05/27/2026
What a time we had at Care Night. It’s not only about what happens inside the room — it’s about meeting people where they are. Being in the trenches means going outside the walls.
We’ve been blessed to partner with Healing Place Church in their homeless outreach in North Baton Rouge. Last month while we were out serving, we met a young man who was wandering the streets alone. When they came to get me to talk with him, he was understandably nervous — he’s only 18 years old.
The night before at ER, I told our breakout group that if we could reach just one young person, it would multiply. Since then, we now have around five young adults under 22 years old coming to Care Night.
We were able to help get him into a safe place where he completed a 28-day program, and now he’s getting connected one day at a time. What a blessing it was to get the phone call that he would be there last night. The smile on his face when I saw him again was something special. These nights are about unpacking whatever life has placed on us. It’s no coincidence that another one of our guys is staying in the same house with him.
Building relationships is about building the Kingdom. When we reach one person, we never know where God will plant them to help reach another. We also had several people in the room for their very first time. God continues opening door after door for seeds to be planted in the lives of those who are hurting and broken, and we’re honored to walk alongside them in the process. In the lesson, we learned that growth happens in community.
The word “amends” can make us uncomfortable because it confronts our past. It can stir up guilt, shame, and regret. Many times we try to cover those things by blaming others, minimizing what happened, or making excuses. But when we justify, we build walls instead of bridges. Making amends brings freedom emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. It breaks the power of guilt and shame. Harm is anything that tears down instead of builds up. Healing happens when honesty meets grace.
