Skid Row Testimony by Gracie Burroughs

I was blessed to be able to attend the 2012 Skid Row outreach. A team of about 20 Christians including myself drove down to Los Angeles for the weekend bordering New Years Eve and day with one purpose; to preach the gospel and one goal; to see souls saved and brought back to Jesus.
I had been down to Skid Row and Hollywood Boulevard a little over a year before this trip. The first time opened my eyes in so many ways and then spurred me on the keep preaching the gospel in my home, school and neighborhood. Both trips were equally effective, heartbreaking and encouraging, but different at the same time. Being out on the streets of Skid Row was heartbreaking.
Looking over the masses of people sleeping and living out on the streets. Seeing people that have gone different lengths of time without a hug, smile, joy, food, sleep, blankets, a home is absolutely heartbreaking. What is more heartbreaking however is seeing someone go a second on this earth without knowing Jesus. But the good news is that Jesus still saves and will continue too and his grace is sufficient! This proved to be true when God showed up in my life about two years ago and saved me and it continues to prove true, for instance in Skid Row.
We got down to Hollywood just in time to hit the streets Friday night. I have not decided which is more heartbreaking, seeing twelve year old girls dressed like prostitutes while walking down Hollywood Boulevard with their parents or seeing women and children desperate for food and love on the streets of Skid Row. Our team witnessed both. Friday night we brought the Gospel to the lost and dying on Hollywood Boulevard and found that the Harvest is still plentiful.
As old friends came together to preach the Lord blessed us and the team was encouraged to make know the name of Jesus. We worshiped and preached and met many people hungry for Jesus. My friend Tiara and Cristina and I talked to threes guy our age (about 20) Brandon, James and their friend. All of these guys thank us for being out there preaching and said they had family members who have been preaching and praying for them. They said it was different hearing the gospel from people other than their Mom’s or Grandparent’s. They said they knew Jesus was the way and knew they needed to get right with Jesus but did not know what was holding them back. After telling them the gospel and some scriptures that were applicable to their situation we prayed for them and they went their way.
I know one thing for sure, My God is faithful and the Holy Spirit will follow through with those boys, and they did not have the night they were expecting to have. We prayed they would be convicted entering into the clubs full of sin and would be repulsed by it and would repent and believe the gospel.
Others on the team also had many fruitful conversations and that night we left Hollywood Boulevard and the devil was defeated. We then woke up Saturday morning bright and early for breakfast, worship, prayer and testimonies. Then prepared food and equipment for Skid Row. We were blessed with men of God who love Jesus too much to compromise to lead our team into Skid Row. That day I met a lady named Mary who was overjoyed seeing the children on our team serving God at such a young age (4), which would not have happened it weren’t for her and her parents obedience to the Lord. I then met a lady named Diane who was broken and hurt. She came up to my friend and I weeping and kept asking “Do you really think I am going to be okay? Do you really think God is going to help me?” We replied YES! And she left with her vision restored back on Jesus.
Later that night we went back to Hollywood Boulevard. It was New Years Eve. While many were out to party for New Years Eve, we were there to lift up the name of Jesus and seek and save that which is lost. A young girl named Jamie came up to the team and danced by Bobby Chance while he was playing the guitar. She then came back and talked to me. She told me she had been seeking Jesus and a Church fellowship. I told her she needed to get right with Jesus first. She listened. She thanked our team for being out on the streets and was touched by our love and patience towards her. I kept telling her the good news of Jesus and she said “I have never heard the bible described like that.” We continued to talk and then I prayed for her. As I was praying for her the clock struck midnight and Hollywood Blvd went crazy, but it didn’t faze her, we continued praying. It was a testimony of how pointless worldly celebrations are but how celebrations of Jesus are eternally meaningful. Jamie went away with a soft heart, changed by the grace of God.
There are many more testimonies from this weekend that other members on the team experienced. I was blessed by the obedience of the team that went to Skid Row. Often we find that we do not just minister to the lost, but to each other and to ourselves. God is great. Nine year old Kayli cried out to God on the floor of the Oasis while we were worshipping. A testimony that you can be young and still serve God. Mother Kayci brought her five kids to the outreach (one in her belly) without excuse. Accompanied by her husband Chad who had to have the faith the trust that God would provide for them to attend the trip. Sisters Maddie (17) and Cece (15) led worship for the team and preached fearlessly. Pastor Rudy talked to Marines on the streets of Hollywood Blvd while also keeping the team safe, getting us from place to place and preaching the whole weekend. A young couple Erica and Jd and baby emma came in obedience to the Lord and learned the importance of sharing their faith. Sisters Lauren (20) and Shelby (16) came with a willingness to preach. Brian (33) came with boldness and a soft heart, preached and had compassion for people just like Jesus. Kenneth came from his unsaved families home to the outreach to continue to preach filled with joy and the Holy Ghost. Bobby and Dot Chance blessed our team by leading the outreach and contributing 30 years of obedience to the King of Kings. Maddie, Lauren and Kenneth also helped save a girls life (18) who had to much to drink and was driven away in a ambulance car. Lori helped Ana, a woman in a wheel chair with Polio and two kids who had not eaten in 2 days get food and their vision restored back on Jesus. All of this blessed me. I thank God for the opportunity and can not wait for the next opportunity!