How long could you live....without Hope?

Dear Friend, 

I read a quote from Hal Lindsay, author of the Late Great Planet Earth. He said... “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but only one second without hope.” 

At Fred Jordan Missions, we are living testaments to this statement. So often I talk about the people who walk through our doors hopeless, something in life has happened to these poor souls long before they end up here. 

I’ve talked to former Bank Presidents who let success become their God and ultimately ruin their life, leading them down a path of destruction...
They ended up walking through the Mission doors. 

I’ve talked to former athletes who suffered an injury or who couldn’t handle the pressure and turned to drugs to help them cope...
They ended up walking through the Mission doors. 

I’ve talked to fathers who lost their job and masked their embarrassment and humiliation by turning to alcohol, eventually losing everything...
They ended up walking through the Mission doors. 
 

Not everyone who comes to us is addicted, 

but without a doubt everyone has lost hope. 
 

A few days ago I was in front of the Mission where two little girls were riding bikes, followed closely behind by their mom and dad. This family was not addicted to a substance - no, they were victims of a horrific hurricane in Alabama last fall. Their home was damaged and uninhabitable, so they headed West to California to start a new life, far away from the loss and pain they left behind. When things didn’t work out the way they’d hoped -- and with no money and and no shelter -- they ended up on Skid Row right by the Mission, hopeless. 

Fred Jordan Missions is an anchor from the storms of life. God has called us to extend a hand to those who are hurting, to help pull them in and to offer them the Hope of Jesus. 

To the heroin addict; to the mother who lost a child; to the Bank President who lost their career; to the family who lost their home – we Declare the Hope that is found in Jesus Christ, then Demonstrate His love by comforting them, giving them a shoulder to cry on, offering a hug of compassion and support, feeding them a hot, nourishing meal, and providing clothing, blankets and hygiene items to help in time of need. 

And we’re able to do this because of friends like you. 

Will you stand with me to continue bringing Hope to those in need? I recognize you have a heart of compassion, so I’m asking you to give generously today. 

Thank you in advance for doing all you can to help those in need on Skid Row through Fred Jordan Missions – where HOPE IS SERVED HERE! 
 

Serving Jesus Together,
 

Joe Jordan - President/Senior Pastor
Willie Jordan - Chairman of the Board

Lady in a Box

Dear Friend,

A couple of days ago, my wife Kris and I were leaving the Mission at the corner of 5th and Towne, downtown Los Angeles.

To paint you a picture - on any given day - leaving the Mission could have its challenges.

As the sun sets, the streets really begin to take on a life of their own. The makeshift dwellings comprised of wooden pallets and cardboard seemingly begin to rise from the concrete sidewalks. The more “fortunate” homeless have tents with propane heaters and battery operated lights. Others literally have only the clothes on their backs. These are the ones who wait for the neighboring businesses to close to take refuge in their empty doorways; or who curl up on the cold, hard concrete behind a dumpster or a portable toilet - anything to shield them from the wind or the rain or protect them from the fights, profanity, drug deals and prostitution running rampant throughout the night.

On this day, Kris and I left the Mission walking on Towne Avenue toward our car. As we approached our vehicle, we passed by a medium sized cardboard box turned on its side. There were bags of trash nearby, an abandoned shoe, a half-way folded blanket off to the side and what appeared to be clumps of dark clothing spilling out from within. It looked like a tousled box of trash someone carelessly dumped on the sidewalk.

My heart breaks for the people on these streets, the homeless, the drug addicts, the prostitutes, the “lady in a box.”

It is beyond saddening and disheartening to see one of God’s precious creations living like this. Here was someone’s daughter, possibly someone’s mother, sister, aunt, cousin – and yet here she was...sleeping in a box of trash on the streets of Skid Row.

It seems overwhelming at times, dare I say hopeless, but then there’s Jesus…“Yes, Jesus”...who heals the sick, comforts the brokenhearted and gives hope to the hopeless.

That is what encourages, challenges and motivates me, Kris, my mom Willie, our entire staff and the thousands of volunteers who serve with us throughout the year.

My favorite Scripture is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

That’s you, that’s me, that’s the brokenhearted on every street around the world – God gave His best for us so that we could be forgiven, saved and restored by His amazing grace.

Will you join with me, my wife Kris, my mom Willie and our entire FJM team to continue Declaring and Demonstrating the love of Jesus to those on Skid Row and beyond?

It’s your generosity that keeps these mission doors open, keeps hot meals on the table, provides cold or hot beverages to the homeless, provides jackets, blankets, beanies, socks, shoes and so much more to men, women and children in need.

For those of you who give to support this work faithfully, “Thank you!” And for those who now recognize the need and have a heart of compassion, then I ask you to give generously today.

Thank you in advance for doing all you can to help those in need on Skid Row through Fred Jordan Missions – where HOPE IS SERVED HERE!

God bless you,

Joe Jordan - President/Senior Pastor
Willie Jordan - Chairman of the Board

God, we thank Thee for the poverty...

Happy New Year!

Recently, I have really been enjoying the posts on Instagram (@FJMissions). Our team has been posting some great photos, stories of changed lives, smiles, hugs and tears from our recent events.

A couple weeks ago there was a video post of my dad, Fred Jordan, from Thanksgiving in 1984. He was standing on a stage at the corner of 5th and Towne, with the city of Los Angeles as his background, speaking to a massive crowd of homeless guests in attendance.  

As I watched the short clip and reminisced over the familiar sights and sounds -- all of a sudden, the words my dad spoke made me feel really uncomfortable.  He said:

“God, we thank Thee for the poverty; we thank Thee for the Skid Row Street!”

I was thinking to myself, “Dad, why are you saying that? Stop it!” I was so confused by what he said that I immediately wanted to turn it off. But then his words began to resonate in my spirit and, a few moments later, I finally understood what he meant. In essence he was saying,

“Jesus, thank you that the poor, the homeless and the hungry are with us on these streets because it’s here we see that NOTHING is impossible for you - there’s NOTHING you can’t do – because You are faithful to save, to provide, to feed, to clothe and to care for the least of these!”

Friend, my dad saw lives changed on Skid Row by the power of God, and so have I.  The Bible says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes!”  (Romans 1:16 NKJV)

At Fred Jordan Missions, we not only want to see men and women find refuge from the cold; we not only want to feed them and help clothe them; we not only want to see their tears turn into smiles and their sadness turn into joy -- but we want to see their lives transformed by the power of Jesus through the gospel message of salvation!  

Will you stand with us this New Year as we continue to “Declare and Demonstrate the Love of Jesus” to the poor, the hungry, the homeless and the hurting?  We are more committed than ever to see lives transformed, hope restored, and the Kingdom of God grow.

You never know the tragic story of someone who walks through the Mission’s door. But when you support Fred Jordan Missions, your gifts are put to work to transform their lives through Jesus Christ.
 
Your gift today of $50, $25, or whatever is right for you, also provides these precious souls with hot food, warm clothes, and relief from winter’s cold.

Your help is needed more than ever as we face the day-to-day challenges of ministering to these precious souls whom Jesus called “the least of these.”

God bless you!

Joe Jordan - President/Senior Pastor
Willie Jordan - Chairman of the Board