We had the great privilege and opportunity to be invited to the Prime Ministers barbeque at Heritage Park last Saturday, July 10. The whole event started awesome. I was able to preach the gospel to different politicians (MPs and MLAs) and was able to challenge their stance on different issues.

It was a great time at our table during the event, we had a member of parliament and other politicians. Overall many opportunities to share the righteousness of God with the people that attended. It always gives me lots of joy when God's mercy is extended to all including those who are in our government. I had a good chat with many of them.

I let him know how many people had come to the March for Jesus, and what a beautiful event it was and I said that I hope that next year he would be able to attend. At the end of our conversation, he let me know that he appreciated our efforts and told us to keep up the good work. We hope that he will be able to attend the upcoming march in 2011.

I find it truly amazing, that no matter what the local politicians are doing to us, that God always opens new doors to let the provincial and federal politicians know what is happening here in Calgary and not only some politicians but for the second year in a row, God allows me to speak to the Prime Minister of our great nation and to his cabinet ministers. God is good! The Truth, sooner or later, will find it's way to the right ears.

By the way, the food was really good as well. It was a nice evening and I am telling you, we have some powerful advocates in high places.

As you know, we purchased all of those med evil costumes and props for this year's Stampede Parade. We had two carriages and seven horses lined up and then we were told by David Swanson, acting on behalf of the Calgary Stampede Parade Committee, that we were no longer welcome to represent the Christian community in the parade this year. The reason he gave was that we broke the rules by giving Christian pamphlets during last years parade. The truth is that we received permission twice from a Calgary Stampede Parade official allowing us to do that very thing. We have published a letter from the volunteer who received permission on our website for your reference. When we met with David Swanson we were told that if we could produce proof that we received permission to distribute the materials that the committee might reconsider allowing our entry in the parade.

We provided the letter from the volunteer that received the permission, to the committee but that made no difference and instead of granting us permission to march in the parade, the committee went to the courts to get an injunction preventing us from participating in the parade. In order to get this ruling, they manipulated the facts surrounding the case, and misled the judge into believing that we are dangerous and that we would cause harm to families and children. In fact, they lied openly to the courts giving false information in their sworn affidavits and they withheld vital facts and information that very likely would have changed the outcome. For example, that during seven years of ministry, our history is of a peaceful ministry that cares for the safety of all. In 2008, we won the best mounted group under twelve horses award for our entry, demonstrating that we truly put on a good show when we are allowed to enter and participate.

David Swanson wilfully lied and misled the court to receive what he wanted (to keep the name of Jesus out of the parade). We have been told repeatedly by the parade committee, during the four previous years that the ministry was in the parade, that the name of Jesus offends people and that they did not want it.

Based upon the submitted information by the Stampede committee alone, and for the "safety of the children" the judge granted them the injunction. I might add that the judge sounded like she made the decision ahead of time. This, by the way, was the same judge that granted the City the previous injunction a few years ago removing our right to use amplification at any and all Street Church events. But remember, all things work together to good to all that love God and are called according to His purposes.

We decided to protest this injustice in a way which was fully legal. On Saturday, we dressed in our costumes and we marched back and forth on Steven Avenue Mall, to the great joy of many onlookers. I bet we were the best tourist attraction in Calgary that day. People were taking pictures with us, smiling, interacting and asking questions. We used this opportunity, not only as a protest but, to preach the gospel to all who would hear. We gave away pamphlets to all who would receive them explaining the key points of our protest and the reason why we had to protest in the first place.

Then we went to City Hall, praying and declaring a change within the government "God, give us godly people, that will rule over us with justice that will uphold the law and will submit themselves to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ."

The whole event went so smooth and so awesome, the joy was overwhelming and there was not even one complaint. You know what, the police were there and there were absolutely no problems.

By the way, if you are wondering why we decided to dress up as knights, feel free to read the writeup we published on our website explaining our reasoning.

The Saturday event went wonderfully, so we decided to do another protest on Thursday, but this time outside the gates of the Calgary Stampede. Right away, when we were unloading our props from the vehicles at beginning of this protest things were very different. The police were immediately there giving us a hard time, telling us that we were on private property and that we could not be there. One officer told us that since we were on the sidewalk, the sidewalk in that area belonged to the Calgary Stampede. The officer then proceeded to let us know that the street was City of Calgary property. We therefor moved our protest to an area of the street in front of the gates that was closed from vehicle traffic.

Guys, this is funny. For the first time in the history of this ministry, we had a swat team dressed in black with their van, waiting for the order to go, I guess to storm the little dangerous children, with their mothers and fathers dressed in costume, that was actually a well received tourist attraction at the gates of the Stampede (people even posed with us for pictures and many others passing by took their own shots). We had about ten police officers, about four marshals, and listen to this, soldiers were asked to come and assist the officers in dealing with us. What a joke. You can feel to laugh now, and I would laugh with you if not for the fact that this was truly tragic and could have been a very sad situation if the officers lost their cool and decide to start arresting us all for exercising our right to peaceful assembly and freedom of religion and expression.

For once, the media covered the story. But once again, they lied about what took place. They portrayed us as dangerous and uncooperative. The story was aired on CTV on Thursday, July 15, at 5 & 6 pm. The truth was that we were there to have a peaceful protest. We were there for a few hours and we finished our protest and peacefully left as was the plan the whole time. We did not need to be convinced to do this, it was our clear intention. Everything we do is peaceful, except to the principalities of the devil, but straight to the point.

If someone thinks for a second that we will be silenced just because a few officers, soldiers and a swat team shows up, they are sadly mistaken. We know our rights, we know the Charter and we will exercise those rights. Eventually one inspector came as the only reasonable voice representing the police department and the City and of course, with a person like that they can with a little conversation see that we are not there to cause a problem, but we want our voice to be heard, and he let us. At the end of the day, what was the big deal? Citizens of this nation exercising their God and state given right to express their dissent. Of course you should know that the only problem during our protest, was again the Calgary Stampede themselves. You see, they were not happy that we brought the pamphlets to show Calgarians and tourists about their open discrimination toward the Christian community. They did not appreciate that we took the time to let the people know about what's happening with their tax dollars (the Calgary Stampede is a not-for-profit organization heavily funded, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, by all three levels of government and would not exist without those government funds and government relaxation of laws for their benefit). They were upset that we would let the tax payers know that their money is openly being used to discriminate against Canada's Christian heritage and Christian Canadians.

But as for us, we have confidence in our Lord, and He has already revealed that He has this battle in His hands.

Remember this, any individual or organization that raises his hand against the Living God or His children is asking for trouble, and in fact is asking for God's judgement. Later on I will show you some of the headlines that have been on the news on the following judgements of God

• Hail

• Death of Horses

• Financial Difficulty

• Attendance down

When I was at the City Hall when our aldermen wanted to pass an illegal law preventing Canadians from protesting outside our city's government buildings, I heard one alderman make this statement, "Why do we want to kill a mosquito with a sledge hammer?" He was referring to Street Church because everybody knew that the proposed law was intended to shut down all of our ministry work (feeding the homeless and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ) in front of City Hall, and the way to do it was to make it illegal for anyone to be there without expressed permission of City Council.

When I thought about this man's statement, two things came to my mind; first some mosquitoes can be deadly, especially when God is on their side, and second is a story from another clergyman that I heard. The story goes like this:

The Mouse Trap

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

The next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage and help one another.

Sometimes, in this ministry, we may feel like this little mouse, raising our voices where ever we go, trying to bring attention to the dangers that face this country. Perhaps, we ourselves with our own strength, which is small, feel very week and although men may count us of no significance, the story with the mouse can teach us that a voice is a powerful thing and God is warning everyone in this country about the dangers of not standing for righteousness and truth. Whatever happens to one, can happen to all, and for those that think that these things are not effecting them, let them remember the story of the little mouse, who in the end was the only one who was left standing.

We with God, cannot lose, because when we fall, He picks us up. When we are week, He is strong. When we are surrounded, He makes a way where there seems to be no way. What's impossible with man is possible with Jesus.

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety,” said Benjamin Franklin in 1775.

Losing God's Blessing

Calgary Herald July 17

Ten teens were hurt, with six taken to hospital, Friday evening when a ride on the Calgary Stampede midway broke, sending its passengers crashing to the ground before a throng of horrified fairgoers

"This is an unprecedented incident with this device,"

Comments (just some)

8:39 AM on July 17, 2010

What a tourist destination, pack up the wife and kids and hit the Stampede where you can witness an innocent animal get killed or yourself on a midway ride. What a disaster.

10:45 AM on July 17, 2010

The Devil must be a visitor at the Stampede this year

12:35 AM on July 17, 2010

Wow....whats with the Calgary Stampede this year?...its been like the "stampede of doom"

Calgary Sun

“There were bolts flying. It was like a bang and metal scraping and people screaming.

“It just dropped and skidded and flipped and there were people with heads cut.

Tony Diaz, general manager of the North American Entertainment, said the mishap was unprecedented.

Calgary Herald

Overall cumulative attendance decrease of: 41,242

"It just seemed a little weird this year," said Irma Braren, who is in her 70s and has been coming to the grounds every year for most of her life.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/2010+year+wins+losses+Stampede+attendance+falls/3294414/story.html#ixzz0uAteemNU

Grandstand Show and fireworks were cancelled Tuesday due to heavy rain and strong winds.

On Friday, an "unprecedented" catastrophe hit the midway when a popular ride broke apart

One ride user said, “I’m never going on one again.”

Another said, “It was my first time coming to Stampede and my last time coming to Stampede."

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/Stampede/2010/07/16/14742481.html

Horror on the Calgary Stampede midway 

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/injured+when+Calgary+Stampede+ride+breaks/3288824/story.html?tab=PHOT

Hailstorms, funnel clouds, record rain, five dead horses, injured riders and cancelled races are adding up to problems for this year's Stampede.

Tuesday was a day of especially heavy rain, according to Environment Canada

Insurance adjusters continue tallying the damage after golf ball-sized hail and winds of up to 80 km/h hit the city.

To add to Stampede's misfortunes, one rider was hurt during a team cattle penning event and six horses have died.

Insurance adjusters continue tallying the damage after golf ball-sized hail and winds of up to 80 km/h hit the city.

Evening show cancelled

July 13, 2010

For the first time in the history of the Calgary Stampede, officials were forced to cancel the chuck wagon races Tuesday night due to relentless rainfall.

Stampede officials and the chuck wagon community said they couldn’t find an instance since the chucks were added to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth when the event was called off ahead of time.

Ten-time Rangeland Derby champion Kelly Sutherland said “It’s just the first time it’s happened at the biggest show we attend.”

There are thousands of claims worth millions of dollars in what is predicted to be one of Calgary's most costly summer storms.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Damage+from+last+week+hailstorm+could+record+Calgary/3307043/story.html#ixzz0uQrO37vu

Meanwhile, Stampede officials exchanged or refunded 2,000 tickets after heavy rain and winds Tuesday forced the cancellation of chuck wagon races and the Grandstand Show. The track was too damaged by rain to safely hold the event, prompting hundreds of ticket refunds.

"We're probably breaking records in terms of a hailstorm for Alberta,"

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Damage+from+last+week+hailstorm+could+record+Calgary/3307043/story.html#ixzz0uQriXkhQ

"It's certainly one of the biggest and most remarkable storms we've seen in a long time," said spokesman Leonard Sharman.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Damage+from+last+week+hailstorm+could+record+Calgary/3307043/story.html#ixzz0uQs3vF2H

Unfortunately, such vicious summer weather events occur with greater frequency than they once did, even with the help of hail suppression technology and high-tech weather warning systems.

"We used to see 'one-in-a-hundred-year' storms. Now they seem to happen every five or 10 years all over the country," said Sharman.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Damage+from+last+week+hailstorm+could+record+Calgary/3307043/story.html#ixzz0uQsJcXWs

Golf ball-sized hail, thunderstorms pummel Calgary, southern Alberta

More violent weather expected; Stampede visitors duck for cover

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/news/3268399/story.html?tab=PHOT#ixzz0tylc9hQ2

High winds, heavy rain, and most of all, large hail, left a swath of damage across some communities in Calgary and southern Alberta during a Monday afternoon marked by tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/news/3268399/story.html?tab=PHOT#ixzz0tyllGapz

The sudden downpour and marble-sized hail forced Calgary Stampede visitors to flee for the exits or seek shelter in nearby buildings

Animals at the Calgary Stampede grounds were pulled inside, while visitors ran for cover.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2010/07/12/calgary-hail-thunderstorm-warning-stampede-weather-tornado.html#ixzz0tymRYvJI

Another year of the famous Calgary Stampede is coming to an end, but this has not exactly been the luckiest year for stampede. A man was harmed brutally with broken bones, spinal injuries, concussion and more during one of his routines in a rodeo.

6 horses were killed, 1 died the night right after a race for unknown reasons, another collapsed in the middle of a chuck wagon race and had to be euthanized, another horse collapsed during a race supposedly of a heart attack, and fell on it's rider (Amy Carver, whom is in the ICU with critical injuries) and 3 others had died within the last 10 days.

Friday evening, July 16, 2010, the ride known as the "Scorpion" collapsed while people were riding it. A witness stated that he saw a "pod of six cars detach from an arm on the ride, then flip over and crash to the ground from a height of about 10 metres".

10 people so far have been reported injured with 6 taken to emergency but no deaths have been claimed. There was a man bleeding from the head who was taken to emergency and may be in critical condition. Many of the passengers who were on the ride and were injured from the fall, were knocked out but came to with 10 minutes after.

Tough year for Stampede as 5th horse dies, attendance off, tickets returned

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Tough+year+Stampede+horse+dies+attendance+tickets+returned/3280056/story.html#ixzz0tz3KxJ59

My comments to this article (It's very interesting that the Calgary Sun and the Calgary Herald both published my comments to remind everyone that God will not be mocked)

11:43 AM on July 15, 2010

God's judgment for throwing Jesus out of Calgary Stampede Parade this year.

Calgary Stampede Parade Committee led by David Swanson openly discriminates against Christians

http://streetchurch.ca/index.php/20100706603/News/Media/Calgary-Stampede-Parade-Committee-led-by-David-Swanson-openly-discriminates-against-Christians.html

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Tough+year+Stampede+horse+dies+attendance+tickets+returned/3280056/story.html#ixzz0tz419Zbf

After the accident involving the “scorpion” ride Stampede CEO Verne Kimball said “First and most importantly, we want to convey our thoughts and prayers to the people and families affected by (the) incident.”

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/Investigation+into+Stampede+ride+accident+continues/3291425/story.html#ixzz0uSO5B2u9

I find it ironic that Mr. Kimball is indicating that the Stampede is extending prayers on behalf of people and families affected by the incident. My question to the Stampede is, since you didn't want the name of Jesus carried in the Stampede Parade and nor did you want His name being displayed outside the entrance to the Stampede grounds, and since not only were you not willing to honour Him during the event and nor did you want others to honour Him, to whom are you offering prayers up to. If the Living God is not the receiver of your prayers are you praying to your dead relatives or perhaps pegan gods? Just food for thought.

What is also interesting about all of this is that since the Stampede kicked God out from the parade, and ultimately from their event completely, using the courts through manipulation of facts, God turned this around and it looks like the Stampede with it's "scorpion" accident will be facing lawsuits from victims or their families and will be on their way to the courts themselves. In case it's not clear, the Stampede has brought these judgements.  I truly hope that the Stampede learns from this that it is good to side with God and not against Him.

Now, by the way, we forward our prayers toward all the people that were hurt during the Calgary Stampede and we forward them up to the one Living God, Jesus Christ.

"Victory isn't defined by wins or losses. It is defined by effort. If you can truthfully say, 'I did the best I could, I gave everything I had,' then you're a winner." ---Wolfgang Schadler

We can truly say that we did our best.  We bought the props and we showed up.  Everything else is in the hands of God.

By the way, thank you very much for you prayers, as we are wrapping up a ten day trial pertaining to "illegally" feeding the homeless and "illegally" gathering a crowd.  Things are looking very positive.  When the verdict is handed down, we will update you.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Street Church Ministries is a multi-denominational, multi-ethnical ministry of believers, who have been reborn in the spirit of the Lord, coming together to take part in the call of Acts 1:8. Our vision is to give everyone an opportunity to respond to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through the proclamation of the full Gospel. We envision a Street Church in every city and town in Canada, and around the world.

Street Church Ministries is involved in evangelism every week in the city of Calgary where we go out by the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the full gospel, giving everyone the opportunity to respond to Jesus. We know that there is power in the simple message of the gospel.

In Romans 15:18, the Apostle Paul states, "For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."

If the focus is on just one part of the gospel, it will not have its full impact. But by focusing on all four areas which Paul talks about (word, deed, miracles and wonders, and the power of the Spirit) we see God work in powerful and amazing ways, just like He did in the book of Acts. By proclaiming the fullness of the gospel, (the truth about Gods wrath, justice, righteousness, and hell, along with the truth about Gods mercy, love, forgiveness, and heaven) we know the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of men and women to Jesus, for it is only the truth that sets people free.

Festivals

A few times a year, Street Church holds festivals for the poor, the homeless and for less fortunate families.  We serve steaks, give gifts, we have a full festival with worship, prayer, and of course preaching.  At some of the events we have as many as two thousand homeless show up to partake.

Four Times a Week

We preach the gospel at the steps of City Hall.  During the years, God shifted our ministry from preaching just to the poor and the homeless, to preaching to politicians and business people, that leave and enter City Hall.  At the same time, every week, we feed thousands of homeless, and yet we have an opportunity to proclaim Jesus to all creation, to the rich and the poor.  Since 2007, all have the chance through the preaching of salvation by repentance to receive His love, grace and mercy.  He died for all who will believe and turn from their wicked ways.

We Meet at the Steps of City Hall

Monday 6:30 pm

Wednesday 11:00 am

Friday 6:30 pm

Sunday 1:00 pm

"I will thank you, Lord, in front of all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations." (Psalm 57:9)

Additionally, three times a week, we hold prayer and discipleship meetings (for more information call for details - 403-607-4434).

Sunday Church Service at the Gates of the City

"Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church - about three thousand in all. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer." (Acts 2:41-42)

Held at the steps of City Hall. The homeless and passers by alike all gather to take part in outdoor church service, "under the biggest roof in the world." Street Church Ministries has surrendered this service totally to the Holy Spirit, by having as little structure as possible in order to allow the flesh not to get in the way of what God wants to do. We encourage all believers to be ready to be used in powerful ways when they come to Street Church. Regularly, Street Church has prayer, worship, the Lords supper, teaching from the word, the gospel is shared and testimonies are given. An altar call is given and those who make a decision for Christ have the opportunity to be baptized - in the Bow River.

We rely on the Holy Spirit to work through us in order to witness for Jesus - by His power, not our own. We have seen the truth in Jesus' words in John 6:63, "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life; the flesh profits nothing".

We partner with many churches and Christian organizations because we recognize that when more believers come together in a city, the more impact will be made for the cause of Christ. As a result of God's direction, there is now a new Street Church growing in the community of Forest Lawn in Calgary.

Media and Edification

Street Church regularly speaks on TV and Radio programs on different moral and social issues from God's point of view, and has a regular broadcast on TV three times a week called Evangelism in Action airing Internationally on over 150 million satellite dishes.

If you would like to get involved or feel God's leading to start a Street Church in your community, visit Get Involved or contact us today.

As followers of Christ, Bible believing Christians, we believe that the Bible is the word of God.  We also believe that what the Bible instructs us to do, we are to do.  The Bible, and in fact Jesus himself, told us to go out into the highways and byways and preach the good news that Jesus told us to share, giving hope to the hopeless, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and loving the unlovable (outcasts of society, drunkards, drug addicts, prostitutes, etc)

Street Church is a gathering of Bible believing Christians from churches throughout the City, ministering under the umbrella of Street Church, with the same heart of compassion; to provide the needy, poor, and homeless with a message of hope and daily necessities.  The Bible clearly states what a believer is obliged (commanded) to do.  To follow the Bible is not an option for a Christian, according to Jesus’ words in John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will obey my commandments”.

According to the Bible we are commanded to go out and reach the people where they are.  Most of the people that we minister to would never enter a church because of their condition (their look, smell, language, behaviour, addictions).  They feel unwanted and unwelcomed in a “traditional” church environment.  Through the repetition of the message of hope, music that literally changes the atmosphere, and testimonies of people that were where they are today, impacts their self-worth, changes their mood, and in many cases their entire life and future, from troublemakers (in and out of jail) into healthy contributing citizens.

With the large crowds that come to our services, and the noise from traffic, planes, C-Trains and other disturbances that happen all the time in the down town area, amplification is an important and necessary aspect of our work and ministry.  Think, for example, about when a speaker comes to Calgary to give a speech, and they give that speech in an auditorium where there is a controlled environment which keeps outside noise out, amplification is used on every occasion in order to ensure that the message is communicated properly, not with shouting, but with proper and straight forward speech.  How much more is amplification needed outside with all of the excessive noise to contend with?  Without the use of amplification, we have to resort to shouting in order for people to hear, which changes the tone of the message, is much less effective, and at times stirs people up negatively, which is not what we desire.

Here are some passages from the Bible, although there are a great many more, that instruct us not only in what we are to do, but how we are to do it.  This instruction is the basis and foundation for all that we do at Street Church.

Mark 16:15-16:  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16)  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 25:32-40:  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats:  (33)  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  (34)  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  (35)  For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  (36)  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  (37)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  (38)  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  (39)  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  (40)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Luke 14:16-23  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  (17)  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.  (18)  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  (19)  And another said I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.  (20)  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  (21)  So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  (22)  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  (23)  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  (15)  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  (16)  and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  (17)  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Even the Lord Jesus himself said, I did not come to be served but to serve.  As his followers we must do the same.

Luke 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  (19)  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

The commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord are very clear, we are to go out and do what He did.  The regular North American method of church is very different from how the first century church operated.  Churches soon after Christ rose from the dead where most often outside, since that was where the needy were located.  When it comes to poverty and hopelessness, nothing has changed.  A couple of examples of those that ministered outdoors more recently, are William Booth founder of the Salvation Army, who ministered and preached once a day outside and once a day inside, and Mother Theresa who for a great deal of her ministry was helping the poor outdoors.