Hi there! Thanks so much for coming to UnderTheOverpass.com. Chances are that you've read Under the Overpass, or someone has told you about our journey. Either way, I'm excited that you're here.
This site is for you. The hope is that it will do 3 things:
Connect: UnderTheOverpass.com is meant to be a place where you can connect with different people who have read Under The Overpass and felt the Lord move or lead them powerful ways. Use the Testimonies
feature on our bulletin board to post ideas / comments / reflections.
See other people's comments and how the Lord is moving in their life.
Learn more about Sam's and my journey through the streets of American
cities, and find out where we're at now.
Empower: God wants to use each of us in very real ways as we
live out loud for Him. What are some of the ways that God may be asking
you to get connected with other people or to make a difference in this
big world we live in? Want to get connected to some local Rescue
Missions and find out how you can help out? Go to the Rescue Missions page and check it out!
Encourage: Learn about just some of the ways that the Lord is using Under the Overpass to make exciting things happen in the world!
I know that there are billions of different places you could have
landed on the Internet. Know that I'm excited and prayerful about what
the Lord has in store for you because He directed you here.
My prayer is that you would evermore be willing to walk off the edge with Him!
Grace and Peace.
-Mike.
To find out about having Mike speak at your church or charitable organization,
click here.
Below is my latest journal entry. Click here to view the complete journal archive.
01/28/2009
Hello from Vancouver!
Well, it's hard to believe that we've been up here in Vancouver, B.C. for nearly a month. This is our third week of classes at Regent College (www.regent-college.edu) and I'm loving it. It's so refreshing and encouraging to be in a community where most people are asking hard questions about life, our world, and our responsibility as Christians in the midst of it all. No doubt the academic demands are rigorous—I sort of feel like I'm clunking along and not up to speed yet. I have a dictionary open in my browser during most of the lectures!
We are still searching for a church home, but think we have found a great group of people who meet on the East side of Vancouver. We attended last Sunday, and found the community to be real and genuine, exuding welcome to everyone who walked in the door. Immediately after the service there was a large pot-luck meal for which 90% of the church members remained. All told, we were there for about two and a half hours, worshiping, talking, eating, just being together. I don't remember staying at church that long before!
Vancouver is the largest city we've ever lived in, and we're still getting our bearings in terms of trying to figure out how to help and serve. There are some great groups of people scattered around the city doing holistic ministry and life together. It's easy to want to get involved with what everyone is doing, but we are trying to listen to what God has for us in this area.
On a saddening note, we've already heard rumors that the coming of the Olympics this next winter is causing a forced re-location for some of the homeless men and women. I haven't yet had the chance to research this and confirm it, but apparently several people have already been arrested and then transported out of downtown Vancouver to another location in order to help get the city "ready" for the Olympics. Definitely not a good situation if it's true.
Well, that's it for this blog. Thanks for coming to UnderTheOverpass.com, and may you be encouraged as you seek to learn more about loving others and caring for those who are in need.
