Tonight was the final night for the Men’s week long stay at the church. There were tears shed, hugs give, prayers uplifted and LIVES CHANGED!! We began the night as we have done the entire week in our family circle and then had dinner. But this night was different, we were all about to part ways and someone had made a request earlier during the week. It was said that they would like to have a worship service before leaving and that’s what they got.

We began with songs of fellowship, the scripture and then the prayer by one of their very own which was truly blessed. The sermon was given by Pastor A. Lincoln James Entitled…

“Help Me Somebody”  John 5:5-9 (NIV)

One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”   “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”  At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

~EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP

~HELP IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE

~YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR HELP

There was a powerful message on his heart tonight and it reached and touched so many. The presence of GOD was moving in that place tonight and there were so many that were at the point in their life where they were ready to make a personal commitment to follow Christ, all they did was step out and the rest was done. There were at least 20 Men that gave their life to Christ tonight.  What a way to end the week!!!  GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH ONE OF THEM>>>WATCH GOD WORK!!!!

This entire week has been a true experience for me and the others who participated with The Caritas Program at  Trinity Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia… When it comes to mind about bringing the HOMELESS into the church, letting them stay overnight, provide clothing and food and also the necessary items needed… People tend to look down on it and turn there nose up…. I can always remember this text “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

As we went our separate ways they were saying there goodbyes and I said NO, I will see you soon because this is the beginning of a plan that is so much greater.  I thank GOD for given us the opportunity to be able to share with them this week and I look forward to what GOD has planned in the near future. May GOD be with you and keep you!!!

May you know the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let his spirit overshadow and consume you. I pray that it gives you strength and courage and focus in everything you do.

~Kevin Starlings

 

This week seems to be going by pretty fast!!! Day 4~ A Night With 40 Homeless Men has come to an end!!! Tonight was very heart warming with the men!!! They had a lot to talk about and share with me. They were words and situations that I thought to be quite frightening to me!!! You can never judge a book by it’s cover, nor can you cover a book by turning a blind eye!!! Everyone has a unique situation , why not sit and just hear them out… they may just prove you wrong!!!

There are people out here that are truly in a situation that could not be avoided but when is it that we actually know who is who and what is what!!! We really don’t, just because you see a man on the corner with a sign doesn’t mean that he’s homeless. Walking past a man sitting on the bench with an IPAD and nice shoes on doesn’t mean that he is working a great job. I’ve gained a lot by being with these gentlemen this week that just blows me away. There are people just like we are and I believe should be given the opportunity to regain what they once had.

There were quite a few tonight who I witnessed just let GOD use them, they were ministered to by a young lady who just took there souls to a whole other level.. As she began to sing, there eyes opened wide and you could see the power of her voice within them. It was like the were just lifted out of their seats and let all thoughts of negativity be freed.  There was one gentleman that I spoke to and he said ” My GOD, that young lady just made me feel…………i don’t even know how to explain but I was blessed”. I want to commend Ms.Georgia for a job well done this evening. Her voice and the songs of her choice truly ministered to everyone in attendance this evening. Tonight was another evening full of love and happiness!!!

~Kevin Starlings

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

~Ephesians 4:29 

I was asked by Kevin who I met not long ago when he was walking on the streets in Richmond to write this letter and to share my life and how I ended up on the street homeless.  This is not easy for me to do as I do not like the idea of talking about myself but I understand that there may be others in the same situation and it may also to help those who are not in this kind of situation, understand what it is like to be like this.

I was born like most people with two parents.  My mother died when I was born and my father raised me for 3 years.  He remarried and I lived with them until I was 11.  I had a very good life.  My father was a very successful business man and my mother was also very successful in business and together they built a great business.  I had very loving parents who cared about me and never had a fight or argument and never yelled at me either.  From what I remember, we were a model family.

At age 11 I lost my family in an accident and was left alone.  I lived with my friends’ family and continued to go to school.  While it was difficult to deal with what had happened and the loss of my family, with kindness and support, I was able to keep going. When I was 16 the family had to move to another state and could not take me with them and so I found myself again in another bad situation.   I got a job at a McDonalds from early afternoon until 1 am and then folded newspapers until  6am.  I would then go to school.  I keep falling asleep in my classes and found it difficult to do the work from no time to study or to sleep.  But with a tutor and volunteers, I was able to graduate high school

I continued to live on the street and work.  I was able to earn enough to eat and survive but could not earn enough to afford a place to live. It was very difficult to live and to function as a normal person.  Most of the people in the McDonalds were people who I knew in school.  The high school was in a wealthy neighborhood and so most of the students had a lot of money or had parents how did.

All of the students I knew watched me go from ok to worse.  Most of the laughed at me or just made jokes about me and the ones who did not, offered no help at all.  I knew families who had millions, if not billions of dollars but had no kindness or sympathy for others in need.

If it was the other way around, I would have told my parents about the situation and asked if I could brig them home and help them.  My parents were the type of people who loved others and they would do anything to help someone in need, no matter what the cost.

Well I continued living on the street and lost my jobs as it was impossible to stay clean, to sleep and to function as the job required. I kept finding jobs but kept losing them because of the situation.  None of the employers cared nor did the employers.

I knew that this could not continue the way it was going but did not know what to do about it.  I knew if no one cared enough to help I needed to find some way to make enough money to support myself.    I found some business ads in the paper offering business for sale and found one I could do but new there was no way to every get the money.  I ran an ad in the paper asking for an investor.  I said I needed the money to buy the business and all the necessary equipment to make it run.  After 3 months, I was contacted by an investor who had the money. I explained the situation and what I was looking for and told him I would pay him 200% return on his money in 2 years if he helped me.  I showed him the business and he and I met with the business broker and seller and the investor bought the business.   I worked hard and spend 22 hours a day working the business.  I kept my word and paid the investor the 200% as promised but the business became more than I could handle.  I contacted another company who was doing the same kind of work and asked them to help me and I would pay them for the work they did.  With in a couple of months, I lost everything.  They company told all the customers I sold they business to them.  I lost everything I had worked for.  I did not have any experience in this and could not find anyone who could help me with this.

I was really lonely and did not want to be alone and one day I met a very nice girl who was working in a doctors office.  I was always stopping in to say hi and eventually over a month or two I finally asked her out on a date.  She was part of a big family and they all liked me.  It was going very well and finally decided to ask her to marry me.  But one day an old boy friend she had not heard from in years, started calling her and she started seeing him.  It was Christmas and I took the last money I had and bought some of her favorite perfume and bath powders and when to her parents  home and knocked on the door.  She opened the door and I presented her with the present and she took it and closed the door in my face.

So  life went on and I tried to make ends meet but never could get on my feet. I thought I would try to find something in education that would give me a good career.  I got a loan to go to a technical school but they after a month, they just took the money from everyone and closed the doors.

I then whent to an aviation school thinking that would be more reliable and that maybe if I could make it as a pilot, that would be a good career to have.

I got another loan and within about 4 months they closed the doors and filed bankruptsy.  I really liked the idea of being a pilot.  I loved the work and the idea of being to travel and it was more enjoyable than driving on a road so I continued to research and read about schools. I finally found a school that I thought was good.  They had a free telephone number and so I called them and tried to negotiate a free education since I knew that there was no way I could every get another loan.  Over 6 months of talking with the owner, he agreed to let me come to the school, he would train me at the schools’ expense and then I would work for the school as an instructor to repay my debt.  I continued talking to him for another 6 months to make sure the school was strong and everything was going well.  Finally, I got the ok to go.  I looked diligently and talked to a lot of people and finally made some contacts to get a ride across the country to go to school.  Three months into the program things started slowing down and problems started developing at the school and after a year, the school closed.  They owner had taken the money from all the students and closed the school and I did not receive the training I was supposed to.

I had also arranged through the school to get an online bachelors degree and while taking the classes my grades were all A’s but again that ended with the school.

All this to say that with the right environment and training I can do very well.  I have a lot of good business sense I learned from my parents and have a strong feel for business and could do very well with the right help and support.

While at school I found a really successful franchise that they did not have back at my hame state and if I could open one of thoes it would be a huge success. But again, no one I know who even has a lot of money is caring enough to listen.

I am a very hard worker and I am not lazy.  I will work 22 hours a day if necessry.  I never beg or ask for anything.

It is not easy being on the street. I have never used drugs and have never tried alcohol and I try to tay clean as often as possible as I am really embarrassed about being dirty.

I cry myself to sleep every night.  I pain and lonliness of living on the street is absolutely unbearable.  I have thought about taking my life to end the pain and the lonliness many times.  I have called help lines, call centers and churches and no one cares.  They only say you do not need to do that, your life is valuable.

I agree with that, but people just say things to make you feel comfortaable.  But the truth of the matter is they don’t care.

It is very difficult for a homeless person.  When you are on the street you fell like a freak, a misfit, a reject from society.  No one wants to talk to you or socialize with you and ther is not help to get out of the situation they are in.  You walk down the street and see families together, couples and people at restaurants socalizing and having a good time. The homless person sees all this and longs to be a part of society but is left out in the cold with not a soul to turn to.

It is not something a person wishes for.  It usually starts with abuse from parents early in life, being kicked out of a broken home or in my case a los of famil.

Most people today, have someone to turn to.  You lose your job you can move in with your parents.  You have a problem you can go to a relative and they let you live with them until you can pick yourself up again. You have someone to talk to and share your feelings with and someone who will really help you.

A person on the street may get an occasional sanwich or a meal or maybe, if they are lucky, a few dollars but they will stay on the street their whold life.

It is like being in  a hole 10 feet down and you cry out for someone to help.  Peoiple just walk by and through you sandwich or drop a few dollars or just say, “hey buddy, been there, done that, I wish you good luck” and off they go.

A homeless person will never get helped unelss someone comes by and puts a ladder in the hole and helps them to crawl out and then makes sure they get what they need to succeed.

I am not talking about lazy people or those who just want to live off of everyone else and never work.   I am talking about people like myself who are hard workers, and hate living on the street but have no means to help themselves and just need help.

I said a lot in this letter.  I tried to keep it short but just have too much pain and hurt in side and want to share with with someone.

My words to anyone else in this position is, try to stay positive.  It is not easy when you feel lost, alone, abandoned, forsaken, rejected and just feel liie trash.

There are over 6 billion people in the world and lot of them have a lot of money.  If there are enough people who get the word out about our homeless situation, maybe others might sit up and take notice and would be willing to help.

I am sorry for the length of the letter.

 

~Wished not to be named

Tonight was a calm and quiet evening with the men that we shared with from The Caritas Program… I really enjoy the way the night starts out every night with us. We start the night with out with the men and volunteers in a big circle, which demonstrates the family connection between us all. In that circle no one is any bigger or better than the other because we are all just a BIG FAMILY. Before we have the blessing of the food all of the volunteers go around the circle and shake the gentlemen’s hands singing “Reach out and touch, Somebody’s hand, Make this world a better place,If you can”… That song just has so much meaning and it makes you feel good deep within, knowing that we are making a difference. After the blessing we were able to sit and enjoy dinner, that was truly blessed. One of the gentleman walked up to me a said.. “Make sure you eat something because y’all give us soo much and we are actually full and can’t eat a thing more” .. Now that right there said it all.. they were thankful to be fed and have no appetite left.. A TRUE BLESSING!!!

Tonight they had the opportunity to get some clothing that had been donated by our supporters and also join Bible Study!!! They were really excited about being able to take part in Bible Study with the members of the church. I tell you being able to make a difference no matter how big or small.. it’s such a wonderful feeling.

But Then A Willing Hand………..

On Saturday, December 31, 2011 I received a Facebook message and it read as follows…”I just saw your post on the wall of Trinity Baptist Church. If I’m not mistaken I believe your grandfather was one of my patients’. Nice gentleman. I wish you much success in your future endeavors. God Bless.”

Followed by this week…”I see where you are helping out with Caritas. Please let me know if there are any other opportunities with Caritas or your organization. I really enjoy doing things like this, but have lacked the connections to get involved.”

And on tonight she walked through the door with a smile on her face and jumped right in. I would like to thank Ms. Richelle Nanette for taking the time out to join us this evening and volunteering wherever needed!!! Your willingness to help us is greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing you again.

In response she replied…..

“Thank you so much for the connection. It was such a blessing to be there and fellow-shipping with everyone. Often times we get caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle of OUR lives that we forget about those in our communities. It was very heartwarming to see everyone fellow-shipping and having a good time. I told the lady there that I would like to come back tomorrow. So if “the Lord is willing and the creek don’t rise” I’ll be there tomorrow night. Again, thank you so much for blessing me by allowing me to bless them.”

And I’ll leave you with this….. 

Yes we do often let things block our view of the real life events that have a huge impact within our community! But once we are able to remove that blockage, how about making a difference and lending a helping hand!!!

~Kevin Starlings

Do Felons Deserve a Second Chance, Obama Thinks So! What about you?

Tonight was truly amazing as my vision with The Jeremiah Memorial Foundation, Inc. remains to go forward with the help of our SUPPORTERS!!! We were able to provide multiple pieces of clothing to some of those 40 men in the Caritas Program that we’ve been working with this week !! GOD is continuing to bless us to help more and more everyday!!!

But to make things even better, I was standing by the clothes that we were able to provide tonight and a gentleman walked up to me. He then began to speak to me with a fluttered voice and teary eyes. I asked was everything okay and he said… “Yes everything is GREAT!! So I’m saying to myself why is he so emotional right now. He whispered to me.. Can I please have a moment of your time.. I said sure, get your self together over here and we can sit and talk.. Well by then he had gathered his thoughts and began to say how grateful he was for the clothing. He also said that what he had on, was the only thing that has been on his back for some time. Now, granted it was clean but….he had to wear in for multiple days before it could get washed. In reply I stated “you are truly welcome, whatever I can do to help I’m there”. He then began to go on and talk and I just sat there and listened. Then there was complete silence and I could see him starting to get emotional again… I said to myself “GOD please don’t let him cry again because he’s making me feel like crying with him”. So then he said… “Can I tell you my story???

This is his story……

“I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, my father is deceased and my mother is still hanging on. I have one aunt that is still around and that’s about it with my family. Years ago I made a decision that negatively impacted my life and I’ve been living with it every since. I am now a convicted felon which has been for over 18years, homeless and nowhere to go… that’s my story!!!”

All i could do was look at him and say… There has got to be more to you and who you are then this. He then replied yea it is but this is all that people really care to here about and once I say felon… they tend to turned the other way without hesitation. I said wel tell me about you current lifestyle and everyday that occurs through out your day.

He says….

“Well I have no family in Virginia but I do have an Aunt that gives me money every now and then but she does as much as GOD allows her to and I’m grateful for her. I truly DON’T  like to depend on people because it tends to be embarassing and sometime makes me feel low….being apart of Caritas at this church makes me feel like im at home. They don’t judge me or look the other direction. Like you, it makes me feel good just by you sitting here listening to me.. This is more of a family environment and I love it! A lot of folks that I tend to be around in this program feel that others owe them or should do more but I don’t I appreciate everything for what it is because if it wasn’t for GOD things could be worst.”

There are a lot of people that are out here homeless, hungry, un-employed and etc. all based on their past mistake. They are released from jail or prison and enrolled into a program that really only gets the hopes up. Now, there are a lot of organizations out there that will assist ex-cons with their needs but just don’t have enough supporters to assist. The crime has been committed, the debt to society has been paid in full, now it’s time for them to began a new life and new start. But they need our help…… It is in all of our interests to help them redeem themselves and then get on a straight path.

~Kevin Starlings

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never,ever have enough.”

Today we were able to assist the Caritas Organization at a local church in Richmond , Virginia. There were about 40 males that were staying in this church’s auditorium for the entire week. They would sleep in a large size open room with men from different races, origins and creeds. They would have to be bused to a facility to take showers and to wash clothes. Some of these men only had clothes to only last for a day. I looked and thought about how blessed I was to be able to have a home to live in and a room to sleep in. But regardless of what was going on in there life, they were still filled with so much joy. Almost everyone we interacted with had a smile on their face or even had a funny joke to tell.

There was one gentleman who stood out, he seemed to be one that others looked up to. When I first walked in the door he greeted me as if he was the most happiest man in the world. As we all stood for prayer he leaned over and whispered to the Pastor of the church we where at this evening. I stood and wondered what the conversation was about but couldn’t figure it out. As the Pastor came to bless the food, he stated that this gentleman had asked to do the prayer for the evening. Now I tell you when he opened his mouth and began to pray, it was like an angels voice in my ear. As i continued to bow my head, I continued to feel each and every word that would come from his mouth. This prayer meant soo much to me because regardless of the situation he was in, he continued to give GOD all the praise. He consistently said “Praise God, Lord we thank you, your are a great God”. These words he was expressing from the depths of his heart and with so much emotion. After he was done, everyone said amen… and then there were claps that started and continued to increase in volume. I stood there and said, my my my now that was an awesome prayer and everyone else said the same.

After prayer everyone began to stand in line to be served and sit to eat. They went through the line with still those same smiles and manners.. saying thank you to those who were serving them. After dinner some began to migrate back to there carts upstairs, to the television, at the table for spiritual support, in a small group and even in a group setting playing games. I went and talked with a lot of the gentlemen tonight and the one thing that stuck with me was how grateful they were for us being able to assist them. I had tears when one man gave me a hug and said young man keep doing what you are doing. He said take it from me God is going to bless you real soon and it will be continuous. That just fill my heart with joy and put a smile on my face.

Tonight was an exciting evening and a great fulfillment within. As I’ve learned tonight we have so much to be thankful for and a lot of people take it for granted. All of these gentleman are without a home, food, clothes and so much more. But they continue to give GOD the praise for all that he has done and continue to do in their lives. Its a blessing to be a true blessing to others but to actually feel the gratefulness is so much more rewarding. I encourage everyone to find some group or organization that has a need for volunteers. Trust me you will recive a much greater reward.

-Kevin Starlings

My Best Friend, My Granddad & Most of all My Father!!!!

I stand before you today to speak briefly about a Man that meant the world to me and had a major influence on my life. A journey that began over 22 years ago started by my grandmother who approached him and said “I want to bring Kevin into our home and raise him”. From that point on I guess because of how adorable I was, he couldn’t say no and we began to form a bond like no other. This was a bond that no one could tear apart. Pop always had a nick name for me whether knuckle head or old man… Old man pretty much stuck with me even though I always thought of the fact that he was quadruple my age.  As I grew older and as Pop would say he was growing younger, he became the Father in my life that I enjoyed every day we would spend together. We would play outside and he would pull me around in my little red wagon and would always say this is the last time around as he would continue to go round and round.

Pop was a man of order and a stickler for the rules, if u broke them u would pay but that made me respect him even more… U know in most households u would go to your mom to get what u wanted  but in mine Pop was the go to guy… if i asked 99% of the time even if grandma said no..he would say yes…. well hey that just made our bond even stronger…and for some folks they became jealous because they said that Mom & Pop would let me get away with murder

Pop was always there for me whether it was for discipline which I got rarely, teaching me how to ride my bike which we both failed multiple times….times that I thought of him as my boss and I was his lil helper because I would go with him to work…teaching me how to cut grass which he said i was the best at…I did better than my dad and especially better than grandma since she considered the cement block for the gutter to be a part of the yard that needed cutting…

Those were the days of my life that I enjoyed most and have the best memories of..As time went on I said I wanted to live life like POP…..But the thing about it was that he didn’t tell me how to live..he lived and let me watch him do it..He would always give me great advice..he was my right hand man.. most of the time where ever he went i wasn’t to far behind!!! I would always share my experiences with Pop and he would always say “Old man” keep of the good work or just keep working hard… Regardless of the situation, what I may have done, or how i may of acted he always had encouraging words for me…and each and every day I would say to myself where would I be if however many years ago he said no and didn’t take me into his home… because it wasn’t something that he had to agree to…

Fast forward time to the last year, it has been a rough road… Pop began to have some major medical issues which cause him to be in and out of the hospital and rehab… but as he did for me..I promised that I would do for him!! Each and every day regardless of what I had to do…..Because I knew deep down inside that he had done his part and now it was time for me to do mine… I would go and sit with him at the hospital and/or at rehab… we would enjoy each other’s company.. we would fuss and argue because he was always not doing what he was suppose to do…even when he came home I stayed there with him all day everyday while mom was at work and of course we still fussed and argued. until she got there then it was him and her.. he said that I was his nurse but god help him if he really needed help…

When Pop was transferred to hospice It was sadness and tears in my eyes to see him like that but I continued to thank GOD everyday that I was able to still share and tlk to him about my day and my plans… there was a day that was  hard  for me because I talked and talked and neva got a response…and I prayed and prayed and the next day he looked at me wit those eyes… and that just brightened up my day!!! On Monday, December 5, after talking with Aunt Angela and her sharing some information with me …..I visited Pop and as always I talked to him and then I told him that I was going to have a hard time dealing with him leaving me but that I was going to get through it and so was everyone else and he had no reason to stay if he didn’t want to because he did his part and we will be just fine.

Well on December 7, 2011, that was a day like no other, a thought that just continues to replay in my mind and all i can do is cry!!! I lost a friend, a granddad and a father…. All i could think is that he  raised me since I was 4yrs old. took me in.. nurtured me.. guided me.. beat me.. and was a great influence on my life!! We did everything together even as i grew older.. he will always be my Pops.. Regardless of the situation he was always there for me and I told him that i would do the same for him!!! But that day of all days when I had some good news to share about my course that I completed on the day before he had an eye slightly open…. as I continued to share i noticed a change and i knew it wasn’t right ..but as I ended my story with i love you Pop he took his last breath of air and he was gone…. even tho I knew it was the end, I also knew it was the beginning of a new life soo much GREATER…. and that’s when it hit me even harder.. As I have told others it was time for me to tell myself that GOD is a man of his word.. he said that one day I will come get you and that u will join me again.. And thats what he did…God saw that he was getting tired And it was not meant to be, So he put his arms around him And whispered come to me. With tearful eyes I watched you And saw you pass away, Although I love you dearly I couldn’t make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands are now at rest …..God broke our hearts to prove to us that he only takes the best!! I know that GOD has him and he has me.. and im praying cause everything is going to be alright!!! Pop, I will always cherish our memories and your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever. You don’t have to worry about Ma cause I got her back. You’ve done your part and now its time for me to do mine… Rest in paradise and I love you forever and always

~Kevin Starlings

December 11, 2011

This letter was read at his Homegoing Service…..

The Jeremiah Memorial Foundation is named in his honor!

History.

Stay connected with us as we connect directly with the homeless for a personal account of their immediate needs, and to generate community support in conjunction with implementing cost-effective programs to aid & assist them with meeting their needs. 

Follow us @jeremiahinfo