prayforthehomeless.org

Shannon H. -- Prayer Candidate 177

2010-05-17T03:12:00.001-05:00

Shannon is 33 years old and originally from Ohio, but has lived the last several years of her life in Jasper, Alabama. She became homeless in September of 2009 when her husband, a US Army veteran died. Shannon is disabled and suffers from asthma, fibromyalgia, bi-polar disorder and migraine headaches. She spent most of this past winter living in an abandoned hotel building in downtown Birmingham with other homeless friends. She has recently received Social Security disability status which means she can now afford to stay in a motel part of the time and stays back on the street when she runs out of money. She has a friend who is homeless who stays with her and looks after her.

Shannon suffered for years as a domestic violence victim and is celebrating the fact that although she is homeless, she is very happy to be living free of physical abuse. Shannon is in need of healing from the severe pain and psychological damage she has sustained as a domestic violence victim. In spite of her trials and the fact that she has many mental challenges, Shannon has a wonderful warm heart and reaches out to comfort other homeless women she meets. She is very quick to make friends on the street and pray for others.

Shannon has two children ages 11 and 13 who are living with their grandfather in Clearwater, Florida. She asks that you pray for her health and that she will one day be re-united with her children. She also asks you to pray she and her friend will be able to get an apartment to live in.

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Michael T. J. -- Prayer Candidate 176

2010-05-17T02:32:00.001-05:00

Michael T. is 52 years old and originally from Birmingham, Alabama. As a young man he joined the US Army and served from 1978-1985 in Germany as well as Ft. Riley, Kansas. After the service Michael lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, for 6 years where he worked as a floor tech at the VA Hospital. When he moved back to Birmingham he worked in maintenance at Brookwood Hospital and part-time as a shelf stocker for Piggly Wiggly.

Michael became homeless after a traumatic brain injury he sustained when he was hit by a car. He has cognitive brain damage, which effects his memory and ability to organize his life. Michael has been homeless in downtown Birmingham for several years and receives a small disability income which is not enough to sustain an apartment and pay for utilities. He stays at area shelters or with whomever will take him in for a short time, and sometimes he must stay on the street. Michael is a quiet, shy person who has a joyful sparkle in his eye and a kind gentle spirit.

Michael seeks your support in prayer. He has nerve damage in his right arm that limits its’ use and he struggles with his memory. Michael has a strong desire to help others that cannot help themselves and he hopes to be used by the Lord to lead others in a way that they can come to know his love. He asks you to pray for him as he continues to try and find his way.

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Jimmy Y. -- Prayer Candidate 175

2010-05-17T01:11:00.001-05:00

Jimmy is 50 years old and is a native of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He spent 34 years as a welder and worked off the coast of Louisiana on an offshore oil rig for Phillips Petroleum for 3 years. When a pipe he was welding on the platform exploded, it caused severe nerve damage to his leg and knee. He was hospitalized in Louisiana for 8 months. After being released he came to Birmingham with someone he met in the hospital looking for work. Jimmy has spent the 4 years since his accident homeless, living in a camp by the railroad tracks downtown for the last 3 years.

Jimmy has a strong relationship with the Word and draws his strength from it’s power. He has several prayer requests, beginning with his prayer that, “Everyone will get their lives re-directed and realize why we are all here.” He asks you to pray for healing for his knee and his lungs, and also the challenges he faces from alcohol addiction. He prays to be able to return to Wyoming one day to work on a ranch and be with his daughter who lives there.

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Kenny A. -- Prayer Candidate 174

2010-04-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

Kenny is 46 years old and is originally from the Mulga neighborhood of western Jefferson County, Alabama. He has been homeless off and on for the past 20 years, and suffers from severe depression as a result of bi-polar disorder. “For many years I kept doing drugs to try and kill the pain I felt,” he shares. Kenny is now on mental health medication and working to live a drug free life. He is able to stay at an apartment in the Smithfield area near downtown part of the time.

Kenny is a very kind, quiet, shy person who has a strong daily relationship with God. He worries about a lot of things and asks you to help him by praying about several of them: Please pray he will be able to avoid going to places he shouldn’t be, pray he will be able to get out of debt (he still owes $300 on his uncle’s funeral), and pray his family will be able to come together. Kenny struggles each day to try and maintain a positive state of mind. “I just want to be happy,” he says, “but it feels like something is coming over me trying to keep me from being happy.” He feels it is his faith that will carry him through his struggle with depression. Kenny sums his hope up this way, “I know there is nothing God can’t do or fix.” He is grateful to those who are willing to walk with him through prayer.

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Charlotte T. (Snowflake) -- Prayer Candidate 173

2010-04-03T18:50:00.002-05:00

Charlotte is 49 years old and is originally from Bibb County, Alabama. She worked in insurance for 22 years and her last position was as a supervisor in the State Farm office in Tuscaloosa on 15th St. Breaking her neck in a serious car accident set off a chain of events that lead Charlotte to the world of addiction and homelessness. In an effort to deal with the physical pain of the accident, she became addicted to prescription pain medication. The addiction took over her life and eventually brought her to the streets of downtown Birmingham. As a homeless addict with no income Charlotte became involved in prostitution in order to survive. In that circumstance she has seen and experienced horrific abuse perpetrated by men from all walks of life against women trapped in homelessness on the street. Charlotte has lived in many places during her years of homelessness including the old railroad tunnels off 25th St. North, the Salvation Army, and in homeless camps near the railroad tracks.

In January of 2007 Charlotte experienced another devastating accident when she was hit by a car on 23rd St. North in downtown Birmingham, that left her physically handicapped. She spent 75 days in intensive care and has permanently lost the use of her left arm and had part of the bone removed from her shoulder. She also contracted staff infection in the bone of her left leg while under treatment. Doctors continually advise her to have her leg amputated, but as a homeless woman she feels that would leave her too vulnerable. Today Charlotte has overcome her addiction and has been drug free for many months. She works to help others struggling with addiction “see the sober world.” Charlotte finds her hope in the fact that, “God has brought me this far and I know He has a mission for me — that’s why I don’t quit.” Charlotte asks that you pray for her health and her continued success in overcoming addiction. She also asks that you pray for the men who oppress women in the homeless community, and is looking forward to receiving cards and letters from people who are praying for her.

Update: After many years of waiting and working her way through the system, Charlotte has been approved for Social Security Disability status in early April. She should begin receiving a small monthly check within the next 6 weeks. She thanks everyone who has been praying for her

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Franklin W. - Prayer Candidate 172

2010-03-13T23:04:00.001-06:00

Franklin is 47 years old and is from Owensboro, Kentucky, where he was a successful licensed journeyman plumber for many years. His life changed suddenly when he discovered he had a cancerous tumor in his chest. “I never thought this would happen to me,” he said. Franklin moved to Birmingham, to seek medical treatment at the Kirklin Clinic, where he has been in treatment for Lymphoma. During his treatment he became homeless. At first he stayed in hospital lobby rooms and then eventually he stayed in abandoned buildings and once even slept on a porch. Amidst the struggles and challenges of homelessness, Franklin became addicted to alcohol and cocaine.

Franklin is currently participating in an alcohol and drug recovery program and is staying in apartment with 2 other men in the program. He has 10 months clean and sober. His cancer is in remission. He asks you to pray he will be able to stay in remission and in recovery. “I just live from day to day and hope that God will do for me what I can’t do for myself,” Franklin shares. He also hopes eventually he will one day have a permanent home, a car and tools again. He appreciates your prayers.

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Tamara Y. - Prayer Candidate 171

2010-03-13T22:57:00.002-06:00

Tamara is 39 years old and grew up in the west end of Birmingham, Alabama. She was participating in Jr. ROTC at Jackson - Olin High School when she became pregnant and had her first child at the age of 17. She left school without graduating and began her journey into what has become a debilitating struggle with mental illness. Tamara suffers from extreme bi-polar disorder with psychosis. She has given birth to either 5 or 6 children since that time that range in age from 22 years old to 7 months. Most of these children are in the custody of other family members. Tamara was homeless during her last pregnancy and spent much of it living in shelters and abandoned buildings. Her baby daughter, Sierra, was taken into DHR custody at birth, because authorities determined Tamara was currently unable to care for her child adequately.

Since Sierra’s birth social workers have helped Tamara to get an apartment for people with disabilities downtown. She sees her daughter at regular visitations provided by DHR. She is attending parenting classes and hopes to someday be able to raise her daughter, who she misses terribly. Please pray that Tamara will be able to maintain staying in an apartment and be able to stay on her medication. Her specific prayer request is, “I want my mind, body and soul to be stable. I really want to be stable.” Also please pray for her baby and her other children who she is unable to be with.

Update: Tamara rededicated her life to Christ and joined the church on Sunday, April 18th. She asks you to pray for her to overcome temptations that would lead her in the wrong direction as she works to build stability in her life. Also pray that she will be able to overcome the struggles of loneliness as she adjusts to life alone in an apartment.

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Thomas C. - Prayer Candidate 170

2010-03-10T00:33:00.001-06:00

Thomas is 53 years old and is originally from Hueytown, Alabama. He became homeless in a divorce 3 years ago and has lived various places on the street, including in a van for 4 or 5 months. His divorce included a bankruptcy which left him with bad credit, making it impossible to get an apartment lease approved in his name. Like many homeless people Thomas has a job that gives him frequent work. He lays commercial flooring and was one of the people who helped lay the floor in the North Pavilion of UAB Hospital. Thomas also recently donated his labor to help lay the new tile floor in the remodeling of the Church of the Reconciler men’s bathroom. He is currently staying in a motel in the downtown area.

Thomas suffers from liver problems and is need of dental work. He asks you to pray he will, “make it from day to day,” and for his health to improve. He has 4 sons and asks you to include them in your prayers.

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Victor B. - Prayer Candidate 169

2010-03-09T23:47:00.001-06:00

Victor is 46 years old and grew up traveling constantly with his parents who were in the U.S. Navy. He has been homeless off and on throughout his adult life, beginning in 1993 when he stayed on the street for 4 years. He went through a treatment program and then got married in 1999. Because both he and his wife suffered from addiction the marriage ended and he became homeless again. In 2005 Victor moved to California to make a new start and was doing well there. Unfortunately his mother suffered a stroke and a heart attack a few years later and he felt he needed to be the one to come home and care for her. He was able to find work here for a while before the economy turned in the wrong direction, causing his job to be eliminated.

While participating in the homeless day program at Church of the Reconciler Victor has become active in the Coalition for the Homeless and other support groups. In late February 2010 he accepted the opportunity to take a vacant house in bad repair in the Sherman Heights neighborhood and begin remodeling it. He is currently able to stay in the home and trade his labor for rent. Victor asks you to pray that his spiritual health will continue to grow and that he will be able to get work and have health insurance. He also asks you to pray, “That the homeless will be able to start businesses and create jobs for themselves.” Also please pray for his brother who is in prison.

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David O. - Prayer Candidate 168

2010-03-09T22:45:00.002-06:00

David is 50 years old and grew up raising cows, hogs and guineas on 5 acres in the Shannon/Pleasant Valley area that is the residential part of Hoover, Alabama that we know today as Bluff Park. Tragedy struck David at a young age when he witness his father’s murder and stayed with him as he died in the street. As a result he had to begin working to help support his family at the age of 12. As an adult David worked for many years at Bristol Steel in Bessemer, and now works at construction jobs when they are available. He has been homeless for the past 7-1/2 years and lives in a camp located under the Red Mountain Expressway. He stays there with his friend Mike and his cat “Mr. Night.” His life is “tattooed with memories” of loss and pain that he hopes to overcome.

David suffers from alcohol addiction and high blood pressure. He asks you to pray for his health, his friend Mike who has COPD, his friend Gator who lives nearby and all his other friends on the street. He says, “Knowing people are out there praying for us will help me keep my spirits up.”

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Sharkeyma B. - Prayer Candidate 167

2010-03-03T16:40:00.002-06:00

Sharkeyma is 19 years old and was originally from New York, before coming to Alabama to live with her grandmother at the age of 7. Sharkeyma left NY because she was the victim of severe child abuse, which contributed to the mental health problems she began experiencing as a child. By the time she was 13 Sharkeyma was in the custody of Alabama DHR, where she went through some very difficult teenage years. In June of 2009 she aged out of the DHR system, which meant she was left with no financial support, no insurance, no high school diploma and no job skills. Within a matter of weeks Sharkeyma found herself homeless, and in August she discovered she is expecting a baby. She tried to enroll in the Job Corp Training program, but was told she did not qualify because she is pregnant. She has spent her pregnancy during the coldest winter on record sleeping wherever she could find a place, including underneath bridges and in abandoned buildings. Several weeks ago friends helped Sharkeyma find a place to stay in a dilapidated house in Ensley that has water and electricity but no heat. She, and another homeless person who stays there also, both work for the landlord several days a week to work off their rent.

Sharkeyma has health problems and her pregnancy is high risk. The baby girl, which she plans to name Rihanna Robin, is due in late March or early April. She asks you to pray for the health of her baby and that she will receive a crib mattress, an infant seat, car seat, baby bathtub, blankets, baby clothes, diaper bag, and all the supplies a mother needs to care for a newborn infant. Please pray for her health and safety, as well as the safety of her baby. Also please pray Sharkeyma will experience healing from the incredible pain and loss she has suffered in her young life.

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Ervin M. - Prayer Candidate 166

2010-03-02T00:35:00.001-06:00

Ervin is 55 years old and originally from Greenwood, Mississippi. He has been homeless off and on for most of the past 15 years. Ervin became a colon cancer patient approx. 20 years ago and has survived with a colostomy for the past two decades. He has a sister who is also has a colostomy and is a cancer survivor. In addition to his cancer, Ervin also suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and depression. He sometimes sees and hears things that other people do not see or hear. Large crowds make him feel uncomfortable. This prevents him from feeling safe in a homeless shelter . Ervin is a very quiet, soft-spoken, caring person who enjoys looking after others. He stays in the Smithfield area where he has a regular routine of checking on elderly people who live alone and depend on him to stop by each day. Caring relationships and helping others are the focus of his life.

Ervin currently has shelter in a very old building, but does not always have utilities or heat. Some of the identical apartments beside the building he stays in have already been condemned by the city. He does not know how long he will be able to remain where he is. Please pray for Ervin’s mental and physical health, as well as for the medical supplies that are needed to maintain his colostomy. There is evidence that his cancer may be returning, but Ervin has a great deal of fear of being hospitalized and this fear prevents him from seeking all the medical treatment he needs. He has a strong faith in God and scripture. Please pray for Ervin to feel the peace and serenity of God’s presence and for his ability to access medical care. Pray that he will experience the joy of the Lord each day and be free from fear and depression.

Update: Ervin found the courage to seek medical treatment and underwent an operation to correct the problems with his colostomy. He thanks everyone who has been praying for him and says he feels the strength of your prayers. He is especially grateful to the person who wrote to him. He keeps your card by his bed and reads it each night before he goes to sleep.

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Ginger W. - Prayer Candidate 165

2010-03-02T00:31:00.000-06:00

Ginger is 43 years old and lived in Walker County, Alabama for over 19 years before becoming homeless. Over the past few years she has she has been homeless or living in a house without utilities most of the time. Ginger is very outgoing and has a very perky, bubbly personality. She suffers from addiction and asks that you pray she will have the strength to stay clean and drug free. She has two children who live in Maxine, Alabama with other family members and asks that you pray for her children. Ginger currently stays with another homeless person who has a job and they get lodging in a downtown motel when they can afford the room rent.

Ginger has several health concerns including the need for extensive dental work, and a cyst that she needs to have removed. She asks you to pray that she will get into housing and overcome her addiction.

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Carl "Rick" T. - Prayer Candidate 164

2010-03-02T00:25:00.001-06:00

Rick is 50 years old and grew up in the Brown Springs/East Lake neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. He spent 13 years as a driver for Allied Van Lines and has not been able to find a steady job since losing that position. When he was 4 years old Rick suffered severe head trauma from a fall, and in spite of the fact that he did not regain consciousness for many hours, he was not treated by a doctor. Today a deep v-shaped indention over 3 inches long runs across the crown of his head marking what was obviously a traumatic brain injury. He has never been able to master reading and writing or any type of memorization, and this limits the types of jobs he is eligible for. An abandoned house in the Fountain Heights area is currently where he calls home.

Rick has several health problems including unexplained severe weight loss, chronic intestinal problems, and headaches. He has also fought cocaine addiction for the past 30 years. He says, “I sense a new chapter opening as I feel God working in my life.” Rick credits the prayer of his grandmother, a member of East Lake Baptist Church who died at age 105, with the healing he is beginning to experience. He asks you to pray for his health, his addiction, his 3 adult children and that God will provide for him in some way.

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Joe (Gator) S. Prayer Candidate 163

2010-02-22T01:44:00.002-06:00

Joe is 51 years old and is an former dairy farmer from Ten Mile, Tennessee, half-way between Chattanooga and Knoxville. He and his family used to milk nearly 500 Jersey and Holstein cows each day. He has 11 children that are grown. Joe lives in a camp with 2 tents along the railroad tracks in downtown Birmingham. He provides shelter to others in the homeless community who need a safe place to stay; especially those with disabilities that most people would have a hard time coping with. He says God has given him a gift for working with disabled people. Joe experienced tremendous loss this January when a woman he had given shelter to in his camp, died unexpectedly of pneumonia during the cold weather.

Like many people in the homeless community, Joe has a job. He works for a tent and fence rental company that services large events all over the southeast. He sets up the fence for Alabama football games, the Crawfish Boil, and other type events all over the area.

Joe suffers from arthritis in his knees and ankles. His toes have been frostbitten, so his toe nails come off every time it gets very cold outside. He is missing 5 toe nails right now. He has poor eye sight, and an old pair of bifocal glasses that need to be replaced very badly.

Joe has a tremendous relationship with his Creator, depending on God each minute of the day to guide him and provide for his needs. He asks that you pray for his health and that, “God will give me the strength to keep helping others like I do and keep me safe.”

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Bobbie W. - Prayer Candidate 162

2010-02-22T00:34:00.000-06:00

Bobbie is 25 years old and although she was born in Los Angeles, she spent most of her early years in Birmingham. She is very quiet and shy, and shows great kindness to women in the homeless community. Like many homeless women, Bobbie spent a good part of her youth in the Alabama DHR system. She has serious learning disabilities and struggles with reading and understanding any type of document. Bobby has been homeless since 2006 and has had two children during that time that are in the custody of DHR. She has struggled with addiction in her life, but is very proud to have 6 months of clean time. She is participating in the Shelter Care Plus housing application program at Church of the Reconciler.

Bobbie asks that you pray for her children and that she will one day be able to have a permanent home of her own. Also please pray for healing from all the significant loss she has experienced in her young life.

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Tony A. - Prayer Candidate 161

2010-02-22T00:01:00.001-06:00

Tony is 43 years old and is mentally disabled. Like many people in the homeless community, the breakup of a household and a family left him homeless after a divorce. Tony remained homeless for quite sometime, and has now found a temporary place to stay in a boarding house. He spends a great deal of his time walking throughout the city and often participates in the homeless day program at Church of the Reconciler to get a good meal and see other people.

He has a strong faith in God. For Tony part of his faith walk includes seeking to be at peace and enjoy each day no matter what happens. Please pray for Tony’s health and safety as he moves throughout the city and pray that he will be able to have a permanent home.

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Michael P. - Prayer Candidate 160

2010-02-20T23:11:00.001-06:00

Michael is 44 years old and is originally from Talladega, Alabama. He has spent most of his life as a construction worker building homes and commercial buildings. Michael has a very quiet, gentle personality and shows great kindness to those in the homeless community who are most vulnerable; especially those who have been abused. Michael has been homeless for the past two years and stays with others in an abandoned high-rise building in the downtown area. He is thankful for the good health God has given him and that he is able to take care of himself and others in a homeless environment.

He asks for you to pray that his walk with God will be strengthened, that he will be re-united with his 3 children and other family members, as well as for a job and warm shelter.

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Abraham (Stone) W. - Prayer Candidate 159

2010-02-20T22:01:00.002-06:00

Abraham is 60 years old and is known universally in the homeless community as “Stone.” He was born at Yellow Bluff in Wilcox County and later moved to Mobile, Alabama where he was a star running back at Trinity Gardens High School. He went on to play running back for Tuskegee and eventually played basketball for the US Army during his time in the military. Stone served with the Big Red One at Ft. Riley, Kansas, in Germany and also Vietnam. He worked at many things after the war including 14 years as a Birmingham postman and driving for Mayflower Movers as an owner/operator of his own semi-truck. At one point he owned and managed several semi-trucks which he contracted for over the road transport.

A number of events contributed to Stone’s journey into homelessness. Included among them were a divorce, the loss of his business, and what he describes as “a series of bad decisions” resulting from failing to deal with his anger. Stone walks daily in his faith as he navigates the city. Material possessions are no longer a priority in his life and instead Stone puts his energy into building a sense of community among the homeless. Stone has been living on the street longer than almost anyone out there, and has a high level of respect among those he walks with. He sleeps with a close knit group of homeless people on the docks near the Central Bus Station in Birmingham. Each morning they must move their clothes and blankets to the base of the railroad bridge, covering them in cardboard and plastic to protect them from the weather and then retrieve them just before sundown each day.
Stone asks you to pray first that he stays strong in the Lord, and second for his 80 year old mother who is in a nursing home in Mobile. He would like to see his mother again soon.

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Gary L. - Prayer Candidate 158

2010-02-20T21:56:00.002-06:00

Gary is 55 years old and was one of 8 children raised in the Zion City neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. Gary struggled with school and dropped in and out of high school several times before becoming involved in a vocational program for carpentry. Gary has had several jobs including working 5 years for Bishop Bakery, 4 years for Queen/Restonic Mattress Company and 15 years off and on for Mosely Moving. He has 4 sons and a daughter from his first marriage and 1 daughter who is 12 from his second marriage. Gary became homeless after losing his wife unexpectedly from an aneurism four years ago. He also lost his parents in 2003 & 2004, and he lost a brother unexpectedly in the last few months.

Gary is very introverted and shy, and has suffered from chronic depression and alcoholism most of his adult life. He loves to spend time alone reading. Gary has been homeless for approx. the past 3 years and has entrusted caring for his daughter to his sister until he can overcome the diseases he struggles with. He is a quiet, gentle leader in the congregation at Church of the Reconciler who shows tremendous caring and compassion for others. For the past few years he has lived in an abandoned house, but through the help of volunteers and members of his Sunday School class Gary moved into public housing in February 2009. This is a huge step in his recovery process and he feels some anxiety about it. Gary works through temporary labor services as work is available. This requires him to be at the labor service office by 5 am each morning to stand in line for a chance to be sent out to work. Many days Gary waits but there is no work available.

Gary asks you to pray he will be re-united with several of his children he hasn't seen in the past few years, and that he will be able to re-build relationships with them. He also prays he will be able to get a car so he will have reliable transportation to get a better job.

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Notice of Mourning

2010-02-07T23:36:00.006-06:00

The homeless community mourns a long time member, Jimmy Smith, who died in his van on 2nd Ave. North near Church of the Reconciler on Saturday, February 6, 2010. Jimmy was 69 when he passed away. He had lived in his old grey Ford van for several years, and every time it broke down, a member of the homeless community fixed it for him to prevent it from being towed away. Jimmy was beloved in the homeless community and everyone knew him as "Pops." His health was poor and he didn't like to be in the middle of crowds, so John B. and other members of Church of the Reconciler faithfully carried Pops his meals and brought food, clothing and blankets to him each day from the church as he had need. Pops suffered from both emphysema and asthma. During the cold weather of the past week he contracted a cold/flu-like sickness. The heater in his van was broken leaving Pops with no source of heat during the illness. After several days of cold rain, Saturday was an especially dark cold day, and that is when Pop's body finally gave up the fight. He was found by members of the homeless community who called the authorities. The body was removed and then the police towed the van away. Now the familiar spot on 2nd Ave. that so many homeless people stopped to visit each day sits empty as they mourn. The photograph on the left was taken of a member of the homeless community visiting Pops to check on him less than 24 hours before he died. The photo was originally taken for the purpose of including Pops on this website so that people could be in prayer for him and his health. Ironically, the same picture taken for that purpose is instead being used 48 hours later to post his obituary. Please be in prayer for his best friend, John, and all the other members of the homeless community who ministered to Pops on a daily basis. Thank you to all those who donated blankets, socks, warm clothing and coats in January. A supply of these items were delivered to Pops' van by church members and his final days on this earth were warmer because of the love you sent.

Update: After a news story in the Birmingham News a neice has been located and his family plans to claim his body.

Anthony M. - Prayer Candidate 157

2010-02-02T23:14:00.002-06:00

Anthony is 50 years old and from Bessemer, Alabama, but he also lived in Gadsden and Blount County for many years. He spent several years employed as a millwright for Alabama Power Company working at both the Gorgas and Wilsonville Steam Plants. Over the years he also worked for a paper company, did some carpentry and electrical work and restored antiques. Anthony became homeless about ten years ago after a divorce. He suffers from clinical depression, memory loss and asthma. He lives in a homeless camp with his best friend Billy who he trusts completely to watch out for him. Anthony is a shy man who is always kind and gentle. He asks you to pray that, “The Holy Spirit will be with me and guide me, and keep my spirits high.”

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Randy P. - Prayer Candidate 156

2010-02-02T22:48:00.000-06:00

Randy is 55 years old and grew up in the Roebuck area of Birmingham, Alabama. For many years he worked as a self-employed contractor installing swimming pools all over the city. Randy says he basically wore his body out carrying cement. Now he has 2 rebuilt knees and several bad disks in his back leaving him physically disabled. Randy has also suffered from cocaine addiction for the past 15 years and is in recovery. He has been homeless for the past 2 years and was originally staying by the railroad tracks until his tent burned in an accident. Now Randy receives enough disability income each month to stay in an extended-stay motel room for about 2 weeks and then he spends the rest of the month on the street. During these times he usually stays with a friend in an abandoned building. He makes an effort to help care for his friend Charles who is homeless and has stage 4 colon cancer. Randy asks that you pray he will be strengthened in the Lord and hopes you will include all lost and homeless people in your prayers. He also seeks prayer for his brother Eddie who has just suffered a stroke.

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Gerita B. - Prayer Candidate 155

2010-02-02T22:08:00.000-06:00

Gerita is 41 years old and suffers from severe bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. On the street she is known affectionately as “Rita.” She sleeps under the railroad overpass on 18th Street near the Powell Ave. Steam Plant at night. During the day Rita rolls up her sleeping bag, clothing and personal items and stores them out of sight along the railroad bridge. She spends her mornings participating in the homeless day program at Church of the Reconciler with other friends from the homeless community. A social worker at the church is working to try to help Rita receive Social Security Disability so she will have some sort of income to care for herself. In addition to her mental illness Rita suffers from frequent kidney infections and a pinched nerve in her right shoulder. She asks you to pray for her safety and that she will receive some sort of disability income to care for herself.

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Henry S. - Prayer Candidate 154

2010-02-02T21:18:00.001-06:00

Henry is 50 years old and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He spent six years on active duty in the US Army where he served as a sergeant in Germany, working in fuel delivery. During his service in Germany Henry’s feet were frostbitten and they cause him constant difficulty. There is some risk that they could eventually have to be amputated. After leaving the military he spent some time working as a truck driver and then as a care giver to the elderly. Henry became homeless after losing a job a few years ago. He has spent the last year sleeping in an abandoned car at night. He has multiple health problems including cardio-pulmonary disease, extremely high blood pressure and a shoulder injury which needs surgery. Henry has several prayer requests including prayer for his son, prayer that he will be able to get his veteran’s benefits, prayer for all homeless people and prayer for all who suffer from addiction.

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Rebecca L. - Prayer Candidate 153

2010-02-01T23:58:00.003-06:00

Rebecca is 56 years old and originally from Florida. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army who has served in Germany, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and Ft. Benning, Georgia, over her seven years of active duty. She has been homeless since being released from Hillcrest Psychiatric Hospital in January. Rebecca suffers from clinical depression. She is currently staying at the Salvation Army where her allotted time at the women's shelter will run out on Feb. 12th, 2010. Rebecca also suffers from scoliosis, osteo-arthritis in her left ankle and knee and has a service related injury to her left ankle. She uses a walker to get around the city. Like other homeless people staying in area shelters, Rebecca must leave the Salvation Army at 7 am each morning to be on her own in the city for the day -- no matter what the weather conditions may be. She goes to the homeless day program at Church of the Reconciler to seek shelter in the mornings. Rebecca asks you to pray that God will use her to help others in need. Her personal motto is “Hands to work, heart to God.”

Update: Rebecca was admitted to the overflow section at First Light Women's Shelter when her time ran out at the Salvation Army Women's Shelter. First Light has all their regular beds full, but their overflow section allows women to come in out of the cold at night and sleep on mats on the floor. Rebecca hopes that a regular bed will open up soon and asks your support in prayer for a place in the main shelter.

Update: Rebecca wants those praying for her to know that she has received a regular bed and locker at First Light and is settled in there. She is taking employment readiness classes during her day to prepare her to seek a job. Like many homeless women who must leave the shelters from 7 am until evening, Rebecca has recently been the target of harassment while she is out during the day. Please pray that she will do well in her classes and that she will not be harassed on the street.

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Grady C. - Prayer Candidate 152

2010-02-01T23:37:00.002-06:00

Grady is 43 years old and grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Grady became homeless a few years ago after his mother passed away. Like many homeless people, Grady has a regular job. He works at a downtown seafood restaurant as a maintenance man. His earnings won’t support living in an apartment on his own, so Grady lives alone at his camp in the woods. Unlike most homeless people, Grady does receive health insurance at his job. This is a huge blessing because he is scheduled to undergo open heart surgery at Druid City Hospital near Tuscaloosa during the first week of February 2010. He has nerve damage to his heart that is causing gradual paralysis in his right hand and leg. He is grateful to his mother’s doctor who has made this surgery possible and has arranged for him to recover briefly in a local nursing home in the Tuscaloosa area. Grady asks you to pray that he will be able to return to work after the surgery and that he will get his health back.

Update: Grady thanks God for your prayers and the miracle of his healing. When the doctors ran several diagnostic tests prior to his surgery last week, they discovered the damage to his heart had been reversed and he has regained full use of his right hand and leg. The doctors canceled the surgery and dismissed him. In addition to that, the medical personell that were helping Grady get the surgery have begun to work on getting an apartment for him in Tuscaloosa, and his employer promises to transfer his job to their Tuscaloosa location if the housing comes through. Please continue your prayer for Grady's care and housing.

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Will L. - Prayer Candidate 151

2010-02-01T23:15:00.004-06:00

Will is 53 years old and grew up in the Smithfield neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. He has been homeless for the past two years since he lost his job at the Winfrey Hotel where he worked in both the kitchen and in housekeeping. He now sleeps on the docks across from the railroad tracks near the bus station in downtown Birmingham. Like many others who sleep on the docks, Will has to pack up his belongings each morning and carry them to the railroad bridge across the street so their presence will not draw attention to the homeless population during the business day. This leaves his belongings vulnerable and all of his blankets were recently taken during the day. Will is thankful to God for healing him from a 20 year addiction to crack cocaine. He has been clean since 2004. He asks you to pray that the Lord will bless him and keep him out of trouble. Will also asks that God will give him the opportunity to help others. He also asks you to pray for his cousin who is a stroke victim that has been bed ridden for the past 3 years. Will visits her and helps to take care of her in order to give other family members a break.

Update: Will ended up in the emergency room on March 2nd, with respiratory congestion. The doctors told him he has a light case of pneumonia. He was given medication and released the same day. Please pray for Will's health as he moves around the city and sleeps outside in this cold, wet weather.

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Donald H. - Prayer Candidate 150

2010-02-01T23:10:00.003-06:00

Donald has been homeless for most of the past 3 years. He is a great encourager in the homeless community and always seeks to be a peacemaker wherever he goes. Donald has a tremendous faith in God and credits his mother for being a great prayer warrior that shaped his faith. It has served him well through many troubled times that have included homelessness and incarceration. He feels the fact that, “...my Mom never gave up on praying for me…. is what saved my life many times.” Donald is thankful that he has recently been re-united with family members in his hometown of Gadsden, Alabama, and is no longer sleeping on the street. He asks you to pray for Church of the Reconciler and all people who are trapped in homelessness. Donald believes that prayer is the most powerful force on this earth thanks you for remembering the homeless in your prayers.

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Charles G. - Prayer Candidate 149

2010-01-25T23:41:00.005-06:00

Charles is 52 years old and is originally from Mountain Brook, Alabama. He has been homeless living in camps or other places on the street for most of the past two years. He loves to cook and has worked in a number of area restaurants. In July 2009 Charles was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. He has undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment and will probably be facing surgery sometime in the next few months. Charles suffers from chronic mental illness, including clinical depression. He also struggles with alcohol addiction. Charles lives on the second floor of an abandoned building in the downtown area that he shares with several other homeless people. He loves to read and spends a great deal of time at the library. He also enjoys listening to public radio. Charles asks that you pray for his health as he looks ahead to his surgery and recovery. He also asks that you remember all homeless people in your prayers.

Update: Charles has finally been approved for Social Security Disability and this has allowed him to get an inexpensive motel room in the downtown area and get in out of the elements. He goes this week to see a surgeon about a date for upcoming surgery to remove his tumor. He asks you to pray for his health as he moves forward with his cancer treatment.

Update: In late February Charles had the opportunity to move in with another person who is in recovery from homelessness. This will allow him to have a place to stay while he recovers from surgery which is scheduled in the coming weeks to remove a tumor from his colon. Please pray for a successful cancer surgery.

Update: Charles has an appointment to see the surgeon on March 23rd to make a final decision on whether they will operate or continue with chemo/radiation type treatments.

Update: Charles is scheduled to have colon cancer surgery on April 21st at Cooper Green Hospital where doctors will perform a colostomy. He thanks everyone for the power of their prayers and wants you to know that the size of his tumor has been reduced by 50% during chemo and radiation. He believes this is a result of people praying for him and wants you to know that he keeps every single card he receives.

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Lisa B. - Prayer Candidate 148

2010-01-25T02:55:00.004-06:00

Lisa is 43 years old and grew up in Pratt City, Alabama. Lisa has had a hard life that has included severe addiction, prostitution, and a few months served in prison. After her release she was placed at the Lovelady Center where she entered a Celebrate Recovery Program that helped her to walk out of her addiction. After graduating from the Lovelady Center she was re-united with her husband Michael who is also a member of the homeless community due to the loss of his job. In the summer of 2009 Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. She suffered greatly from the side effects of the chemo treatments for many months. In the fall she learned she would have to undergo another surgery because the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. She is currently recovering from the second surgery and suffering through another round of chemo therapy. Lisa and her husband now have temporary shelter in a downtown hotel. Lisa asks that you pray for her recovery and that she will be able to keep her spirits up through the continuing chemo therapy treatments. She also asks that you pray for her friend Edwina who is also suffering from breast cancer along with the others in the homeless community who are suffering from cancer and other illness.

Update: Lisa has suffered greatly from the side effects of chemo therapy during the holidays, as well as the stress of learning she has cancer in other areas of her body. Christmas is a very hard time for those who are homeless, but for those who are homelesss and facing cancer, it is twice as discouraging. Lisa has been fighting feelings of hopelessness and is now missing. Please pray she will be found safe and be willing to return to treatment.

Update: Lisa has completed outpatient treatment for addiction returned to cancer treatment. She has been drug free for nearly 100 days as of early April. She has reccently rededicated her life to Christ and rejoined her husband. They were able to move into a new apartment in March which they received through participation in the Shelter Care Plus housing program at Church of the Reconciler. Please continue to pray that Lisa will have the courage to face her third round of chemo therapy and that her spirits will remain high.

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Michael (Allen) F. - Prayer Candidate 147

2010-01-25T02:30:00.002-06:00

Michael is 25 years old and originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. He was taken from his parents by Indiana state social services when he was 5 years old and remained in state foster care until he aged out of the system at age 18. By the time he turned 19 Michael was homeless. He has wandered from place to place seeking a place to belong ever since. Michael suffers from bi-polar disorder, anxiety attacks and several other physical problems. He asks that you pray he will find a place he can stay and begin to heal his mind and body. Michael has been homeless living on the streets of several different cities for the past 6 years.

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Notice of Mourning

2010-01-25T01:46:00.011-06:00

The homeless community mourns the loss of Lisa Cobern who passed away in her sleep on January 19th, 2009. She went to sleep among friends in a homeless camp along the railroad tracks west of Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, Alabama that evening. When those living in the camp woke up the next morning she had passed on. Lisa was 51 years old and suffered from alcohol addiction. She was known in the homeless community for her kindness and sense of compassion as well as her cheerful spirit. Those who donated coats, hats, gloves and blankets during the extreme January cold weather will be comforted to know that Lisa was one of the homeless who received these items for her camp. We know these gifts of love made her final time here with us a little warmer and more peaceful. We are thankful to God for the love and joy Lisa shared with those she touched during her time here in the homeless community. She is survived by many friends who feel a deep sense of loss at this time. Please pray for the homeless community as they share their sorrow and grief with one another now and in the days ahead.

Update: Authorities have determined Lisa died as a result of pneumonia. They were able to find relatives who claimed her body. She has been laid to rest next to her mother in Clanton, Alabama.

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Roderick T. - Prayer Candidate 146

2010-01-25T01:15:00.004-06:00

Roderick is 45 years old and has lived most all his life in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been on his own since the death of his grandfather when he was 13 years old. Raising himself on the streets lead to a life controlled by drug addiction. Roderick has been homeless most of his life and in April of 2009 he discovered he has stage 4 colon cancer. After several operations he now has a colostomy and is undergoing chemotherapy at Cooper Green Hospital. He is cared for by his partner who has helped him to survive and remain hopeful. They have a temporary place to stay with a former cancer patient who seeks to help others. His experience with cancer has brought Roderick into a new and vibrant relationship with God, providing him with a great sense of peace. He seeks to share his faith and his testimony with others so that they may learn from his experiences. Roderick asks you to pray that he will grow stronger in the Lord and that the homeless will be able to find jobs and shelter.

Update: Through the hard work of volunteers who just refused to quit trying, medical supplies to help maintain Roderick's colostomy have been donated to The Church of the Reconciler. If you have extra colostomy supplies you would be willing to donate they are needed for Roderick and another colostomy patient who suffers from colon cancer.

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Pokey - Prayer Candidate 145

2010-01-25T00:51:00.003-06:00

Pokey is very mentally disabled and has a severe speech impediment. This makes communication with him limited to trying to understand his basic needs. While we do not know his proper name or how old he is, we do know that Pokey is from Birmingham and has other mentally disabled relatives within the homeless community. He is a type two diabetic and does sometimes have seizures. His feet are severely diseased and may have to be amputated at sometime in the future. He lives on the street sleeping wherever he can find a dry place to lay his head and eats at Church of the Reconciler. Earlier in the fall he was attacked by a group of teenagers who had come downtown one night to victimize the homeless as a source of entertainment. He spent several days recovering from the assault in UAB Hospital. Please pray for Pokey’s health and safety.

Update: Pokey collapsed on February 17th, at Church of the Reconciler and was taken away by ambulance. He has seizures several times a year.

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Chris B. - Prayer Candidate 144

2010-01-24T22:34:00.007-06:00

Chris is 26 years old and grew up in the Hueytown, Alabama area. He studied auto mechanics in high school and finds work pulling motors and transmissions or doing other auto repairs as work is available. As a very young teenager Chris became addicted to heroin while using drugs with other family members who suffered from addiction. He has now spent over a decade of his life as a heroin addict. Over the past year he has successfully fought his addiction through treatment in a local methadone clinic. Chris also suffers from hepatitis C and bi-polar disorder. He has spent much of his adult life homeless, but has recently been re-united with family members who are allowing him to stay with them as circumstances permit. Chris has a growing faith and earnestly seeks to end his addiction to methadone so he may live drug free for the first time since he was a child. He asks that you give him strong support in prayer as he fights to overcome his addiction. Chris also seeks your prayers for the continued healing of his relationship with his mother who is also working to overcome addiction. He has a 12 year old son and asks that you pray he will be able to resume his relationship with his child. Chris is thankful for the power of your prayers in his life.

Update: Chris has just learned of a crisis situation with his mother and asks for your prayers and support during this painful and challenging time.

Update: Chris is thankful for your prayers. For the first time in a long time he has been able to see his son multiple times in the last few weeks and is very thankful for the opportunity to resume their father/son relationship. He asks you to pray he will have wisdom in his walk with his son. Chris is also experiencing some health problems and asks you to pray for his health.

Update: Chris had a seizure/mini-stroke type episode on March 3rd. Paramedics were called, but since he was able to get back on his feet with in an hour of the event, he refused hospitalization in order to work toward getting money to have utilities turned on in the place he is staying in. He also feared leaving to get medical treatment would endanger his ability to continue caring for his son a few days a week. Please pray for Chris' health.

Update: Chris has had a strong improvement in his health and has found some temporary work with a company that provides services for festivals and events during the spring and summer months. He appreciates the prayers and encouragement from everyone who has written to him.

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Gilbert W. - Prayer Candidate 143

2010-01-20T00:26:00.005-06:00

Gilbert is a 50 year old former football player who grew up in the Southtown Projects of Birmingham and played football for Hays High School. His athletic ability allowed him to go on to play football for the Birmingham Steel Dogs and eventually in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. Like many professional athletes, Gilbert became involved with cocaine which eventually became a powerful addiction that separated him from his career and his family. After struggling for many years with homelessness and addiction Gilbert has now been drug free for nearly a year. He has a Class A CDL license and has been working for many months through a temporary service when driving positions are available. The downturn in the economy has prevented him from finding the full-time position he persistently seeks. When he is not working Gilbert volunteers at Church of the Reconciler helping receive donations and ministering to both the homeless and volunteers alike. Gilbert is a constant encouragement to everyone around him and an enthusiastic teacher of the Word. By continually taking the time to pray with other members of the homeless community he helps those who struggle to maintain hope and faith. . Gilbert asks that you pray he will be blessed with a full-time job and that, “the Holy Spirit will put that hunger and that thirst for God’s Word in me each day.”

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Renita W. - Prayer Candidate 142

2010-01-19T23:26:00.000-06:00

Renita is 38 years old and originally from Bessemer, Alabama. She was a restaurant manager for Captain D’s before becoming homeless. Renita has two teenagers, a daughter and a son, who both live with their father. She has struggled with addiction for many years and continues to work to overcome her dependency one day at a time. During the two years she has been homeless she has reached out to care for many others in the homeless community. She is currently taking care of her partner, who is suffering from stage 4 colon cancer. Without Renita’s constant care he would have been unable to survive the surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatment he has received while enduring homelessness. She works each day to give him the strength to carry on. Renita asks that you pray she will be strengthened in the Lord and be blessed. She also asks that you pray for her children.

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Kevin H. - Prayer Candidate 141

2010-01-19T23:03:00.004-06:00

Kevin is 47 years old and originally from Detroit, Michigan. He moved to Birmingham 5 years ago and worked for a concrete company for several years before he lost his job and his apartment. He has been homeless for the past 2 years and has stayed in various shelters and on the street. He has chronic health problems which include cardio-pulmonary disease, a back injury and bi-polar disorder. Ten days before Christmas Kevin suffered a heart attack while riding on a city bus. He was rushed to the hospital where they performed surgery to insert two stints to save his life. He was dismissed from the hospital with no place to go and no way to fill his medications. Through the generosity of a local church his Plavix prescription was filled on Christmas Eve. Another local heart attack survivor who heard about Kevin’s plight is allowing Kevin to stay in his spare bedroom temporarily to recover. He asks that you pray he will be able to continue getting his medications and find a permanent home. He also asks you to pray for his grandchildren that he has been unable to see for several years. Included in this group is a new grandson he has never seen.

Update: Volunteers at Church of the Reconciler have succeeded in finding an apartment for Kevin through the public housing system that is designated for someone with his mental health condition. Other volunteers located furniture and household goods and helped him to move in during the first week of February 2010. Thank you for all your prayers that have contributed to this miracle in Kevin's life. Please continue to pray for him and his health as he recovers from homelessness and his heart attack.

Update: Please continue to pray for Kevin. He is still experiencing heart problems and may have to have additional stents put in. He is also having problems adjusting to his heart and blood pressure medication.

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Sharon M. - Prayer Candidate 140

2010-01-19T22:38:00.000-06:00

Sharon is 41 years old and grew up as a farm girl in the rural Sylacauga, Alabama area. She has two daughters 17 and 19 years old who are living with family. Sharon is both physically and mentally disabled. In addition to having a back injury, Sharon suffers from bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia. Many years ago she began trying to escape the symptoms of her mental illness by using drugs and developed an addiction which she is fighting to overcome. Over her last two years of homelessness she has lived many different places on the street, including the damp underground tunnels of downtown Birmingham and the camp she currently shares with two other people. Sharon says she used to blame all her problems on God, but now has a strong faith and is thankful for the blessings in her life. She asks that you pray she will be able to get an apartment with utilities and that she will be able to contact her children. She also asks you to pray she will find relief from the chronic nightmares she suffers from each night.

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Tim B. - Prayer Candidate 139

2010-01-19T22:13:00.003-06:00

Tim is 50 years old and grew up traveling all over the world with career military parents. Tim’s significant mental health challenges include anxiety and depression. He likes to talk and enjoys writing. He is a diabetic, and like many people in the homeless community, Tim has no teeth. This makes eating limited. He currently has a temprary place to stay in a boarding home and hopes this will continue to work for a while. Tim asks that you pray for his mental health and that he will have a good year.

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Marshall R. - Prayer Candidate 138

2009-11-13T20:12:00.011-06:00

Marshall is 60 years old and suffers from Parkinson’s disease. He is known in the homeless community as “Ray or Shakey.” Up until October of 2009 Ray was still able to walk on his own, but his condition has now deteriorated to the point that he needs a wheel chair. Ray has no home and sleeps on the street wherever he can find shelter. He can often be seen sitting alone in his wheel chair beside the 3rd Ave. North exit ramp from I-65 northbound in downtown Birmingham or near the dumpster beside Church of the Reconciler. Ray asks that you pray for his legs and his ability to get where he needs to go in order to get food.

Update: Ray recently received a card from someone who is praying for him. He was very encouraged and thanks those who pray for him.

Update: Ray's condition continues to deteriorate and he is beginning to experience memory problems. Please pray for him as he spends each day and night out in the weather, mostly alone.

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Rick E. - Prayer Candidate 137

2009-11-13T20:08:00.002-06:00

Rick is 32 years old and originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been homeless for many years. Rick is very mentally handicapped and lives on the street. He is has a large frame and is one of the largest of the men in the homeless community, weighing over 300 lbs. Ironically, he is one of the most childlike people on the street. He always has a happy smile and enjoys being greeted warmly. His communication skills are very limited, so it is hard to gather much information about his history. In the mornings Rick eats breakfast at Church of the Reconciler and participates in the homeless day program until it closes at noon. In the afternoons and evenings he can be seen wandering the streets of downtown Birmingham all alone, waiting for another night to pass so he can go back to the church and stay at the day program. Please pray that he will stay warm and dry this winter. His one personal prayer request is, “Pray that one day I get a job.”

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Charles E. - Prayer Candidate 136

2009-11-13T19:01:00.003-06:00

Charles is 38 years old and originally from South Carolina. He suffers from debilitating levels of anxiety, fear and depression. He is very quiet and spends most of his time alone. Charles has a gentle spirit and is very kind to others in the homeless community. He sleeps among some trees in a park near downtown where the solitude makes him feel safe at night. Charles asks you to pray he will have the courage, strength and perseverance to carry on. He is also in search of some missing school records and he asks you to pray those will be found.

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Jo Anne S. - Prayer Candidate 135

2009-11-09T23:46:00.011-06:00

Jo Anne is 40 years old and lived in Michigan before moving to Alabama 11 years ago. She became homeless when she lost her job caring for elderly patients. Jo Anne struggles greatly with clinical depression, which has lead to problems with drugs and alcohol at times in the past. Jo Anne works very hard to gain coping skills and stabilize her life. She and a friend are currently living in an abandoned car. Her health concerns include diminished hearing capacity and chronic respiratory problems. In addition to this she has a steel rod in her leg with broken screws. She faces surgery soon to repair this problem which could cause her to loose her leg if not corrected. Jo Anne asks that you pray that she will find a permanent home and get stable. She also asks for prayer for Henry, her friend who might have to have his feet amputated.

Update: Through the help and support of volunteers at Church of the Reconciler Jo Anne was able to move into an apartment made available through public housing for people suffering from chronic mental health conditions. The volunteers helped Jo Anne get furniture and move in during the first week of February. The fact that she has stable housing will now allow her to get the surgery she has needed on her leg for such a long time. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped to walk Jo Anne through the process of gaining public housing, getting furniture and moving in. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for Jo Anne over the past few months. Your prayers have made a difference in her life. Please continue to pray for her health and healing and continue to write letters of encouragement to her. She really enjoys getting a card or letter from someone who is praying for her.

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Leslie J. - Prayer Candidate 134

2009-11-09T23:43:00.008-06:00

Leslie is 54 years old and has been homeless for many years. He is a victim of severe paranoid schizophrenia which left him completely unable to function in any group setting. In the fall of 2009 he received mental healthcare through the help of Church of the Reconciler. Now Leslie is able to communicate normally with other people and has a peaceful demeanor. He is even able to smile and express joy. He is a miracle of God’s grace. Leslie asks that you pray he will be able to get Social Security Disability through the help of social workers at the church and find a permanent place to live.

Update: Leslie is showing signs of slipping back into a state of fear and disturbance. He is still communicating with people but his demeanor is changing and there are signs he has stopped taking his medication or that it is not working properly. Please pray for his return to the peaceful, happy world he enjoyed for many months.

Update: Prayer works!! Leslie has returned to his improved mental state and is smiling and talking to people once again. Thank you for the cards and letters you have sent.

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Donnie K. - Prayer Candidate 133

2009-11-09T23:42:00.005-06:00

Donnie is 48 years old and mentally handicapped. He has problems reading because he is very slow. However, Donnie is one of the warmest, most encouraging people in the homeless community. He is a frequent volunteer in the kitchen at Church of the Reconciler. He loves to listen to the radio on his head phones. Donnie walks with a limp and suffers from bad arthritis. He confides that sometimes he feels a lot of despair and wants you to pray that God will help him feel joy and hope. Right now Donnie is able to stay with his cousin and hopes this will continue.

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Tommy B. - Prayer Candidate 132

2009-11-09T23:39:00.003-06:00

Tommy is 43 years old and originally from the rural area between Cullman and Gadsden, Alabama. His family has been fractured by addiction and Tommy has been homeless most of the time since his mother died in 2006. Tommy has never had a driver’s license and his mental challenges limit him to unskilled work. He says the job he has most frequently done is “tearing the roofs off chicken coups.” Tommy is a previous heart surgery patient with a stint and a serious heart condition. He suffers from high blood pressure and takes many heart medications daily. He has 3 children that he has not seen since 2006. Tommy asks that you pray he will be able to see his children again and that God will bring his family back together. He also asks for your prayers concerning his health and a permanent home. There may be an opportunity for Tommy to spend a few months in an old camper for the winter. Please keep this in your prayers.

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Freddie T. - Prayer Candidate 131

2009-11-09T23:37:00.003-06:00

Freddie is 53 years old and has been homeless off and on for 8 years suffering from alcohol addiction. On June the 27th, 2009 he decided it was time to try and walk out of the chains of addiction and entered the A.R.C. Program at the Salvation Army. He has been doing well in the program for several months and his progress is evident through the change in his spirit. Freddie suffers from asthma, chronic bronchitis and high blood pressure. He asks that you pray for God’s provision and healing in his life, as well as a permanent home. Freddie also asks you to support him in prayer as he seeks to “get to know God better.”

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Delbert G. - Prayer Candidate 130

2009-11-09T23:34:00.006-06:00

Delbert is 51 years old and has lived most of his life in a neighborhood known as Sandusky, located in western Jefferson County, Alabama. He became homeless in the fall of 2009 and is in the process of adjusting to life on the street. Like many homeless people he no longer has any family he can count on. He has spent most of his career as a commercial carpet installer and says he has, “laid carpet in almost every building in Birmingham at least once.” Delbert has a bad knee that gives him a lot of trouble. He asks that you pray for his knee and a “good job.” Delbert also asks that you pray he will find the peace of Christ.

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Faith A. - Prayer Candidate 129

2009-11-09T23:28:00.010-06:00

Faith is originally from Florida and is 30 years old. When asked how long she had been homeless, her immediate response was, “Long enough!” In reality she has been homeless for nearly two years staying mostly in abandoned buildings and occasionally in shelters. She thinks she may now have a temporary place to stay this month in a boarding house, but the arrangement does not include food.

Faith is approx. 4 feet tall so she is almost always the smallest adult in the room. This combined with her mental health challenges makes her very vulnerable on the street. Faith is struggling to use the limited resources and abilities she has to bring order to her life. Please pray for her safety and a permanent place for her to stay.

Update: Faith has found a place to stay in a boarding house where she has a very small room. The conditions are not good, but she is off the street and out of the weather for the time being. Please continue to pray for her.

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Titus B. - Prayer Candidate 128

2009-11-09T23:26:00.004-06:00

Titus is 48 years old and has been homeless off and on for a great deal of his life. He was homeless as a child in Brooklyn, NY, and the trauma from that contributed to his struggles with depression, thoughts of suicide and addiction. Titus came to Alabama 24 years ago when he received a scholarship from UAB. He desires to be used to open a camp for homeless, hungry and abused children. He has a son and a daughter at Tuskegee. Throughout his lifetime of struggles, it has remained important to him to make every effort to be a good father. He has a place he is able to stay for the time being, but dreams of a permanent home. He asks for your prayers for an opportunity to start a camp for children, as well as his physical, mental and spiritual well being.

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Rod J. - Prayer Candidate 127

2009-11-09T23:24:00.003-06:00

Rod is 46 years old and currently has a place to stay in North Birmingham. He suffers from gout in his hands and feet. Please pray for his health and his faith.

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Demetrius H. - Prayer Candidate 126

2009-11-09T22:20:00.006-06:00

Demetrius is a 42 year old cook who used to work in a 5 star restaurant called the 42nd St. Oyster Bar in Raleigh, NC. He moved to Alabama in 2000 to care for an aging uncle. He has worked on and off in restaurants in the area as work has been available. He has been homeless for quite sometime and has just found housing in late October. He has frequent problems with bronchitis and is facing a serious surgery on his left eye. Demetrius currently works part-time in the community kitchen and is a frequent volunteer in the kitchen at Church of the Reconciler. He asks for prayer to increase in wisdom and knowledge, as well as to grow in his faith. He also seeks to get a job with the city.

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Glenn C. - Prayer Candidate 125

2009-11-09T22:04:00.008-06:00

Glenn is 54 years old and has spent most of his life in Arizona and Alabama. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he spent five years in aircraft refueling. He has been homeless off and on for the past few years and is currently staying on the street. He is in need of total knee replacement surgery. He also needs a pair of glasses. Glenn asks for prayer for his health needs as well as an increase in his faith. Glenn suffers from depression and is very discouraged in his relationship with God and feels his prayers go unanswered. Please pray that he will find a strong connection with the Lord and experience great redemption and healing.

Update: Glenn is pleased to share that his prayers for new glasses have been answered. He now asks you to pray he will find a way to heat the place he has found to temporarily stay.

Update: Glenn's spirits are much better these days and he is recognizing the things in his life he has to be thankful for such as the love of friend's and the support of those who pray for him. Thank you for continuing to pray for Glenn.

Update: Glenn wants the person who has written to him to encourage him know that he would like to receive more letters and would like to write a letter back to you anonymously through the church if you would like to hear from him. You may email prayforthehomeless.org if you would be interested in corresponding with him.

Update: Glenn has asked for prayers that he will find a way to replace his phone which was recently stolen.

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Allen B. - Prayer Candidate 124

2009-11-09T22:00:00.013-06:00

Allen is 48 years old and is originally from Jasper, Alabama. He spent 7 years homeless and suffering from alcohol addiction living by the railroad tracks in downtown Birmingham. During this time Allen had no idea he was suffering from untreated bi-polar disorder. He has many reasons to be thankful, including the amazing healing God has brought forth in his life. He used to walk on crutches with severe orthopedic problems, suffered a stroke in May of 2008 and survived a jump from a bridge over a river in a suicide attempt a few months later. Since that time he has had tremendous healing and recovery from addiction, the effects of the stroke as well as successful diagnosis and treatment of his bi-polar disorder. Allen has experienced such extensive recovery that he returned to full-time employment in September 2009 in his former occupation as a computer numeric control programmer for industrial laser applications. He now lives in a temporary stay motel, but hopes to be moving into an apartment soon for the first time in many years. He is a regular volunteer at Church of the Reconciler on Sundays. Please pray for his continued recovery, as well as the furnishings and items he will need to set up his new household.

Update: Allen suffered some difficulty with his bi-polar disorder and had to be hospitalized over the Christmas holidays. He has now recovered and is back at work. Please pray for his continued recovery and for a permanent home for him to stay in.

Update: On March 15th, Allen was diagnosed with severe bronchitis and pnuemonia. Please pray for his recovery.

Update: Allen has recovered from the pnuemonia and returned to work. Please pray that he will receive comfort from the loneliness of being in a motel room alone each day after work.

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J.D. H. - Prayer candidate 123

2009-11-09T21:20:00.008-06:00

J.D. is 45 years old and is origianally from Houston, Texas. He moved to Birmingham over 15 years ago to work in a position as an ultra-sonic pipe tester for US Steel. He has spent over a decade of his life in homelessness living on the street due to alcohol addiction. This past year he graduated from a 1 yr. life recovery program and has celebrated over 18 months of sobriety. In October 2009 he moved into a new apartment which he shares with another member of the homeless community who is undergoing cancer treatment. J.D. has worked at UAB Hospital through a temporary labor company for the past 7 months in the maintenance department. He hopes to be hired on full-time soon. J.D. is a constant volunteer at Church of the Reconciler where he is a communion steward in worship. He is always source of wise counsel and encouragement to those who seek recovery from addiction. J.D. asks that you pray for continued strength in his recovery process and increased spiritual discipline in his faith journey.

Update: Over the Christmas holidays J.D. experienced some devastating personal news. After working for many months as a temp at UAB Hospital he was just about to be hired full-time. A few days after attending his new employee orientation seminar he was informed the hospital would be unable to hire him full time because 8 years ago he had a felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance. The job he had worked so many months to earn slipped through his fingers inspite of stellar performance reviews and letters of recommendation from his supervisors. This crushing news caused J.D. to experience a temporary relapse in his addiction . He is now alcohol free again and seeking to find a new job with a company that will hire someone with a previous felony conviction. Please pray that he will find new employment, as well as peace and healing from this experience.

Update: J.D. was unable to find new employment and maintain his recovery. He lost his apartment and is once again living in a homeless camp near the railroad tracks. He is really struggling with alcohol addiction and needs your support in prayer each day. He could really benefit from cards and letter of encouragement.

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Lee A. - Prayer candidate 122

2009-11-09T21:19:00.011-06:00

Lee Allen has been homeless for several years and has suffered heavily with addiction. He has recently completed a drug treatment and rehabilitation program with a faith-based organization. Lee has a part-time job working nights with a cleaning service and is staying in a local mission shelter. Lee's an extremely talented musician and frequently share's his talent with the homeless community by playing base guitar and singing in the praise band at Church of the Reconciler. He also helped form an addiction recovery Sunday School class at the church. Please pray for Lee’s continued recovery and healing from addiction, as well as a permanent home for him.

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Peter M. - Prayer candidate 121

2009-11-09T21:18:00.009-06:00

Pete is married and now lives in a home in the Fountain Heights area of Birmingham. He is happy to finally be in a home that has utilities. Pete and his wife Greer have been homeless off and on for several years, living in both their car and a few homes that had no utilities. They once constructed a make shift house under an overpass made from found wood and discarded construction materials, but it was demolished by the city. Pete used to do survey work. Both he and his wife volunteer regularly helping serve meals in the kitchen at Church of the Reconciler. His bright smile and encouraging cheerful spirit make him a strong leader in the homeless community. Pete is originally from Louisiana but has lived in Alabama for many years. He does lawn and landscaping work when it's available. Pete asks that you pray for his wife’s health. She has heart disease and diabetes.

Update: Pete was hit by a hit and run driver in downtown Birmingham the first week in April. He was able to walk away from the accident but has multiple injuries. He is in a lot of pain and moves very slowly. In addition to this, Pete and his wife lost their place to stay and are back living on the street. He really needs your support in prayer and encouragement at this time.

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Juan C. - Prayer candidate 120

2009-11-09T21:17:00.006-06:00

Juan is has been homeless off and on for the past few years. He works at landscaping jobs as work is available. He speaks a moderate amount of broken English. Juan desires to go back to school to study ministry. Please pray for his health. He has had two previous cornea transplants and is in need of further eye surgery.

Update: As of April Juan has been able to go to ministry school and has recently been licensed and ordained to do ministry for hispanic inmates in local jails and prisons. He also has a home now. He must work to support himself, which means that it would be very difficult for him to have his eye surgery. The surgery would have a very long recovery time, during which he would be unable to work. Please pray for his health and for his ministry to those in jails and prisons. He also asks you to pray that God will send a woman of great faith to join him in his ministry.

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Mike R. - Prayer candidate 119

2009-11-09T21:16:00.003-06:00

Mike Rich has been homeless for several years. During that time he has also served time in jail. Mike has suffered with drug addiction and the losses it has brought into his life. He gets construction or other labor work as it is available, but because he has a felony record he is excluded from most jobs that pay a living wage. Mike has a tremendous sense of compassion for others and has a long history of helping other homeless people, especially those who have no one else to look out for them. Please pray for God’s healing and redemption in his life.

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Billy P. - Prayer candidate 118

2009-11-09T21:15:00.014-06:00

Billy is 55 years old and was born in Birmingham, Alabama before moving to Los Angelos at a very young age.He is a gifted and talented musician who used to play drums for the famous 1970s band the O.J.’s and also worked as a studio musician in Los Angeles. He is also a veteran of the US Army. Now Billy is a member of the homeless community in Birmingham and frequently plays in the praise band at Church of the Reconciler. Billy gets work during the week wherever he can find it. For many years he has slept in a camp with his homeless friend Anthony. Billy suffers with addiction issues and seeks God’s healing in his life. Please pray that Billy will be able to stay dry, healthy and warm this winter.

Update: Billy has just received a note from someone using this website who wanted him to know that they are praying for him. He was very touched by their kindness in taking time to write to him.

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Davie H. - Prayer candidate 117

2009-11-09T21:15:00.008-06:00

Davie is 54 years old and works as a plumber for a home remodeling company when work is available. He is a frequent volunteer at Church of the Reconciler and a stabilizing force in the homeless community when difficulties occur. Davie has made great progress over the past year in his struggle with addiction and continues to work toward increasing his faith. Please pray that Davie will continue to seek God’s healing grace and will continue to develop his leadership skills. Pray that Davie will be able to see himself in new roles and recognize the tremendous potential hidden within him.

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Nicholas B. - Prayer candidate 116

2009-11-09T21:14:00.010-06:00

Nicholas is 46 years old and suffers from extreme debilitating mental illness which is intensified by exposure to alcohol. Nicholas has been hospitalized many times in the past for mental health issues. He has a kind gentle spirit and is very industrious. Nicholas works to support himself by gathering aluminum cans from throughout the downtown area and recycling them. Other people in the homeless community help Nicholas by gathering and saving cans for him to sell. Nicholas is one of the more vulnerable members of the homeless community, so please pray for his safety and health as he struggles daily to create order in his life. He asks that you pray for him to be able to stay warm this winter, to be able to keep his stuff dry and that he will be healed of a bad tooth.

Update: Nicholas was the victum of an assault in December when someone came to his camp and attacked him during the night. He sustained cracked ribs which are painful and will take many weeks to heal.
Update: During the 3rd week of February Nicholas had an accident with his campfire and burned much of his camp under a bridge. His sleeping bag caught on fire and he sustained 2nd degree burns on his leg. This is the 2nd campfire accident Nicholas has experienced this winter. His mental illness makes managing fires and other things that require quick reactions and cautious planning dangerous for him. Please pray for his safety and that his leg will heal without becoming infected.

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Shirley T. - Prayer candidate 115

2009-11-09T21:13:00.010-06:00

Shirley is 56 years old and moved to Birmingham several years ago from Iron City, Tennessee. She suffers from severe mental illness including bipolar disorder and extreme fear and anxiety. Earlier in her life Shirley worked at many different jobs including time spent as a waitress, a bartender, and a cook, as well as working making uniforms at a company called Colinwood Manufacturing in Tennessee. Her favorite job was taking care of elderly people in a nursing home. She lives in abandon homes and buildings with no heat, electricity or plumbing. Shirley has experienced devastating loss in her life including the tragic death of an 11 year old grandaughter who passed away as a victim of domestic violence and the loss of a son who was sentenced to the death penalty in the death of her grandaughter and died in prison. She also has a daughter who is in prison. Shirley is sustained by her faith, and says, "I know God has a purpose for me on this earth and I hold onto that." The things Shirley seeks in life are simple, "I want a home, peace of mind and to help others," she shares. Shirley asks you to pray for her mental health and for a warm, safe place to stay. Also please pray for healing from the tremendous loss and domestic abuse Shirley has suffered in her life.

Update: On Valentine's Day Shirley collapsed on the street and was taken by ambulance to UAB Hospital. She had been experiencing vomiting and diarrhea for a few days and then while walking up the street she began to have an asthma attack that her inhaler would not control. Please pray for her during this health crisis and pray she will find a new place to stay. The abandoned house she is now sharing with another homeless person is no longer a safe place for her to be.

Update: Shirley remains in UAB Hospital and has been transfered to the psychiatric unit. She has been undergoing testing and evaluation to see if she can be included in a special program for mentally ill patients called REACT. This program provides medically supervised housing with support services for mentally ill patients allowing them to live in the community within safe parameters. Shirley qualifies on paper for the program, but because she is homeless and has no family to walk her through the system she may fall through the cracks and not be able to navigate all the months of qualifying appointments. Please pray that the doors will open to get Shirley out of an abandoned house and into this program that would provide her safety and an opportunity for mental health care that would give her the "peace of mind" she has prayed so hard for. Any cards or letters of encouragement Shirley receives will be delivered to her at the hospital by volunteers at Church of the Reconciler.

Update: Shirley was released from the hospital on February 25th. They were not successful in getting her into the REACT program, so Shirley is back on the street again. Please pray for her health, safety and a place to stay that will be a home of her own with support services.

Update: Celebrate!! Through the help and support of a volunteer at Church of the Reconciler Shirley was accepted into the UAB REACT program and placed in an apartment in mid-April. Please pray for Shirley as she makes this transition after 6 years of homelessness into living in an apartment. This adjustment is a challenge for most homeless people and she will need your prayers and encouragement.

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Angie F. - Prayer candidate 114

2009-11-09T21:12:00.009-06:00

Angie is 39 years old and is originally from Hamilton, Alabama. She has suffered through many different things during the 20 years she has been homeless. In 2009 Angie gave birth to a baby boy after spending most of her pregnancy sleeping in abandoned buildings and under bridges. By God’s grace the child was born very healthy and has been adopted by a family in rural western Alabama. Angie regularly receives pictures and reports of the baby’s progress which brings her great peace. She asks you to pray for her son in his life with his new family and to pray for her as she struggles to create order in her life. Also please pray for Angie’s protection from harrassment as she wanders the streets sleeping under bridges or wherever she can find a place she feels safe at that moment. Please intercede to ask that Angie will be surrounded with people who will have her best interests at heart and who will protect her from evil. Angie wants to thank all those who have sent her cards and letters. Receiving these notes of encouragement from people who are praying for her really lifts her spirits.

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Charles G. - Prayer candidate 113

2009-11-09T21:11:00.003-06:00

Charles is 30 years old and is from DeKalb County, Alabma. He has become homeless in the past year and is adjusting to the grueling challenges of being homeless. He has multiple blisters on his feet and is learning how to survive living on the street and sleeping wherever he can. He asks that you pray he can find work and shelter.

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Shawn M. - Prayer candidate 112

2009-11-09T21:10:00.005-06:00

Shawn is 30 years old and is originally from Jacksonsville, FL. He lives on the street and suffers from torn tendons in his leg from a moped accident last year. This makes walking and standing painful and exhausting. He has an infant son who lives with the child’s mother in another community. Shawn asks you to pray that he will be re-united with his child and that with God’s help he will be able to raise the little boy to know the Lord.

Update: Shawn has been re-united with his son and the child's mother who is now also homeless. The family has spent the last month staying in the Interfaith Hospitality Network which takes only families with children. They reached their time limit in that program a few weeks ago and found shelter with friends for the past few weeks. They hope to get into an apartment through public housing in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray for these parents and their young son.

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Julie S. - Prayer candidate 111

2009-11-09T21:09:00.006-06:00

Julie is 50 years old and has only been homeless most of the time over the past three years. Julie is mentally disabled and suffers from severe bi-polar disorder and cocaine addiction. She has suffered tremendous loss and abuse in her life and is the last remaining member of her family. She has been able to live in an apartment with a growing level of stability for the last six months. Julie asks that you pray for her in her battle with addiction and for the protection of her home. Please pray for God’s provision in her life. Julie spends a lot of time praying for others in the homeless community and those who work and volunteer at Church of the Reconciler. She says that praying is the one thing she can do even when she has no transportation or way to get to the church to see other people. The fact that she has no transportation is a huge problem in Julie's life.

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Anthony D. - Prayer candidate 110

2009-11-09T21:06:00.005-06:00

Anthony is 50 years old and is originally from Tupelo, MS. He has been homeless for a the past few years. Anthony has a very quiet and gentle spirit and is an active participant in Bible studies in the day program at Church of the Reconciler. Anthony has had tremendous progress in his battle with alcohol addiction and has been able to test drug and alcohol free for the past year. He has recently obtained an apartment through Shelter Care Plus program at the church and is setting up house keeping in his new home. Anthony is very excited to be next in line to be hired for an opening at Piggly Wiggly. The number of places he can apply for a job are limited by the fact that he has no transportation and the city bus system doen't go where many jobs are located. There is also no bus service on Sunday. He asks that you pray for this new job opportunity and his continued progress in recovery from homelessness.

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Johnny O. - Prayer candidate 109

2009-11-09T21:05:00.005-06:00

Johnny is 53 years old and suffers from addiction to alcohol. Although he is only 53, his health is that of someone at least a decade or more older. He has difficulty with tasks you would normally take for granted such as being able to hear and interact with automated telephone services or being able to read the telephone directory. Johnny stays wherever he is able to find shelter at night from the elements. He asks that you pray he will find a home and some sort of work, as well as for his health.

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Louis R. - Prayer candidate 108

2009-11-09T21:04:00.006-06:00

Louis is 44 years old and has only been homeless for a short time. He and his wife Linda are both deaf. Louis is able to read lips and communicate with others to some extent; however his wife Linda cannot communicate verbally at all. This deaf couple became homeless when rent increases made housing unaffordable on their very limited disability income. They hope to move into an apartment shortly. Louis has a very serious heart condition and has undergone heart surgery. His wife Linda also suffers from heart disease and has blood clots in her legs. Both of them are on high doses of blood thinners which makes continuing health care for this couple a necessity. They have a very old van which will not last much longer. Louis asks that you pray for their health and for furniture and household essentials to set up a new home.

Update: Through the help of several local Christians, Louis and Linda have been able to move into an apartment in public housing. They have been blessed with furniture and household items. Please pray for God's provision that they will have money to pay their utility bills and other expenses.

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Edwina S. - Prayer candidate 107

2009-11-09T21:03:00.014-06:00

Edwina is 44 years old and is originally from the Pratt City area of Birmingham, Alabama. She has been homeless for a the past several years. Before she became homeless Edwina worked at Morrison's Cafeteria at Century Plaza Shopping Center. She has one son who is 26 years old. In the spring of 2009 Edwina discovered she has stage 4 breast cancer. She underwent surgery in May at Cooper Green Hospital and is currently receiving chemotherapy there. She had to be hospitalized again in September after collapsing at Church of the Reconciler with severe complictions and blood clots from the chemo. She has temporarily found shelter sleeping on the living room floor in her sister's home. Her sister is currently unable to work because of her own health problems, so it is a constant struggle for them to keep utilities turned on to the home. Edwina asks your prayers for her health, her son, a warm, safe place to stay and also for her friend Lisa who is battling stage 4 breast cancer.

Update: Doctors have discovered Edwina's cancer has spread to her lymph nodes and she will have to undergo surgery to have them removed very shortly. She needs your prayers for her surgery and upcoming radiation treatments.

Update: Edwina's surgery has been scheduled for Wed., February 24th, at Cooper Green Hospital. She asks you to pray for the doctor's and nurses who care for her and for their success as they try to get all the cancer.

To read a Birmingham News Viewpoints story on Edwina go to this web address. http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/12/viewpoints_cancer_always_finds.html

Update: Edwina has recovered from her mastectomy and has been released from the hospital after a ten day stay that included some complications and new information. Doctors have found a new lump that they are concerned about and are investigating to see if it may be cancer. Please pray for her healing and recovery, and that she will continue to be hopeful.

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Leon S. - Prayer candidate 106

2009-11-09T21:01:00.008-06:00

Leon is 52 years old and has been homeless for the past few years. His nickname is Mississippi after his home state. Leon has had tremendous victory and healing in his battle with alcohol addiction. He has been sober for over one year. Leon is a former United States Marine and is employed in maintenance at the VA hospital. He also does appliance/home repairs as work is available. Leon has been approved for a veterans housing program since the spring of 2009, but remains homeless due to a shortage of housing inspectors and other red tape. He needs your prayers for a home and for his health. Leon is scheduled to undergo a biopsy to diagnose possible cancer in his spinal column very soon. Leon has tremendous faith that he readily shares with others.

Update: Leon has had two great blessings. His biopsy came back negative for cancer and he has just moved into his new home after nearly a year of waiting for approval. He feels God calling him to share his story of addiction, healing and recovery, and asks you to pray for him as he looks for ways to do this.

Update: Leon was the victim of a break at new home in early March. Several of his personal belongings were stolen. Please pray for the safety and protection of his home and that these items will be replaced.

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John C. - Prayer candidate 105

2009-11-09T20:55:00.006-06:00

John is 62 and suffers from bi-polar disorder. He has a cheerful disposition and sparkling eyes. He also suffers from painful arthritis in his shoulders which keeps him from being able to carry very much food at once. John also has a fractured right foot that didn't heal correctly. This prevents him from being able to walk long distances. He receives a small Social Security disability check each month which is not enough to pay for an apartment, food and medicine, but it does give him enough money to stay in a vey small old downtown motel room for most of the month. He doesn't have a home, but at least he's able to stay dry and warm most of the time. John asks that you pray for his health and for the health of his friend Charles who is suffering from cancer.

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Richard D. - Prayer candidate 104

2009-11-09T20:30:00.004-06:00

Richard is 51 years old and is homeless because he has Huntington’s disease. On the street he is known as "Ricky." As his disease has progressed it has become difficult to control his basic motor functions and walking is around the city is a daily struggle. Much like Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease is both progressive and inurable; which means Ricky stays wherever he can make it to and to find shelter each night. He hopes to become eligible for some sort of assisted housing. He asks you to pray for his health and that he will be able to stay dry and warm this winter.

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Melissa R. - Prayer candidate 103

2009-11-09T20:22:00.004-06:00

Melissa is 23 years old and has been homeless for quite some time. She stays in an property with no electricity or running water. Melissa is fighting a battle with addiction and is very proud that she has been clean for several weeks. She has a son who lives with her mother in another community. She asks that you pray for healing in her battle with addiction, as well as for her son. Melissa also seeks your prayers for her friend who joins her in the struggle to overcome addiction.

Update: Melissa attended a memorial service at Church of the Reconciler in the 2nd week of February and appeared to be in very good spirits and healthy. When she found out people were praying for her she expressed her sincere appreciation and asked for continued prayer.

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Derrick H. - Prayer candidate 102

2009-11-09T20:20:00.003-06:00

Derrick is 42 and stays wherever he can. He has a wonderful smile and constantly encourages others. He is a daily volunteer in maintaining Church of the Reconciler. Derrick asks that you pray for God’s direction and guidance in his life at this time. He also requests that you pray God will bless him with a sound mind and good health.

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John B. - Prayer candidate 101

2009-11-09T20:13:00.011-06:00

John is 47 years old and grew up in the Tarrant City, Alabama area. He has been homeless for several years since the loss of a job. He lives in his car which is usually parked next to a van where his friend, Pops, lives. Both of them sleep with their vehicles parked near Church of the Reconciler because they feel safer near the church. John does repair and maintenance work as he is able to find it. He volunteers in the kitchen at the church and helps with the maintenance of the building. John asks you to pray that God will provide for him this winter and for his mother who is in failing health. He also asks that you pray he will receive some tools to work with as most of his were stolen.

Update: John's mother has developed an aneurism that is 3-1/2 millimeters in diameter and threatens her life. He asks you to pray for her healing.

Update: Please pray for John who is overcome by grief at the loss of his best friend, Jimmy Smith, on Saturday, February 6th, 2010. Jimmy was elderly and John was the primary person in the homeless community who looked after his needs, bringing him food, clothing and blankets. Jimmy lived in an old grey Ford van and John lived parked next to him in his own car for a number of years. Pray that others will walk in compassion and love with John during this painful time of loss.

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