Mondays with Clifford

Today at 11 a.m, one of God's angels returned to Him after completing his assignment here on earth. His name was Clifford Oneal Spears. I met Clifford about a year and a half ago through a homeless ministry. This ministry feeds and clothes the homeless on the streets of downtown Tampa, but also is a spiritual life-link for many.

Clifford, we came to see, was not your average homeless person. Through a series of unfortunate events, of loosing his business and home, he was promised a new start in the Tampa area and after arriving here was thrown out on the streets by one he had considered to be a friend. Clifford was like that. Very trusting of others and one of the most selfless persons I've ever had the privilege of getting to now. He began coming to our church, joined as a member, became part of our praise and worship team and a faithful member of our congregation.

He was also an evangelist. There was not a person he met that he did not share with them the love of Jesus Christ and invited them to church. In fact a great percentage of our visitors came through Clifford.

He was a simple man with a simple childlike faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and he unknowingly touched so many lives.

Besides seeing Cliff at church services, he became involved with the same ministry that was serving him. He became one of the Praise team members for Amazing Love Ministry on Monday nights. He loved worshiping the Lord.

As we walked this journey with him when he was told he had cancer, we became frustrated by the many atrocities committed against the homeless by the home-owning society. From the lack of proper medical care, the "red tape" of getting him proper treatment, medication and shelter was frustrating for us. But Cliff never complained, he never blamed God or others for his situation. I never once heard him say "Why me."

He taught me how to continue to give God glory by the life I live, even when walking through the darkest of valleys.

He taught me to me kinder to others and not to get too jaded by all of life's negativity.

He taught me that love is always the answers and the antidote to give away freely, even when those you're giving it to is so undeserving.

He taught me how to trust God more by having "simple faith".

Clifford was a part of our missions team ,to Jamaica this year, even though he could not make the journey at the last minute because his condition worsened.

Clifford who did not have much earthly possessions was extremely wealthy in godly character. He who had so little to give desired to give what he had to the Jamaican people.

Clifford never had much because he was always giving away what he had to those in need.

I am honored, privileged and changed by knowing him. I thank God for giving him to us and for teaching us through his life.

I thank God for Mondays with Clifford.

I left piece of my heart in Jamaica

I've just returned from our third missionary trip to Jamaica where we continued work on the construction of the medical clinic our church is building there. All I can say is "To God be All the glory for all the great things He's doing." We got so much work done as the missionaries and the locals worked side by side in wondrous unity, teaching and learning from each other.

My greatest joy, though are the lives that are slowly being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit as He works through our relationships. It was difficult leaving the people I've grown to love like my own family and who have official adopted me as a fellow-Jamaican.

The needs there are so great and so profound that I wished I could have stayed longer to help more. The people here in Bunker's Hill, Clarendon is so appreciative of the help we're giving but we need more people to join us and help in different areas, especially amongst the young adults, some of whom are illiterate, without jobs and frustrated. Teenage pregnancy is extremely high in this and surrounding areas.

Another highlight for me was visiting at a boy's orphanage and presenting them with books, clothing, brand new sneakers, and different sporting balls for soccer, football, basketball etc. Watching our missionaries and local church members play a game of soccer with those boys was extremely enjoyable.

I'm praying that the Lord opens the doors to take a team of Youth pastors/leaders and motivational speakers there before the end of the year to stimulate the youths into God's purposeful plan for their lives.

I want to do so much to reach them for the glory of God.

Jamaica, you have won me over time and again.