength and courage being here since day one. Please pray for protection and for love for all. Also pray for the daily homeless people who come by for food and help--pray that God protect them.

Well i'm having problems posting pictures... guess it will have to wait

"You're saving people"

So Mary and I just arrived this past Friday to our "Honeymoon Suite"! We have really found some friends in Christ in my time here over the past few years. The women who work at the Salvation Army (Nancy, Karen, and Robin) have put together a bedroom with a bed, night stands, dresser, and mirror in a room on the top floor of the church. They even decorated it with candles, chocolate, etc and put up "Honeymoon Suite" signs. It was especially nice seeing all the work they put in and the comfort it gave Mary! On top of that, our first night there we already had our friends from Bridge of Hope church provide us a specially made Puerto Rican meal (you can't beat their pork chop and rice).

Things are really kicking off ministry-wise too. Started open gym right away, league is starting next week (12 teams), doing a lot with children now, and looking to start a cooking class (Mary and some others from Bridge of Hope, not me!). A couple nights ago at open gym, a new comer named Ty who has been out of prison for a few months now and trying to "stay out of trouble and away from the wrong people" told me, "I don't know if anyone has told you this, but you're saving lives doing this." Little does he know that lives are being saved in a greater way than he knows! The past few days Mary and I have been doing cleaning and organizing, so now we can really get into some personal witnessing and relationship building. Pray for the league that's starting next Tuesday; as a matter of fact, pray for each team:

DBB

Next Level

Jewtown

Dynasty

Rebels

Warriors

Street Kings

Deep N Pack

Too Easy

Flamers

Good Fellaz

Businessmen

On top of the league, we have discussed other things with Bridge of Hope (we will be partners all summer long)--they already do a bible study with some youth, so we are looking to merge guys from open gym to that bible study on Friday nights (starting next week) so be in prayer for that. Also, we have raised enough money to reach our minimum goal! We have raised $9,910 so far, so we will be looking to do a rap concert, youth trip, buying lots of toys for the kids (the city is closing 65 pools and parks, so we will get some inflatable pools for the parking lot and lots of other fun stuff to basically do VBS... EVERY WEEK!

On a final note... a Philadelphia Eagles linebacker came to my open gym the other night... He played for Auburn and was drafted in 2008--and his sister plays basketball for UK. His name is King Dunlap--so that was pretty cool! A picture of him is at the top!