“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'” — Deuteronomy 15:11
Praying for: Derrick, Raymond — and for Karen’s healing from lupus.
How do people end up on Skid Row? For years, many of its occupants have been asked that very question. Studies confirm that a large portion of the homeless population struggles with mental illness that makes functioning in ordinary society extremely difficult. Drugs become the coping mechanism — and addiction, the predictable consequence. The enemy is rampant on Skid Row, not primarily because people are starving for food, but because they are starving for purpose — for an answer to the deepest question of all: Who am I?
Tragically, for many who end up there, the lie takes root: this is my lot in life. Programs and resources exist in abundance, but when a soul has fallen into the abyss of helplessness, it stops reaching for them. It believes the lie. When we pray for the people on Skid Row, we do so to remind them — and ourselves — that even in the most desperate of situations, God is present. He is in the midst of them.
This week brought great affirmation. Many of the homeless welcomed prayer with open hearts. Through deplorable conditions, through rubble and trash, a small ray of hope rises. If even one hurting soul is reached — pulled back from the edge of despair — the effort is more than worth it. As St. Teresa of Calcutta believed, it is never too late — “even one moment is enough to ransom an entire miserable existence, an existence perhaps believed to be useless.”
God always protects His own and uses willing hearts as instruments of His love. If your senses can push through the jungle of smells, flies, and unfathomable conditions, you will make a difference in the lives of the people on Skid Row.
T The streets walked were completely impassable — tents and debris blocking every familiar path — so
the route Hollywood Mobile Grooming had set up several vehicles offering free dog grooming services for the pets of the homeless. In recent years, the presence of dogs on Skid Row has grown significantly. These animals are more than companions — they are anchors. A dog offers something the streets rarely do: unconditional love and a quiet sense of responsibility.
The pet owners formed a cheerful line with their anxious, Heinz-57 mixes — Chihuahua blends and pit bull crosses alike — each one getting a long-overdue spa day. It was, in its own way, a small sign of dignity restored.
Great is the reward of Hollywood Mobile Grooming. Thank you for seeing the whole person — and the beloved animal beside them.
It was a busy week. Two grandchildren — Maddie and Will — stayed over since Thursday, which meant cooking, packing lunches, and the daily school run. Mike had promised to help, but an invitation to a business golf tournament in Phoenix arrived early in the week, and that was the end of that. It became a one-woman show — but with the grace of God, all went well. Maddie, Will, and their friends even pitched in to help make sandwiches.
Robert and Jane — Ministering on Skid Row
This ministry is carried by a team of dedicated servants of Christ. Jane, Robert, John, and Gary are regulars — and together, the love of Christ is shared with those who want to hear, and for those who do not, a silent prayer is lifted on their behalf.
This is the first week of Advent — a season that calls for deep inward reflection, asking God to guide hearts and minds into the holy mystery of Christmas. Please take a few moments today to pray for Karen, who is suffering from advanced lupus, and for Derrick, Derrick, and Raymond, who are also seeking God.
