Monday, October 25, 2010

The Story of Wayne Brown


"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help." Psalm 72:12 

I'm not sure why 51 year-old Wayne Brown walked in the door one morning at Village Oaks to talk.  But he did. When I asked him to tell me his story, one of the first sentences out of his mouth was: "It may be hard to believe...but I have been delivered."

Wayne lost everything and everyone to drugs.  But his mother had planted seeds in his heart from when he was young.  She planted the Word of God.  He never forgot.

"I kept crying out to God," he said.

He ended up in court on a drug charge.  The judge sentenced him to 4 years in prison.

And then God showed up.

In this case, He showed up in the form of a public defender who happened to be in the courtroom as Wayne was sentenced.  She came over to him and told him she was going to take his case to the Magistrate Judge and be his advocate.  Because of her advocacy, his sentence was reduced from 4 years to 6 months.

"I know God did it for me.  And in those months in jail, something changed in me," he said.

He ended up at the Bridge in 2007.  He had been rejected by 5 programs, including the Gateway program, because of his one-and-only drug charge.

And then God showed up.

"I was sitting at the dominoes table on a Monday morning when my Care Manager brought me a letter." The letter was from the Gateway program...he had been accepted.  He got an apartment at Village Oaks.

I asked him to tell me about his deliverance.  "I still think about doing those old things sometimes. But now I know I can resist.  The Word says 'resist' the devil and he will flee. It works!  It really works!"

"Now I know who my enemy is.  Satan.  But I can win. I am no longer walking in fear."

"I have a lot of compassion for those enslaved to drugs.  The drugs are not really the major problem.  The major problem is not being in Christ. If you are not in Christ, the devil is going to tear you apart."

Wayne is going to work with us on a prayer meeting for Village Oaks.  I told him others need to hear his testimony.  He can't wait.  He'll also be a part of our "3550 Commission" (referring to Village Oaks' address).  The purpose of the Commission is to pray and work for transformation here.

Wayne Brown's story began with his mother planting the Word in his heart.  It includes painful and dark times.  Even homelessness.  His story includes God showing up as his advocate in supernatural fashion.  And Wayne Brown's story is one of deliverance.  Glory to God.

-- Dean Wilson

Thursday, October 21, 2010

A Guy Who is Trying

Behind one of the doors at the Village Oaks Apartments, you can find 58 year-old Charles Kissler. A guy who is trying.

When I asked him about his story, he just looked at me. I got the feeling he wasn’t sure where to start. “How about the last 10 years?” I asked. “Pretty much hell,” he answered. I went on to learn that Charles Kissler has essentially been homeless for most of 25 years. He’s been in-and-out of different facilities. But he’s also spent many years sleeping in a station wagon.

Once he started telling me about his life, he went on for quite some time.

“It was like a camp out,” he said when I asked him to describe his living conditions.

“Nobody likes playing Tarzan out there without a home,” he said. “Nobody likes being homeless—it is really insecure.”

I asked him to start at the beginning.

“My dad was a preacher once. They separated when I was 3 and I went to live with my grandparents.”

Then what?

“I remember some holidays.” He dropped out of school after the 6th grade.

Fast forward to age 21. “I got into the dope world. Gangs. Murder. Thieves. Saw it all. It’s brutal. It’s cut-throat.” I interjected: “You sure you want me to write about this?” He was firm when he said, “Yes.” He described the darkness of what he saw and lived. Suicide and death. Hopelessness and bondage. “I’ve never seen anyone get off heroin. Never.”

At age 25 he was able to get clean, get a job, and get married. At 30 he and his wife had twins. The bottom fell out a couple years later and he was on the streets.

What about God? I got the sense he is wrestling. “I think about God all the time. Billions of stars out there. Somebody put it all together.” Did Jesus exist? “I think Jesus did exist.” Did he rise from the dead? “I think it is possible.” I invited him to talk about Jesus some more someday. “I’ll do that.”

Charles ended up at the “Bridge” in 2008 before entering the City of Dallas Gateway Program and landing at Village Oaks. “Why did you go to the Bridge?” I asked. He told me his legs were beginning to give out…and he didn’t want to end up dying in the woods alone.

How has the Gateway program been for you? “It’s really good. I’m lucky to be here.” He went on to talk about the Gateway Staff: “I had nothing. They got me a couch, a bed, some cooking utensils, a table, and a picture for my wall.” And now Charles has a companion: a cat. “So I’m not alone all the time.”

“The majority of Gateway residents really want to change their life,” he added.

“The Gateway Staff sure has good things to say about you,” I told him.

“Well, I’m not successful like Bill Gates. I’m just a guy who is trying.”

--Dean Wilson

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Providence Energy Serves at Village Oaks

Thank you to Providence Energy for coming to serve at Village Oaks!  We were able to plant 880 pansies, clean the boxing gym, and organize the Community Center.  Curtis Cokes, who started the Home of Champions Boxing Gym at Village Oaks, told us he doesn't remember the gym ever smelling like that!  And, the fighters in the gym were very appreciative of the cleanliness.

The pansies are already blooming and bringing lots of color and life to the property.  Walking around feels nicer and Village Oaks' residents have been kind to share their thankfulness.

Thank you again to everyone from Providence Energy who was able to attend!  We look forward to more of these in the future!


If you would like information about how you can partner with the Village Oaks Community, please visit our website at www.behindeverydoor.net and click on the "Communities" tab at the top.

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Monday, October 18, 2010

Cookout at Village Oaks!

We had a great time on Sunday with the residents at Village Oaks.  We served about 350 hamburgers and about 400 hot dogs!  There were domino games and golf cart rides, and lots of smiling faces.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a fun Sunday afternoon.  Enjoy the pictures below!












-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Monday, October 4, 2010

Diamond in the Rough

Months ago we met with a friend, Rex Whitton, regarding a potential acquisition of Village Oaks Apartments. Rex is a man of prayer and boldness. It was a big decision, as to whether we should pursue the acquisition. After all, Village Oaks is an infamous 488-unit complex in a very tough neighborhood in South Dallas. This would be a big challenge. This is a complex where on-duty police officers rarely go unless there is a serious problem/911 call.

At one point in the conversation Rex relayed something he thought might be from the Lord. It was that Village Oaks was a "diamond factory." That there were diamonds "in the rough" so to speak.

Well, fast forward to Friday. We have acquired Village Oaks. We have our first real event...a meet and greet time with sno-cones and candy. We met lots of people and tons of kids. However, it was the first kid I talked with that was the most interesting. I was talking with 3 other men by the Boxing Center when a young girl found her way into our circle to tap me on the leg. I didn't know why she was coming over to me as we had never met. I leaned down to get to her level. She simply said: "My name is Diamond." I asked her to repeat it. "My name is Diamond."

Diamond's eyes reflect the fact that she has some sort of a brain-injury. And oh, is she beautiful. I told her: "Boy, you've got a beautiful name, beautiful hair, and a beautiful smile. You really are the complete package!" She smiled.

It won't be hard for me to remember the first kid I met at Village Oaks. A Diamond in the rough.

-- Dean Wilson

Friday, October 1, 2010

Sno Cones & Key Chains at Village Oaks

At Village Oaks, we were able to meet lots of new friends and give away plenty of sno cones and key chains.  It was a great time and we look forward to more events like this going forward!

 
 
 
 

-- Behind Every Door Ministries