I’m a big guy.  I’m loud. I like to think I’m a likable guy.  This picture of me is very indicative of my personality.  I love everyone I meet.  I like to keep my arms open.  Sometimes I say I’ve been hurt. But I’ve got clothes on my back, I don’t go hungry and I have a warm bed and a beautiful wife.

This is Bear.   He’s homeless.  He lives in the woods.  He’s a Vietnam Veteran who was honorably discharged after the war.  He’s a good guy.  Sometimes, he’d help me when I was trying to help others.  He is a nice guy.  He packed up all his belongings and moved out of the Atlanta area.

When folks ask me “Why ‘The Van’?”, I show them a picture of Bear. Why “The Van”?  Because folks like Bear go cold every night.  Folks like Bear feel like society has moved along and left them behind.  Folks like Bear get depressed.  Folks like Bear need things and don’t have the money (or ability) to get those things.

Yet, folks like Bear are made in the image of God.  Why “The Van”?  Because I couldn’t not do it.  Why “The Van”? Because when I drive down the streets of Atlanta and I see folks camping out because they don’t fit the qualifications for, or can’t afford, the shelter, my heart breaks.  Why “The Van”? Because that 12-year-old boy who is homeless because his dad is in prison needs to know that my God does more than comfort his soul.

Why “The Van”? Because Jesus told me to. And Jesus continues to tell me to do it.   Every time I see a gleam of hope in a woman’s eyes who just got her first tampon in 3 months, Jesus tells me to keep doing it.  Every time I can give a man a clean shirt and pair of pants so that he can have some clean clothes to wear to work, Jesus tells me to keep going.

In the book of John, we hear about the “abundant life” of which Jesus spoke.  I used to wonder why I wasn’t receiving that abundant life.  And that’s because abundant life wasn’t meant for the individual.  It’s not meant for you or me.  Abundant life only comes when we work together.  Abundant life is for the community, when we work to restore God’s kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

We hear about Heaven and how it’s a place of no tears, no sickness, no pain and no shame.  And then, on Sunday mornings we pray for God’s kingdom to come to earth.  We sing songs begging God for Heaven.  I’m here to tell you: Folks, it’s our job to create Heaven.  It’s our job to take the shame of our neighbors away.  It’s our job to forgive the sins of our neighbors and work for justice.

You want Heaven?  You want to make “God’s Kingdom come”?  Well, I have bad news for you.  God’s kingdom wears a t-shirt and work boots, not a 3-piece suit.

We are the agents of change.  God called us to do much more than sitting on a church pew once a week.  God is calling us to change someone’s life.

God called me to The Van Atlanta.

What is He calling you to?

You can follow The Van ATL on twitter, like us on facebook and read more about The Van.

If you want to help us reach the homeless of Atlanta and meet their basic needs, you can give funds, give us clothing or hygiene items by contacting us on our facebook page.