Lastraw & Jesus Freaks

There is a Christian store that recently went in on State Street in downtown Redlands...it's a Christian lifestyle store that specializes in Christian apparel, Christian housewares, books and anything a cool, young Christian might want to wear or use to show off his faith. It's a store that makes you feel cool to be a Christian. Anyway, I remember the owner because one day we were in there shopping and Sophie suddenly started saying (rather loudly) that she had to go to the bathroom and instead of directing us down the street somewhere, he let us use their unfinished bathroom in the storeroom. VERY kind of him...possibly avoided an accident with that one.

Jeff got on his mailing list and we received an e-mail from them last week saying they might have a community service project they wanted to do and they were having a meeting to talk about it. We didn't go to the meeting but today Jeff stopped by the store to introduce himself and tell him if he had a service project, we would be interested in getting our youth group involved and helping out.

Everything in the store was half off...not a good sign for our favorite new store! Jeff had talked to the owner and he said when they first opened and people down on their luck saw a new Christian store on the block, they started coming in and asking for food, money, etc. He couldn't just turn them away. He started giving them food and I'm assuming spiritual food as well. He then felt called to minister to them and had set up a few dinners and things and always kept food and clothes at the store for those who might drop by in need. He felt called to turn it into a larger project and possibly have a food, clothes, and spiritual ministry there for them as well as the original store front. At first the owner of the building said it would be okay but after a robbery at a nearby jewelry store, the owner of the building told this owner of the store that the other tenents were worried about the clientele being scared off by the homeless and down-and-out of Redlands hanging out.

The owner of Lastraw, the Christian store, now is unsure of his next move. He feels called to minister to these people at their "last straw" and is planning on closing or moving the store to a new location at the end of the month...possibly even scrapping the store completely and opening a soup kitchen or having Sunday services and food in the park for the people he has gotten to know and care for in the past months by serving them from his store front. It's an interesting story and the ending could be promising and hopeful or sad and typical. I am praying that it will be like a story out of "Jesus Freaks" where his calling is realized and he will truly make a difference for those he's ministering too...where things that are even out of his control will just line up with God's help for the greater good of His purpose. Please pray that this little store owner and family man will follow his calling and have the support of many in the coming weeks. We would love to have a great Jesus ending to this story. We need more men like him. He makes me proud to be a Christian and makes me realize I should be out there bringing people to Christ and not just waiting for them to come to me. -Michelle