Reaching the Homeless - with Jonny Gaston
As we enter the colder months, I've been thinking a lot about how we as Christians can make a real difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness in our communities. That's why I was thrilled to interview my friend Johnny Gaston recently about the amazing outreach work he's doing through Reach Network.
Jonny has a heart for evangelism and a passion for equipping churches to effectively share the gospel. But he's also on a mission to meet the practical needs of the homeless as we head into winter. Our conversation left me inspired and challenged to do more to serve "the least of these" in my own city.
The Heart Behind Reach Network
I've known Jonny for a while now, and I'm continually impressed by his dedication to reaching the lost. Reach Network, the non-profit he founded, exists to "assist the local church in the work of personal evangelism and community outreach."
As Jonny explained, "We want churches to grow authentically, organically - not from Christians from other churches who want to find maybe a church that fits their needs better. We're trying to get the people inside the church to reach the lost."
It's a simple but powerful vision - equipping and mobilizing everyday believers to share their faith. Jonny and his team provide both biblical and practical training to help Christians overcome their fears and effectively communicate the gospel.
"We've done this in several churches in our local area," Jonny shared. "Now we have churches reaching the lost, going out into the city, sharing the gospel, and then getting them into their church - baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, discipling them. Hopefully at that point it's a revolving door - disciples make disciples that make disciples."
I love how Jonny's work is multiplying evangelism efforts by activating whole congregations. It's not about relying on the "professionals" - it's about every believer embracing the Great Commission.
Creative Outreach Strategies
One of the things I admire most about Jonny is his creativity in finding ways to connect with people. He's always looking for unique opportunities to build relationships and create natural openings to share the gospel.
For example, he sets up booths at local flea markets to engage shoppers in spiritual conversations. On hot summer days, he and his team hand out free snow cones as a way to bless people and strike up discussions about faith.
As Jonny put it, "Jesus said 'I'm gonna make you fishers of men.' Well, the bait you use is the fish you catch." I love that perspective - finding culturally relevant ways to draw people in and point them to Christ.
A Heart for the Homeless
While Jonny is involved in all kinds of evangelistic efforts, he has a special burden for the homeless in our area. For the past five years, he's been partnering with local ministries to serve this vulnerable population.
Now he's mobilizing churches and businesses to collect winter clothing and supplies that will be distributed to those living on the streets in the coming months. It's a timely and much-needed initiative as the weather turns colder.
"We're asking people to simply begin to ask businesses, 'Hey, can I put a box in this business and just have people collect necessary items for the homeless?'" Jonny explained. "And then I'm gonna distribute those items as I find need."
They've set up donation boxes at several locations, including:
- The Core Coffee Shop in West Mobile (owned by Praise Family Church)
- State Farm in Grand Bay
- Grand Bay Church of God
- Grand Bay Community Church
- Friendship Baptist
- First Baptist
The response has already been tremendous. "Today was our first literal day," Jonny shared, "and we already have a box completely full - there's nothing else that can be put in that box."
Meeting Physical and Spiritual Needs
What I appreciate most about Jonny's approach is that he's not just focused on material assistance. He sees serving the homeless as an opportunity to minister to their deepest needs by sharing the hope of the gospel.
"One of the things that I want to make sure that I do is put the gospel in their hand," he emphasized. "I want to make sure they get a Bible, make sure they get a gospel tract."
Jonny described his process of engaging homeless individuals in spiritual conversations:
"I listen to their story first. Then I evaluate their beliefs...Then I present the gospel to them. I use gospel tracts, I use the Romans Road, I use different methods of sharing the gospel with them. And then I pray with them."
This holistic approach - meeting urgent physical needs while addressing eternal spiritual needs - is so important. As followers of Christ, we're called to minister to the whole person.
Partnering with Those Who've Been There
One of the most inspiring aspects of Jonny's outreach is how he's partnering with individuals who have personally experienced homelessness. He told me about John Roush, a former homeless man who encountered Christ, rebuilt his life, and now goes back into the homeless communities to serve.
"He was completely homeless, completely broke," Jonny shared. "He was delivered from that, he was born again, and man, he completely rebuilt his life. He has a wife and kids and a vehicle and a home and a job."
Now John uses his past experiences to connect with current members of the homeless community in a unique way. As Jonny put it, "We got a guy who has the inside story. He's kind of my undercover mission guy - he goes in where other people wouldn't go in."
What a powerful testimony of God's transforming power! And what an effective strategy for reaching a population that often distrusts outsiders.
How You Can Help
If you're in the Mobile/Grand Bay area and want to contribute to this homeless outreach effort, there's still time to donate. The deadline for dropping off items is November 25th.
Here are some of the most-needed items:
- Warm coats and jackets
- Sweaters
- Socks
- Blankets
- Hand warmers
You can drop donations at any of the locations listed above. If you're not local but still want to support Jonny's ministry, you can contribute financially by contacting Jonny directly.
Even if you're in a different part of the country, I hope this interview inspires you to look for ways to serve the homeless in your own community this winter. Maybe you could organize a coat drive at your church or volunteer at a local shelter.
The need is great, but so are the opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus to "the least of these."
Praying for Eternal Impact
As we wrapped up our conversation, Jonny and I prayed together for God to use these outreach efforts in mighty ways. We asked Him to not only meet physical needs but to open hearts to the gospel.
My prayer is that lives will be transformed - both temporally and eternally - through this ministry. I'm believing God for testimonies like John Rouse's to multiply, as individuals encounter Christ's love in tangible ways.
I'm also praying for a stirring in the church - that more and more believers would be compelled to step out of their comfort zones and engage in personal evangelism. As Jonny noted, "A lot of times people say you need to go out and compel them to come in. I feel like I spend my time going into the church to compel them to go out."
May we all embrace that challenge and actively look for ways to share the hope we have in Christ!
Get Involved in Reaching Your Community
I hope this conversation with Jonny has sparked some ideas for how you can impact your own city for Christ. Whether it's serving the homeless, engaging in personal evangelism, or finding creative ways to bless your neighbors, I want to encourage you to take action.
Here are a few simple ways to get started:
1. Pray for eyes to see the needs around you and for boldness to step out in faith.
2. Look for existing ministries in your area that you could plug into and support.
3. Talk to your pastor about ways your church could increase its community outreach efforts.
4. Start small - even something like buying a meal for a homeless person can open doors for spiritual conversations.
5. Be intentional about building relationships with non-believers in your sphere of influence.
Remember, you don't have to be a professional evangelist or full-time missionary to make an eternal difference. God wants to use ordinary believers like you and me to advance His kingdom.
As Jonny put it, "I correct them quickly - I say no, I'm sharing the gospel 'cause I'm a believer, because I love God." May that be true of all of us!
I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comments. How are you reaching out to serve the marginalized in your community? What creative evangelism strategies have you found effective? Let's encourage one another to be salt and light right where God has placed us.
Here is Jonny on Facebook
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