GINA: Well, welcome to FJM TV. I'm Gina, here with Cristy and
Joe, and we are here at the rooftop of FJM Mission, right on
the corner of Fifth and Towne, right in the heart of Skid Row.
And you guys, the rooftop didn't quite look so nice years ago.
JOE: The rooftop, I mean, I played on the roof since I was
a little boy and it was just basically a big dirty roof with
pipes all over it. And we would fall and skin up our knees and
there was no railing around it. And we were always told by mom
and dad, don't get too close to the side. And we would always
hang over the side and it is six floors
high. So it was a scary place too, but
GINA: A dangerous situation for young kids.
JOE: And so years ago, God just gave us a vision to have a
rooftop prayer garden, have a place to worship Jesus, have a
place for youth groups and through our outreach training
center and the Center for Evangelism to teach people how
to win souls, and do what we do on Skid Row in their
neighborhoods. To be able to come up here and gather at the
Fred Jordan Missions rooftop, that my father preached from all
of those years. And he prayed over the city, and we've
continued and it's one of my favorite places to share God's
Word. I just love being at the top of the city where you can
shout Jesus loves you and it's not just for the homeless, but
it's for the whole city of LA, and pray over it and how awesome
that is. And so we've done that and then Cristy has been with
us and the idea came up, and I'm going to let her tell you about
it, but I'm like, hey, let's pray
for LA and do something. And so...
CRISTY: Yeah, it was so special because we had been putting
together this prayer garden, and I for years now, since I came
aboard, we've been talking, let's do a worship night, to
really just launch what we want this place to represent. Which
is just praying for our city and just bringing students here to
just learn more about what it means to be just the hands of
feet of Jesus on Skid Row. And we're praying for our city and
we're praying for the hurting and the
hopeless, and that's what we're going to do.
JOE: And it's awesome because I just have a message
that I just want to share about history and my dad's calling and
the legacy and how we're going to continue, and teach, and
train others how to do it so the kingdom of God can
grow. So I'm excited about sharing.
GINA: That's so exciting. Well, we're going to hear that message
in just a moment, but share with me a little bit of some of the
things that are on the wall here. I know they really come
from your heart. Declare and demonstrate the love of Jesus.
JOE: Yeah, it's got a little megaphone behind me and kids
can go up there and play like they're sharing through it. They
do their little photo ops and on the other side it's soar on
wings like eagles, just things God put on my heart. On the
other side over here it says, hope served here, because our
motto. And then there's Jesus looking over the city, and
that's an awesome portrait that a lady, she's in heaven now. She
did this whole thing and then she went to heaven. So we miss
her. But her work, and her vision of putting our vision
together came. And then on the backside we have what I used to
call the wall of words, but then I renamed it when I really
looked at it and it's called the wall of truth, and it just got
Jesus and salvation and hope. So all of that is just awesome. But
in just a minute, I get to share the word of God, and what God
has done through the Mission and what he's going to
do in the future and just excited.
GINA: Here's a message from Joe. We'll be right back.
ANNOUNCER: Jesus once said, what you do for the least of
these you do for me, with your generous support, Fred Jordan
Mission has been fulfilling this calling for over 80 years. By
feeding hungry people here on Skid Row. To together we made a
difference. Together, we have given hope to those less
fortunate. And together we have demonstrated the love of Jesus
to those in need. We deeply appreciate your support and, we
ask that you please continue to give to this life-changing
Mission. Go online to give at 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: I'm so grateful that I can share with you tonight. And
yes, sometimes people say, wow, Joe,
I know you ride ]dirt bikes and
you're a college football player and you're a big guy, and man,
you're kind of emotional. And you know what? I'm okay with
that. Because the thing that makes me emotional in sharing
with you, is that I was the prodigal. I had a great mom and
dad. I knew the gospel. I knew, this wall that we had made that
we designed, and put all these words here. I called it the word
wall until I just did a television program with that
behind it and talked about most all of those words. And now I
changed the name. It's not the word wall anymore. It's the wall
of truth. And I knew the truth, and the truth should have set me
free. But you don't inherit salvation from your mom and dad.
You don't inherit it from being Fred and Willie Jordan's child,
I wish, would've been easier. But it's a free gift that we all
have to say yes from Jesus. He knocks on all of our hearts. And
even after 35, almost 36 years of full-time ministry, preaching
the gospel, I remember closing that door a lot. Saying no,
wanting to do my own thing. Knowing the truth would set me
free. Yet, you have that selfish humanity inside that flesh, that
wants to do what it wants to do. But one day, by the grace and
the mercy of God by people and leaders just like you, football
coaches in college. Pastors, youth pastors, and I see so many
pastors and ministry leaders here and friends, and I had so
many who hung in there just like you do with youth all the time,
and you just keep saying, I'm here for you. Jesus is here for
you. He can pull you through this. He'll wait for you, but
make sure you don't wait too long. And finally, I surrendered
it all to Jesus. But I had to say yes. But then I had to say
yes to His calling, His calling of sharing His love, sharing the
gospel, sharing that message, that only Jesus can change us
with the power of the cross. Fred Jordan Mission started in
1944, and it was through a relationship with His friend as
a young boy, Fred Jordan and a man named Carl were friends.
Carl had a child. His ex-wife wouldn't let him visit this
daughter one day, he lost his mind. He got drunk pretty much
for the first time, drank a whole bottle of whiskey, ended
up going to try to see his daughter, this is back in the
thirties in Texas. Took a shotgun with him, thought he
would scare his ex-wife to let him see his daughter. And in a
fit of rage, he ended up not seeing his daughter, but he
killed his ex-wife and her mother. The next thing you know,
he wakes up and he's on a cell floor in Dallas, Texas. He's
being charged with murder for two people. Never did get to
visit his daughter, lost his mind one time, alcohol kills,
sin kills. And one day my dad got to see him before he died in
the electric chair and he knelt by him, and my father said,
Carl, what did you do? What did you do? I don't know, Fred. They
said, I killed my ex-wife and I don't remember I was drunk. What
did you do, Carl? You remember best friend, you're going to die
now, what did you do? He said, I don't remember. Well, what can I
do for you, Carl? You're going to die. You're going to die, and
you're just young twenties and, what can I do? And he said,
well, you live your life for me, Fred? Will you live your life
for me? Because three people are now going to die because of
alcohol. So will you live your life and share with people about
Jesus being the way, the truth and the life because my life is
over. And that cry on that cell floor that night, moved my
father to compassion and to a passion, for lost people and
souls. And it was in that cell where he led Carl to Jesus. And
I believe Carl made a decision, right before he died in the
electric chair and he deserved to die. I mean, if you're going
to kill people, and that's the punishment. He knew it, he
accepted it. But God is big God, and Jesus has a lot behind that
cross and the blood and that resurrection power. And he saved
Carl. Now, my dad's with Carl. And Fred Jordan Mission
continues today because of that death row plea from
his friend. My cry to you, and to the city,
to all of the church leaders, laypeople,
Christians, to all of those ministry leaders, pastors, is
that we wouldn't forget in the midst of discipleship, which is
so important, we have to disciple and teach and train
people in The Word of God. We have to get people to grow up,
to be able to ward off what this world throws at them every day
because there's so much. But we can't forget about soul winning.
We can't forget about evangelism. We can't leave it to
a pastor and a pulpit. We can't leave it to my cousin, Greg
Laurie to do these big things at Harvest. We can't leave it to
Billy Graham because Jesus took him home. We can't leave it to
Franklin. It can't be to just one or 50 or a hundred, or just
pastors. But it needs to be all of us as believers, simply
sharing our faith. And that's what my father did. He started
American Soul Clinic, SOUL Clinic. And it was to train
spiritual doctors and nurses. He didn't want to start another
Bible school. He was friends with Fuller who started Fuller
Seminary. They talked about it. It wasn't a seminary that he
wanted It wasn't a Bible school. There's plenty of places my dad
would say, son, plenty of places to teach preacher boys how to
preach and they need to, but we need a place. And I want to lead
a place that teaches people, Christian people, to share their
faith with lost people. So that they'll become saved people. If
not us, who? If not now, when? We all need to have a heart for
evangelism. And the American Soul Clinic went on for many
years, sent over 500 missionaries around the world,
starting missions, churches, orphanages that are still going
today. But through all of that, it was about teaching the simple
message of the gospel in a way that anybody could tell anybody.
Share your faith, share your testimony. Share what God's done
in your heart. No one can ever argue with that. Teaching and
training young people, youth, laypeople, pastors, churches,
ministry leaders, anyone who wants to just simply learn how
to share their faith, to go out and win souls one soul at a
time. I know this in my heart, God has put in my heart two
words, multiplication and duplication. And those two words
are so key, I believe to this world and where we're at right
now. The only way we're going to multiply the kingdom is for
Jesus to use us, to duplicate us, to make more Christians. And
the good thing about it, you guys, Adam, you know this, we
don't even do the work. We just get to share The Word. Jesus
loves you. Jesus died for you. Let me tell you the story. It's
not like we have to save them. Jesus does that. He does a great
job. He does all the work. We just have to share the story. So
I encourage you to do that. And I want to thank you that your
prayers, your support, there's so many churches and ministries
that are represented right here today. And without your love and
your support, your prayers, your partnerships, your volunteering,
we wouldn't be here. But because of you and your love and your
support and your prayers. Because of you standing with us,
we will continue to stand. I probably won't be standing in
another 80 years. I know that, I'm okay with that though,
because I'll be in heaven with new knees, a back that doesn't
hurt and I won't be cold. So that's all good. But until then,
my prayer is this, that all who come to this place in the inner
city of Los Angeles would have a personal encounter with Jesus
Christ in a way that they never have before. That they will feel
the presence of Jesus and His Holy Spirit, and that they would
have a desire to go and seek and save that which was lost. And
let Jesus use them to touch a life, and touch a soul every
time they have an opportunity. And that they would have
compassion for the needy and a heart for Jesus and the gospel.
Our prayer for all of those who are on the streets would be that
Jesus would pour His spirit out. I can look right behind me here
and see the tents, and see the hopelessness, and see the
brokenness. But guess what? We have the answer. We have it. So
let's share it. We have it. So let's get out there and give it.
And not that we don't already, you guys, this isn't a, you're
not doing a good job. This is the last third of my life, and I
want to just go give it all. I don't want to stop. I don't want
to quit. I don't want to slow down. I want to spend the next
10, 20, 25 years of my life and I just want to go for it. And I
encourage you to do the same no matter what age you are. Let's
just give it all to Jesus. Let's go out with a bang watching that
kingdom grow. Souls get saved, lives get changed. Deliverance
for those who need it. Jesus knows how to set the captives
free. So my encouragement is let's go out and let's do it.
GINA: One of my special places here at the Mission is right
here. We open the doors daily and we just meet the needs of
the people. And for instance, right now we're giving out some
Power Crunch bars. We're giving out some Dunking Donut drinks
and socks from the Foot Locker, cold water. And you know what?
Mentioning cold water. One day I was here and a lady came in and
she just wanted a bottle of water and she wanted the bottle
of water just to wash her hands. And I think at that moment, I
felt so convicted for the simple things that I take for granted.
And just think about a bottle of water. It's less than a dollar,
so remember. No gift is too small. So we appreciate anything
you can give your prayers, your love, your support, your
financial gifts. So let's keep making a
difference one person at a time. God bless you.
ANNOUNCER: Did you know that over 5,000 people called the
streets of Skid Row, their home FJM Mission has been giving hope
to those on Skid Row for over 80 years.
JOE: Fred Jordan Mission was founded in 1944 by Fred Jordan,
my father. So on a daily basis, Fred Jordan Mission feeds about
a thousand homeless and hurting and hungry people. We put shoes
on their feet, jackets on their back, water when they're
thirsty. Also, we get to feed 'em through chapel services. We
get to do Bible studies. We counsel, we go from tent to
tent, block by block, sharing the good news. My dad used to
say, don't just give the gospel without the water. But when you
demonstrate the gospel as Jesus did by caring for the needy, the
poor, the lepers, those who are sick, that's the gospel. Where
you share about the kingdom of God, forgiveness, Jesus, the
cross, the blood salvation, but also meeting the needs of
people. And that's what we get to do every day.
ANNOUNCER: And we need your help to continue declaring and
demonstrating the love of God. Please help us continue this
life-changing mission by donating online. Simply go to
FJM.org using any device and click on the donate button or
send your check to FJM Box 12345, Covina, California 91722.
This simple act of kindness can change
someone's life forever. Thank you.
GINA: Joe. That was an awesome message. And how encouraging and
uplifting and just a word for LA. And so many of our viewers
are right here from LA that are watching. And what would you say
to them to encourage them to just get involved? That we need
their help, we need their financial support.
JOE: Absolutely. I would say come to Fred Jordan Mission. As
I look out this way, there's Torrance and Long Beach, San
Pedro out this way, Covina and Pomona and Pasadena over here.
Right behind me, of course is downtown in Hollywood, Santa
Monica. But wherever you are, I don't care if you're all the way
in Rancho Cucamonga or in Covina, where I'm from
originally, come to Fred Jordan Missions, come see the rooftop
Prayer Garden. Come be a part of being the hands and feet of
Jesus, because we can do a good thing and you can do a good
thing. But together we can do extraordinary things as God uses
us, as His body. So come get involved. And you say, well,
there's those sitting at home that can't, and maybe they're
not able to. If you're not able to, you can pray. The second
thing, pray for us if you can't come, pray for us. Pray that God
would continue in the next 80 years of our life to keep us
healthy and strong. To keep the vision sharp, crisp, and clear
so that we can continue doing what we've been doing for 80
years. Declaring and demonstrating sharing the love
of Jesus so that people come to know Jesus personally, and their
address is changed from hell to heaven because of what Jesus did
on the cross. And then the next thing that you can do is you can
give financially. It takes a lot to keep all of this going.
There's days that we have a thousand people that we're
serving through Fred Jordan Missions and on special events,
there's thousands that come for our back to school events,
Thanksgiving events, Christmas events, and we need you, so that
we can reach more. It's one thing to reach one soul. It's
another to reach thousands of souls. And that's our goal, to
reach as many for Jesus as we can. To see people saved,
changed, transformed, and find eternal life. And the hope that
you help us provide through The Word of God and through
demonstrating his love with food and clothing and all the rest
that we do, makes it all worthwhile. So come, get
involved, pray for us. Or if you can, give financially, because
together we will see the kingdom of God grow and God smile down
on us as He brings one soul at a time in as they hear God's word.
And that life-changing message. God bless you.
ANNOUNCER: FJM Mission has been giving
hope to those on Skid Row for over
80 years. And we need your help to continue declaring
and demonstrating the love of God. Donate right now online at
FJM.org. Or if a stamp and snail mail is more your style, then
please send your check to FJM 12345,
Covina, California 91722. Thank you.
MUSIC: [Singing] We will overcome the sorrow. We will see
the dawn tomorrow. We will solider on, down this road, as
we reach for home. Reach for home.
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?
MUSIC: [Singing] Reach for home.
ANNOUNCER: The proceeding program was sponsored by
Generous Friends and partners of Fred Jordan Missions.