JOE: Hey, I am Joe Jordan. Welcome to
Fred Jordan Missions. Again, we're on the
rooftop, another beautiful evening here at the Mission,
and today we want to share with you a few things.
I've got Gina sitting next to me, and of course Cristy, part
of team Jesus here. And we just want to share something with you
that'll hopefully encourage you today talking about just heavy
loads. Have you ever been heavy laden with a heavy load and you
just feel like, man, someone needs to unhitch that load
because I don't need to pull it around anymore? Well, I know we
can all feel that way, and if you're with a heavy burden or a
heavy load today or just feeling overwhelmed with something, we
want to encourage you. And we're going to start with God's Word.
Galatians 6:2 says this, bear one another's burdens and so
fulfill the law of Christ. And that's what we're going to talk
about, how we as Christians can go alongside of those who are
heavy burdened, that have a heavy load, and lighten that
load. We can't take away other people's burdens and their load
and just remove it. God's able to, of course. But as God's
children and those that are called by God right here to bear
one another's burdens, we can help carry the load. We can help
them as they're going through their burdens, their storms and
their trials. And what I like is when we bear one another's
burdens and go alongside of them as they're struggling, it might
be in sin, it might be in a trial, a temptation, a struggle
with whatever they're facing, whether it's health or finances.
When that heavy load is upon them, we can step in and we can
help carry it and make a difference. How do you kind of
feel about that and when people come into your life when you
have a heavy load and help you carry it?
GINA: Yeah. Well, you know it's like I have been
in a situation of with a girlfriend who actually
lost a son. I mean, that's like the heaviest
of heaviest loads. And of course I wasn't equipped. I
didn't know, I didn't have the right words. I didn't know what
to do. We were both navigating this horrific situation
together. But what I did learn through that was just to stand
beside her you know, call every day just to listen. Sometimes we
always want to feel like we've got answers, but you know what?
If you don't have the answer, that's okay. Just stand next to
that person and carry that burden with them. Just be beside
them and be with them on that journey. And the same with me
when I've gone through situations, just having that
friend come alongside and just say, I haven't been through that
situation, but I'm going to be here for you. And to have those
words of encouragement again, our words bring life or death
and so to speak, life over that situation is one way that we
can carry a burden for our friend.
JOE: And I think so many times people
think or we as Christians think that
we have to get in there and really fix it and everything
else, but it's not for us to go and fix it all. But we need to
love people through their burdens and those heavy loads. I
remember a couple of pastor friends of mine have passed away
in the last year or two, and I think the way I went about it
was just letting the wives know that we're here, we love 'em or
praying for them, and if there's anything they need, just reach
out. But we weren't overbearing. We didn't go and sit at their
house every day and everything because sometimes we can
overwhelm people when they're carrying a heavy load by trying
to interject yourself too much or fix something. And when you
have a loss, people need to grieve through that time. But we
do need to be there for them and help carry that load. And we can
do it in a way that isn't offensive. But remember, the
Word never tells us to fix it. It just says to step in and help
carry it. So Cristy, have you been there for a friend or a
friend been there for you when heavy loads and burdens kind of
were weighing on you in your life?
CRISTY: Yeah, you know I think it can
be as simple as just a word of encouragement
that absolutely lifts that burden that we are facing.
So many times, the friends that have made the most
impact in my life, they haven't helped me practically or fixed
my situation. Instead, they've sat with me in silence. Right?
That's a way you can help someone or you could just tell
them, hey, don't give up. It's crazy when someone just tells
you, hey, if you fail in what you're about to do, I'm still
going to be there for you. How much peace that gives you and
how much encouragement that gives you to go for the thing
that you're scared to do. And so I think so much of it isn't
always practical. Of course, we can help people practically. We
can help the poor practically. We can give aid or money or
whatever it is, but so much of carrying each other's burdens as
Christians and as walking with God with other believers is
simply either sitting in silence with them, simply telling them,
hey, I'm here for you, no matter if this goes south or if you
succeed, I'm going to be there to see you through. And I think
it's something so powerful when I look back at it. Yeah,
JOE: Absolutely. Just a hug helps sometimes just holding
their hand and just sitting there.
GINA: To be tenderhearted with one another and
just sit and listen and have that tender heart.
JOE: You know I think a lot about
it nowadays, more than ever. And God's always given
me a heart of compassion, but I've realized that we all, it
doesn't matter how much compassion we have, we all need
to just have more compassion towards one another, don't we?
GINA: Yeah, that's right. This is my
commandment that you love one
another, that love and compassion. And of course your
mother, Willie Jordan was just that our mother Teresa, if you
will, here on Skid Row and she had a heart of compassion
for those hurting here on Skid Row such as yourself. You
had a good teacher. JOE: Yeah, for sure.
CRISTY: It's so true. I always think
of your mom when I think of the word
compassion. For some reason she just had such a heart for
the poor and just left such an example of a legacy for us to
fall. And you often say compassionate and action. And I
always think of that with Willie Jordan. It's just like she
was compassion. I mean, so was your father, but she just
implemented that so well and like yeah.
JOE: And I try to follow that because
it's just so important to be compassionate towards
people and their situations because when someone's
carrying that heavy burden and that load, that's
just overwhelming. They need that extra love. They need that
extra compassion. And it's our responsibility, I believe, as
believers. And it says it is that we need to choose more
kindness, choose more mercy, compassion and generosity so
that we can help people through those times. And again, it's not
always just jumping in and trying to fix something. It's
just being there for 'em. GINA: Come alongside.
JOE: Yeah, just walking with them.
GINA: And unfortunately here on Skid Row,
people will ask me, why do you help
the people on Skid Row? They can be very judgmental over
them and their situation, and that's not our job to judge that
situation, but to have the compassion and that tender heart
to meet them where they're at, just like Jesus meets us right
where we're at, come just as you are. And that's what Fred Jordan
Mission here is all about, is just opening the doors of love
and compassion to those here on Skid Row and it's been
life-changing for me. And to see the people on Skid Row when you
start talking to them, yes, we give them food. Yes, we give
them clothing, but when you ask them what else they need, I'm
telling you, I get blown away every time. Just a hug, a smile.
The best things in life are free. And it's true. It's just
that compassionate and tender heart toward one another.
JOE: Exactly. And you know it's so important to just listen
and pray too for them. You know someone that prays for you and
you don't even hear it maybe or know when happens, but you know
someone's praying for you. It means so much.
GINA: That's such a comfort.
It is. It's such a comfort. And I was thinking
about it before doing this show with you guys and sharing this
with our viewers, that none of us were meant to walk alone. We
weren't meant to be alone. We're meant to be in fellowship and
communion. And you know if you think about it as Christians,
especially if you have that haughty or judgmental attitude,
I know I used to see it all the time. We'd have men that would
come in through our program, so they were on the street
yesterday, let's say, and whether they were doing drugs or
not or drinking or not or just out of their minds or not or
whatever, they would be out on the streets. They'd come into a
chapel, they'd accept Jesus. They would come in, they'd
shower and shave and get new clothes and fresh shoes and
everything, and they look great and so much different. You're
like, whoa. I mean, it's a transformation. And then Jesus
is transforming them, but it's a day or two into it or three or
four days into it, then we'd have 'em work the front desk
giving out food and water and clothes and be a part of the
services and everything. And I remember watching, I mean, this
is like 35 years ago when I first went full-time here at the
Mission and I'd be watching, and some of these guys were so
judgmental, they got all high and mighty and haughty because
now they had a bed at the mission and now they had their
own clothes and they smelled good and they looked good, and
they got Jesus in their heart. And now all of a sudden they
were better than the people on the street. And I go to 'em and
be like, guys, you were that guy yesterday. Why are you treating
him so bad? And you know I was amazed that it's just we as
Christians, when you find Jesus can then use that to be so
judgmental when think about it, if Jesus was like that to us, we
wouldn't have had a chance to know him. He would've never died
for us. But He knew we were all a bunch of crazy knuckleheads
and that would sin against Him. And He loved us enough to die
for us while we're yet sinners. The Bible says, so if you're
viewing today, and I just want you to know as a Christian, be
careful because we've all sinned and fallen short. The Bible
says, so have more compassion on others and their situations and
we just need to try not to be judgmental because I know this
Jesus isn't judgmental over us. Yes, one day we will give an
account for our actions, and if we don't know Him, we will be
judged and sent to hell. But if we know Him, how much more love
and compassion should we have towards our neighbor or someone
that we know that's having a burden, the homeless, to lift
them up in their time of need and help carry that load to be
the hands and feet of Jesus? We'll be right back.
ANNOUNCER: Today as we look all around,
no matter where we are in life, more
than ever, we see needs, great needs, hopeless, hurting,
desperate people. And what we would typically see on the
streets of Skid Row, we are now seeing in every city, every
community, and in every neighborhood. Hunger is no
respecter of persons. Willie Jordan says, hunger never takes
a day off. For those of you during this unprecedented time
of history who are doing good, then we ask that you would
generously give to those who are not as fortunate. So many from
all walks of life are hurting. Will you extend a hand of mercy
to help them in their greatest time of need? Your most generous
gift is needed. Go online to give fjm.org. Whatever the
amount, great or small, your donation is greatly appreciated.
ANNOUNCER: Join the conversation by connecting with us on social
media. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more.
Visit us at social.fjm.org.
JOE: Well welcome back. Everything's live
here at Fred Jordan Mission. We're on the
rooftop and right behind us, there's all kinds
of sirens going off. I don't know if it's an ambulance,
I don't know if it's a fire truck or both paramedics, but
it's somebody who has a burden right now, whether it's a health
issue, a drug overdose, something is going on behind us
and it's just a block away. And so Jesus, I pray that whoever is
going to be rescued, that those great first responders will
rescue 'em. But most of all, I pray Jesus, that you will rescue
them and they'll come to know you. But as we're talking about
this heavy load, heavy burdens helping carry the Bible's clear
here that we need to help carry each other's burdens. But one
thing that I kind of read and studied and all this is that we
got to be careful not to reside and park in their burdens as to
cause us to have those burdens become ours also, because we can
feel the weight of the world and the brokenness of somebody that
we help, but we always need to remember that we just, when we
feel the weight of their brokenness, that we have to
really give it to Jesus. And we can't take it all on ourself
because it's already hard enough that they're struggling through
it. Yes, we want to help carry it, but we can't adopt it and
adapt it and bring it into our life and then have it cause us
heartache. If we take all of their burden or try to, then how
are we going to help them as they're struggling through it?
It's kind of like if you have a broken leg, how are you going to
help the other guy with a broken leg? If you're not healthy, how
can you help the person that's not healthy? And so back to the
guys that I was just sharing with the minute ago that would
work out of the front, they'd come into the program, they'd
get themselves cleaned up, and then they'd be so critical and
judgmental. And I remember just being able to teach simple
stories about now that you have Jesus, now you have to represent
and act like Jesus would act. How was it when Jesus looked at
you, when you were in the chapel all out of it and everything
else? How did He look at you? Did He criticize you? Did He put
you down or did He lovingly draw you and call you in? And He did,
He loved them. And so again, we just have to be really careful
with that judgmental attitude. And then those of you that are
watching, maybe you're not a Christian, but you've had
Christians judge you. I'm just here to tell you today, all of
us have sinned. We've all made mistakes. We're not perfect at
all, but we serve a perfect savior, Lord Jesus Christ. And I
just want you to know, if you've been hurt by a Christian or a
Christian hasn't been there for you and loved you through
something or carried a burden, then just pray and ask God to
send the right one because there's a lot of Christians out
there, and we want to be Christians that represent Jesus
properly and carry each other's burdens. And so Gina, how can
people get involved? How can they help us to reach all of
those burdens that we see on the streets of Skid Row every day?
GINA: Oh my goodness. Just go to fjm.org and
see how you can get involved. The needs are so great
here on Skid Row. We need your financial help.
We need your prayers. We would love for you to
come down and volunteer. There's hundreds coming to Skid
Row literally by the day things are worse than ever. We are
celebrating our 80th year this year, and so we'd go from 44 to
24. That's right, 80 year celebration. And so we want you
to come alongside of us, be a part of the wonderful things
that we're going to be celebrating this year. And so
yeah, just go to fjm.org. We need your financial support.
So we would really appreciate that.
JOE: And Cristy, how can they get involved? We do a
lot of social media and we try to put out there
what we do, and a picture is a thousand words and says
a lot. And so how can they see that?
CRISTY: Yeah, we would love to connect with
you on social media. We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
and more. Alls you have to do is search Fred Jordan
Missions or FJ Missions, and you can connect
with us there daily and just see what we're doing at the Mission.
GINA: It's a fun community over there.
CRISTY: It is so fun. But you know, we
also started something last year where
you can sign up to get a text from Joe and just a sweet
note of encouragement. We've received so much feedback on
what an encouragement it is for people, especially when we're
talking about always carrying heavy burdens. This can help
lift that burden because it reminds us of truth found in
God's Word. It gives us a word of encouragement. So if you want
to sign up to get daily Bible verses and encouragement from
Joe, alls you have to do is text the word Bible to
(626)-314-7703 or just scan the QR code below.
JOE: Yeah, that's awesome. So Gina,
what would you say to our viewer
today who doesn't have another Christian or a Christian in
their life that is there to help 'em carry their burdens and how
can they know or how can they go to God and let God carry
their burdens? Because He carries our burdens even
better than we do for each other.
GINA: The Bible tells us, cast your cares on the Lord
for He careth for you. And the Bible's
the beautiful love story just for you,
your personal own love story and just you don't need
someone else to tell you. I mean, if you have friends and
they encourage you in God's Word, that's wonderful, but you
yourself can go right to His Word and it's just a beautiful
love story like I said. And you can just go through scripture
after scripture and it will just fill your heart. The joy of the
Lord will become your strength. You will know that you can do
all things through Christ, that He will not leave you or forsake
you and will be with you every step of the way. So you don't
have to carry that burden or that situation or go through
that situation by yourself. He's with you every step of the way.
JOE: Absolutely. And God promises in
His Word that He will be with us to
the very end of this age, and then after this age in this
world, it won't matter because we'll be with Him in heaven
because we know that absent from these bodies as believers of
Jesus who have been bought by the blood, saved by His grace,
we will be with Him in heaven, which is just an awesome,
awesome thing to know that we can hold on to. But being the
hands and feet of Jesus, Cristy, how can we help those
generations behind us that are struggling with everything
they're struggling with identity, and who are they and
why are they here and what's my purpose and do I have a
purpose and do I have a place in this world?
And what is my place in this world?
CRISTY: Absolutely. Yeah, I think it's
as simple as just being a good friend. The Bible
says what our purpose is, it's love God with your
whole heart and love others as yourself. And I think it's so
important to remember that especially when we're trying to
lift the burdens of those around us, that if we take it too much
into our own hands where we want to fix them and we want to
almost credit ourselves as being able to fix them, that's when we
end up hurting others. That's where church hurts gets created.
And so I would just encourage anyone growing up, I took it way
too seriously and I tried. I thought it was up to me to fix
people, and it wasn't was always up to God, like God will never
stop pursuing people even if we stop, if we stop trying to lift
their burdens, God will never stop. So it was always up to God
and it still is up to God. So something I heard recently,
which I thought was worded perfectly, it was such an
encouragement to me, it said, you are not the judge, so it's
not up to you. He said, it's up to you to partner with God's
heartbeat. And I just thought that was such a beautiful way of
putting it that I want to partner with God's heartbeat
with what God is already doing in that person's life because
everyone is on their own journey and we can't fix their or lift
their burdens within a certain timeline. Alls we have to do is
show up and be a good friend. So as my generation or other people
are struggling with identity, with purpose and all these
burdens, I would encourage us to just try and be good friends
that the biggest difference you can make in someone's life is
your own character, is how you show up for others, is how you
become a kinder person. Instead of trying to make them more
kind, you try and become more kind. I love the quote that
says, if you want to change the world, change yourself. And so
that's what I would encourage. It's like, look to
God's Word and start changing yourself and
you'll start affecting those around you.
JOE: And the cool thing is, is that God's
Word makes it very clear. We're not capable
of changing ourself, but He is and He wants to,
right? And so all we need to do is go to God's Word, let Him
change us from the inside out. He's faithful. He will do that.
One last verse here, Galatians 5:1, it says this, it is for
freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do
not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. If
you're feeling burdened, if you don't know Jesus, if you feel
like that yoke of slavery and you feel bound and chained,
Jesus can free you from all of that. All you have to do is
trust Him. If you know Him, then just go to Him and say, Jesus,
break these chains in the name of Jesus and He will. He wants
to break those chains because he doesn't want any of His children
bound up. And if you don't know Jesus, all you have to do is
receive Him. The Bible says, if you believe and you receive
Jesus and that free gift, you'll be saved. You believe by simply
saying, Jesus, I believe in you. Come into my heart. Come into my
life. Be my Lord and Savior. Forgive me of my sins and I want
to follow you all the days of my life, and you can be saved. It's
that simple. God made a way through Jesus for us to know Him
and have a relationship with Him today. If you need Him,
cry out to Him and He will meet you
right where you're at. God bless you.
JOE: Here at Fred Jordan Missions, every
day we see all types of people. I remember as a kid,
my father, Fred and my mom, Willie, teaching
me a song about Jesus loves the little children of the
world, red and yellow, black and white. We are all precious in
God's sight. I still know that song. I taught it to my
children, and that's exactly what we see here at Fred Jordan
Mission every day, red and yellow, black and white, every
single person that you could think of from children all the
way to seniors are here on the streets, living in LA, and they
come to our doors to be loved on, to be shared with that Jesus
loves you and Jesus saves. We hand out water, we hand out
drinks, we hand out snacks. We preach the gospel. We have hot
meals, we do special events. But if you want to know who comes
through our doors, it's all of us. There's no certain person,
there's no certain look. But like I said, in that song, red
and yellow, black and white, we're all precious in God's
sight. That's who we see here every day at Fred Jordan
Mission. People from all around this country that end up on
these streets can come through our door, and we will serve
them as we declare and demonstrate
the love of Jesus to those in need.
ANNOUNCER: Join the conversation by connecting with us on social
media. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more.
Visit us at social.fjm.org.
JOE: Well welcome back. As we close
today, I just wanted to give you an
opportunity to be a part of Fred Jordan Mission, 80 years of
serving Jesus by serving those in need. It's been an honor to
be a part of it. It's an honor to continue to be a part of it,
and we love being able to serve God by serving others.
But how can people give and how can
people be a part of the growing needs?
GINA: Just go to fjm.org and you will
find out all the ways that you can get involved
with our celebration this year of 80 years,
and how you can help us financially. Every penny will go
to serving those that are hurting hungry here on Skid Row.
So we need your love, support, and prayers.
JOE: And I just love it myself, my
wife and I, and our tithes and offerings we
give to the Lord because He gives so much to us, and
we just know whether we give to Fred Jordan Mission, which we
do or we give at our church or to another ministry, or someone
that's an evangelist that shares Jesus in prisons or wherever the
Lord calls us to give. We just know that it makes an eternal
difference. It's saving souls. It's touching lives, not just
for a moment, not just for a meal, not just for a toy, for a
child at a special day like Christmas, but it's for eternity
as people come to know Christ through us giving to ministries
and to support the gospel work. God bless you.
FEMALE SINGING: When the night comes, and
there's no one and you feel hopeless and abandoned.
Just take my hand and lift your eyes. Change
is coming, love has arrived. We will overcome this
sorrow. We will see the dawn tomorrow. We will soldier on
down this road as we reach for hope, reach for hope.
ANNOUNCER: Please will you join us in feeding
hungry children and their families by phoning today,
(844)FJM-FOOD or donating online, fjm.org?
That's fjm.org or mail your check to Fred Jordan Mission,
PO Box 12345, Covina, California 91722. Please will you help?
ANNOUNCER: The preceding program was sponsored by Generous
Friends and Partners of Fred Jordan Missions.