Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or think according to the power at work within us.”
When we packed up the vehicles that Saturday morning of June 28, 2014 to head to Jackson, Ms. for our CWOW Jackson outreach in Smith Park led by Jim and Sylvia Williamson, neither ourselves nor Lee Reynolds (top photos in the white shirt and orange shirt in bottom photos) had any idea our paths would cross. Mr. Lee is a native of Birmingham, Ala. He fled from his hometown to escape the hurt, pain, and failures of his life there. His struggles with alcohol and broken relationships left him homeless and searching for tranquility.
Now living as a homeless man and a wanderer, Lee’s journey led him to Jackson, Ms to seek employment opportunities. On his first day in Jackson, Lee found himself  among the homeless in Smith Park not knowing that CWOW New Orleans would hold an open-air service a few hours later.  Accompanied by our CWOW Jackson team, we set up and began our services. I, Pastor Troy, preached a powerful message of hope and change. The message impacted Lee to the point he wept bitterly. Coming forward with tears flowing uncontrollably, he uttered, “Pastor Troy, I want to be like you.” I responded, “Sir, I’m not even trying to be like me. I’m trying to be like Christ.”
I explained to him the power in Christ that strengthens me. Still crying bitterly, Lee gave his life to Christ. On that night, he came back to New Orleans with us and we checked him into a faith-based transformation center. Needless to say, Lee graduated the program and never looked back. Just two years prior, we laid hands on Lee as a struggling homeless alcoholic. Now, two years later we lay our hands around him as one redeemed in Christ, with a great job, purchased a new vehicle, and together we are shopping for the purchase of a new home. Was it a coincidence that Lee arrived in Smith Park on June 28, 2014 at that particular time? I THINK NOT! “The mind of a man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).”
There are over 6700 homeless men and women on the streets of New Orleans and Lee is no longer one of them.Â
If stories such as Lee’s have impacted you, please consider financially supporting Church Without Walls. All donations go towards our mission and are tax deductible as we are an official 501c3. Visit us @ www.cwownola.org or call (504) 232-7607.