Skip to main content
Category

Journey

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blankets & Socks, Blogging Journey, Collaboration, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Project5K, Raising Awareness, Serve

The Countdown Begins (Days 48&47 FOCUSED)

Yesterday was was both hard and emotional… Not only did it rain and pour down, but our team encountered many homeless people who literally were standing out in the rain without shelter (getting soaked)… Their clothes were wet, and we even encountered some who did not have on shoes (just socks and flip-flops). It was hard seeing God’s people without safety, refuge, or hope.2014-01-11 08.35.02-1

 

That’s why when we go out, we try to listen to stories, get to know people, and restore dignity back to what some would classify as “invisble people.” Although hard, it gives me hope knowing that God can use #lovebeyondwalls to pray for people, and love on them right where they are…2014-01-11 09.41.25-1

Also, my wife and one of our teammates went into a shelter yesterday and saw over 60 kids, and many mothers who were with very few resources… My wife said,

“When we walked in… it was like nothing I had even seen before… kids sitting there under-dressed, and mothers hoping that someone would bring their children some food and clothing…It broke my heart…We have got to keep raising awareness”

This alone is enough for me to remain FOCUSED and continue this journey toward our second campaign to raise awareness (I can’t wait to share what it is…)

Thinking about yesterday… I guess I’m filled with compassion right now… I want the world to know that there are many redeemable stories and people… I want the world to hear those who go unheard… I want God’s people to have a sense of dignity restored back to them!

Not only has reflecting on stories above ignited something in me, my homeless friend Tony ignited something in me when I was able to pay him back 100 pairs of socks for him giving me his last pair of socks the first night I went homeless. Below is a picture of my friend and I…2014-01-11 09.32.33-1

I ask that you pray for #lovebeyondwalls, for me as I continue to prepare myself for this next awareness campaign, and for people to join in our on next campaign to raise awareness.

Terence

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Blogging Journey, Campaigns, Collaboration, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Serve

The Countdown Begins (Day 49 NO EXCUSES)

This morning, I have to be honest… I asked myself & God, “Can I really do this?” “Can I really get prepared in 50 days?” 

I tried making excuses… “Maybe I can do something else…Or, maybe I can find somebody else to do this with me… Or, better yet… Maybe I can say it is too hard…”

Then I shook myself out of it, and gave myself what “kid president” calls, “A Pep Talk…people” 

NO EXCUSES…

Why did I ask these questions and make these excuses though? Because I looked at my weight on the scale yesterday, and surprisingly the scale revealed a shocking number that not only pained me, but revealed how unhealthy I have lived (in my eating habits) over the last few years. Are you ready? I weigh 260lbs (I need to lose 25-30lbs)… This is the most I have ever weighed in my life. Of course, I am big guy, but I am not comfortable with that.

2014-01-09 14.46.26

As a matter of fact, my “weight” number shocked me so much I dropped down on the floor and asked God to help me get my life healthier so I can be transformed personally, and physically prepare to raise awareness for my homeless friends. Isn’t it amazing that before we can fully help others we must be willing to transform ourselves?

I know we all make health commitments throughout the year, and soon break them with inconsistency. But, when I saw this something happened in me… I was reminded of how important my health is, and how important it is to remain healthy if you are homeless (living on the streets)…

When I was homeless for 72 hours, I encountered many people who had medical conditions that were life-threatening. In fact, many people revealed how those conditions increased when they started living on the streets with no resources.

I clenched my fist, looked at the scale and said… “I’ve got to change… I’ve got to beat this so I can raise more awareness for my friends…Lord, I can do all things through you… NO EXCUSES…”

Ever feel like you need supernatural strength to make it? Well, over the next 49 days that’s what I am going to rely on (God’s strength).

Yesterday was rough, but I found support…I reached out to an old friend that does personal training… His name is Lucien. We attended the same High School (Westlake), and it “just so happened” that he lives in the neighborhood across the street and runs “bootcamps” at parks. Without thinking, he told me he’d help me train to get the weight off for this big challenge that I am about to embark on in 49 days. I agreed and began exercising yesterday along with changing my eating habits (water only, and clean foods).

THIS IS HARD PEOPLE… I had two meetings in Chick-Fil-A yesterday. LOL.

2014-01-09 14.30.09

Can you do something to help? Yes! I need you to pray, hold me accountable via social media, and push me until I am ready to reveal #lovebeyondwalls‘ next challenge to raise awareness about one of many social ills we care so much about.

Terence

 

Terence Lester
In 50 Day Count Down, Homelessness, Journey, Life-dares, Movement of Doers, Raising Awareness, Serve, Transform

The Count Down Begins (Day 50)

Today, I got up extremely early (4AM) to think about how hard of a challange this is going to be (my next awareness campaign)…Yes, it will be just as hard as going homeless for 72 hours. As a matter of fact, this has got to be the second most daring thing I have ever attempted to do to raise awareness about a community of people that I care so much about (the homeless community).

It is so challenging, that I am literally having to lose 30lbs before I attempt to do what I feel God is placing on my heart to do. Why? Because in order for this to work, I must transform myself too (and get healthy). Over the last few years, I have become overweight due to stress, over-eating, and simply because I love to “throw down” in the kitchen…LOL. However, that must stop!!!!! (If you are an eater, you can relate)

IMG_0298Starting today I am going to attempt to lose tons of pounds by eating right, and excersing (something that I have started and stopped for a long time).

Many people are probably wondering why I am doing things to raise awareness about homelessness… Well, like I tell everyone I meet…

Imagine being a person who could not speak up for yourself…

Imagine being a person who had a story that nobody hears or cares about…

Imagine being looked down upon by society and only loved on by a few…

Imagine endless possibilities of hopelessness…See my heart yet?

I envision #lovebeyondwalls being a non-profit agency that echoes the voices of the unheard…overlooked…and outcasted…

Therefore, whatever extremes I have to take to help people’s stories to be heard, I am going to do it. I am giving my life to this (MLK said give your life to something and die for it…) However, isn’t this what Jesus did? He roamed the earth standing up for a world far from right-standing with God, and gave his life so that people could be reconciled and restored back to God. And, if this is true…I am following Jesus.

There are three reasons why I am losing weight:

1) If I don’t lose weight…this campaign may kill me.

2) If I don’t lose weight…this campaign may not be completed.

3) If I don’t lose weight…this campaign will be extremely hard.

Are you wondering what it is yet? Well, track along with me until mid-January to find out…I am releasing the next #lovebeyondwalls awareness campaign!

Today, is Day 1 on my “50 Day Count Down” as I attempt to get myself together before trying to accomplish the unimaginable for my homeless friends. 

Terence

Terence Lester
In Campaigns, Collaboration, Homelessness, Journey, Project5K, Raising Awareness

4K Socks & 1K To Go

So far, we have raised 4K socks over the course of six days. Generous donors from all over have banded together to bring support, resources, and encouragement for us to accomplish #project5K.

We have had people ship socks from all over (including four different states, and from one international country). Today is the last day to gather the last 1K socks, and am confident that #lovebeyondwalls will raise them.

Today, I’ll be at one of the drop off locations (Tees & Quotes) on Peters Street from 12noon-5pm.

If you’d like to support, drop-off at one of our [LOCATIONS], come see me today at Tees & Quotes, or [GIVE] on our site!

Terence

Terence Lester
In Campaigns, Collaboration, Homelessness, Journey, Movement of Doers, Project5K, Purpose

Rain, Socks, & 45 Degree Weather!

Right now,

It’s hard knowing that some of my friends who are homeless have on absolutely no socks during the winter! How do I know? Because I spoke to one the other day. Below is the picture I snapped yesterday outside (in 45 Degree Weather):

2013-12-31 12.52.49

People have asked me, “Why are you doing this…?”

Well, to be honest I CARE. It is just that simple.

I care that there are men and women who live downtown and have no place to go,

I care about the stories that I heard while sleeping under bridges, and

I care that it is tough to survive without the proper necessities.

I know I can’t save everyone (I’m no savior), but I can follow Jesus into the wild and show the compassion he showed. When I read the Bible, I’m ignited with the passion that Jesus had when he saw broken people in his palestinian context. There’s a verse that I love found in Matthew 9:36 (NASB). It says,

“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”

Two things stand out to me…First, he saw! Jesus saw the brokenness of the people, and he sympathized and empathized with their pain.

Secondly, he move. He stood up, and met all the needs he could… He befriended the broken, cared for those who were distressed, and loved the unloveable.

That’s our mission with #lovebeyondwalls! We want to build a #lovearmy that loves people where they are! NO MOTIVES, NO GIMMICKS!

With that being said, It is raining and many homeless people do not have on socks today! We are trying to raise 5K pairs of socks to resource our brothers and sisters with socks to aid them in their survival on the streets. You can view the story the story about why we are doing this [HERE]

Take socks two the two locations on the flyer below, or give to us on our [GIVE] page! Thanks for your continued support.

Terence

5k

 

 

Terence Lester
In Blogging Journey, Collaboration, Education, Homelessness, Journey, Raising Awareness, Reflective

72 Hours & Collaboration

Over the last week, I have received calls from all over: L.A., New York, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, and a few other states. Many people from these states are talking about possible collaborative efforts, and wanted to know how #lovebeyondwalls could come to those states to help raise awareness.

Although we are pacing ourselves here in the city of Atlanta, I learned something very important about homelessness (in my 72 Hours), what it will take to combat it, how we can help those who are living on the streets without any resources or means, and what it will take to raise awareness across this country about this epidemic.

It takes collaboration! It takes an army of people banded together taking #lovebeyondwalls to make a difference in this sensitive area. Why? Because homelessness is a vast issue. There are many causes for homelessness in the United States: Addiction, Poverty, Job-loss, Foreclosures, Mental health, Lack of affordable housing, Domestic Violence, and a host of other social issues.

n6KjYIunBY-6_vjceLV505TD-_YOsR9hHYyx0EPoh3MIn fact, a stat shows that out of the 300+ million people that live in the United States 3.5 million of those people are expected to be homeless each year (stat taken from homeaid.org). This isn’t something a few organizations, or a couple people passing out sandwiches can handle alone. This epidemic will take people from all sorts of industries, churches, faith communities, backgrounds, and neighborhoods to come up with solutions to this problem (and work together not individually). Will it be easy? No. But, it will have to start in the trenches (grassroots), and expand nationally.

It’s just as my IG friend Arkeedah McCormick says, “Collaboration is truly amazing! You get to meet, listen, and engage with many individuals and hear their stories.”

Collaboration will do three things:

1) Create strength. Unity is a powerful tool, and has the ability to provide strength to any movement or cause.

2) Create resources. No one person or organization has all the resources, but through collaboration and unity strength and resources appear.

3) Create a voice. When people band together to take #lovebeyondwalls, the voiceless are heard, and their issues are discussed.

In 2014, #lovebeyondwalls will partner with people from all over to make a difference, and raise more awareness about homelessness in the city of Atlanta, and in the United States. If you are reading this, and would like to partner contact us [HERE].

A few days ago, #lovebeyondwalls mobilized 300+ people to resource people with food, clothes, and other items to survive on the streets in downtown Atlanta. It took collaboration!

Check out the video showing the collaborative efforts below:

[embedplusvideo height=”500″ width=”500″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1eQfosW” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/DDg25Lwqpyc?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=DDg25Lwqpyc&width=500&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep7228″ /]

Terence

Terence Lester
In Homelessness, Journey, Purpose, Raising Awareness, Reflective

Five Questions You Must Ask Yourself!

This morning, I’m reflecting on what made me take the step toward going homeless to raise awareness… Believe it or not, it was a list of five questions I asked myself concerning my purpose and direction. I asked myself these questions to gain clarity, and narrow in on what I feel God was calling me to (my area of service)!

Are you searching for clarity when it comes to direction in life? Below are five simple questions you can ask yourself that will push you to think deeply and reflect about where you are headed and what you should get involved in.

  1. Where am I? (This will cause you to reflect on the realities of where you are)
  2. Where am I going? (This will cause you to reflect on your desired destination)
  3. Do I have a map? (This will cause you to reflect on what steps are needed to get to where you are going)
  4. Whose going with me? (This will cause you think about what people are needed to mentor, guide, and support you on the journey)
  5. When do I start? (This will cause you to set a start date & time on when you will take the first step(s) toward where you’d rather be)

 

If you are to continue gaining clarity about your life’s direction, you’ll have to wrestle with these questions at various places and seasons in your life. Why? Because questioning causes you to gain more clarity, and God uses clarity to direct paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

By thinking deeply about these questions, not only was #lovebeyondwalls born, but my focus areas and passions where made clear.

I’m not raising awareness for myself, I have chosen to raise awareness to help others. When I die, I want to leave this earth knowing I did not consume, but gave!

QUOTE2

Terence

Terence Lester
In Blogging Journey, Education, Homelessness, Journey, Raising Awareness, Sociology

72 Hours & A bunch of No's

I’m having a bit of a struggle processing all that I experienced while living on the streets for three days…

Mean mugs, getting put out of places, being talked down to, being viewed as an animal, being rejected repeatedly, people looking at you like you are strange, hearing awful statements thrown at you like rocks from people walking down the street, and workers in shelters treating you poorly (people who are supposed to care)…

“Get out of my way, and get a job…” Some random guy told me.

“Hell no, I’m not going to give your lazy ass nothing…” A woman screamed.

“All of you all smell…” This young corporate executive yelled.

“Let’s cross the street…” A lady said as we were approaching their group.

All these words and more felt like NO’S!!!!

2013-12-24 21.11.17-2Could you imagine not only being down, but being stepped on constantly and reminded that you are less than (an outcast even…)? Well, I believe that’s how the homeless feel. Not all of them have drug problems, steal, or are mentally ill. Most of them are decent people (and have big hearts).

How are you supposed to climb out of a ditch of homelessness when everything (including the system) reminds you that you can’t and that you don’t belong?

The second night, I was put out of a homeless shelter lobby when trying to charge my phone. I asked the worker, “Can I please charge my phone, it’s cold outside (40 degrees)..I need to have it on for safety…”

The man ripped my phone out of the wall, and told me “Get out now…I don’t want to tell your ass again…If you have a problem with it…take it up with the white man (excuse the language I’m not racist). Don’t look at me, I’m just doing my job.”

However, I persisted, “Sir, could I please charge my phone…It’s cold and I have no where else to go.”

He looked at me, and said the most hurtful statement I believe any homeless person could hear. He said, “Don’t get mad at me because of the life you are living…”

What if I was just down on my luck and was homeless temporarily?

What if I lost my home in a fire?

What if I wasn’t a drug addict or had a mental health illness?

What if I were really trying to get off the streets?

All the rejecting moments above screamed NO!!!!!

2013-12-24 22.08.24-1That one worker and many others I encountered treated me and my friends like trash, and it hurt. Why? Because I have friends that are homeless, and there is no hope in rejection, being viewed as the scum of the earth, or being treated like an animal.

Today, I blog to release the hurt, and share that I am going to do all I can to raise awareness through #lovebeyondwalls and do my best to find my friends some help to get them off the streets.

Below is a video taken from one of my homeless friends sharing about homeless people,

[embedplusvideo height=”500″ width=”500″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1efeMbQ” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/krx96mYTwiU?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=krx96mYTwiU&width=500&height=500&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep9579″ /]

I ask that you give [HERE] to help this organization raise more awareness about these awful injustices.

Terence

Close Menu