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08/29/2010: "A Glorious Monday"

The biggest challenge leading up to the Urban HUG Team events is securing the donation of enough food to feed 200 men, women and children as well as the other supplies needed to pull off the event. Special thanks goes out to Michael Cahill (Manager) and Clark Vincent (Receiving Manager and a Community Christian School alumni) ) of the Kroger supermarket  in Stockbridge for donating food which was used for this event and upcoming HUG events, Stacy Powell's family who provided and prepared the main course. May all of these supporters be blessed for their contribution and their kindness.

Loaded with food and tables the Urban HUG Team arrived at the corner of Peachtree Street & Trinity Avenue in Atlanta a little after 8:30 PM. While the serving line was being set-up, Eduardo gave an encouraging message about forgiveness to the guests. (see video) Immediately after presenting the message Eduardo was approached by Keith, a man who was suffering from heavy guilt. He was downtrodden and looked miserable. He had committed some sins in his life which was weighing heavily on his heart. He could not forgive himself and did not feel he was forgiven by God. In addition to his overbearing guilt he was in pain. He had awoken that day with a severe crick in his neck which had lasted all day. 

Calling on a volunteer to join with them, Eduardo prayed for Keith asking that his guilt be relieved. After the prayer, Keith raised his head with a big smile on his face and proclaimed his neck was no longer in pain. Was it the Holy Spirit who relieved his pain? Was it just a coincidence? Or did the relief from his guilt simply allow his muscles to relax so that his pain was relieved? Regardless of the reason it was a blessing to Keith. The volunteer explained to Keith that he had experienced a small blessing now all he had to do was accept the big blessing of forgiveness. Later in the night the volunteer was approached by Keith who with great excitement proclaimed the relief he felt both physically and emotionally. Keith's blessing was also a blessing to Eduardo and the volunteer. (God's love is a funny thing. You can't give it away. When you try, it always comes back to you.)

This occurrence brings to mind the scripture: “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15 (NIV)

After dinner was served a fight broke out which was quickly broken up by a volunteer. One fighter ran off while the other was escorted off the property by the volunteer. The fighter who ran away ran to the other side of the event and quickly started another fight which was broken up by Gary Lefmann and other volunteers. If both cases the fighter was trying to stab his opponents with an ink pen. While some might consider a couple of fights to be trouble, we consider it a blessing that no-one was hurt.

At the end of the night the guests left full of food, both spiritually and physically. The volunteers; they were also full.. full of joy for accomplishing the task God had called upon them to do.

As as side note, the pastor who gave the blessing at the event is from India. Only 1% of Indians are Christian and most of those live in one region where he was raised.

Volunteers who participated in this event included:

Major sponsors for this event included:

The Powell Family

Editor's Note: Starting with this event we are trying to post credits for volunteers and contributors for our events. If we inadvertently left you out, please forgive us.