If I had to pick one thing that has stuck out more than anything else on this trip; it is the amazing people we have met in each town.  Los Angeles was no exception.  Chris Evans, our contact at the Hope for the Homeless Youth department at the L.A. Dream Center, was absolutely amazing. 

Our team led worship and ministered to the young people at their Friday night service.  After the service we joined hands with 40 or 50 people from visiting youth groups and prepared to take Jesus to the streets of Hollywood.  We prayed and then 25 or so of us headed to the Homosexual district on Santa Monica Blvd.  The plan was to give free hugs to the homosexuals and show them the love of Christ.  I wasn’t excited about this venture.   I wondered if we weren’t just another load of Christian tourists getting our missions badge on the hopeless streets of L.A.  My attitude quickly changed.

The West Coast Burn Wagon crew consists of 13 people, seven females and six males.  We stood across from each other on the sidewalk while Colton played guitar and formed what we later dubbed “The Love portal.”  As these hopeless men and women walked between us we would say “free hugs!  We love you!  Jesus loves you!” 

None of us were prepared for what happened next.  These people lit up!  I couldn’t believe it.  They were starving for a hug.  I hugged the first couple of men and told them I loved them because I was asked to do it, but soon the overwhelming love of God enveloped me, it enveloped all of us.  I have never done any ministry that felt more right.  It is the reason we are born again, to bring hope to the hopeless, to heal the broken hearted and to proclaim freedom to the captives!  We showed every homosexual the Love of a living God.  I found myself weeping at times and repenting for the lies of religion that tell the homosexuals that God does not love them. 

Many people asked why we were giving out free hugs, I said, “Because Jesus Loves you!” I felt the love of God literally pouring out of me and onto the people.  I felt his heart break as people said, “Really?  He loves me? I thought he hated me!”  I felt the Lord grieving over the misrepresentation of who He is to these people, and His pleasure in being able to show His love through us, by a simple hug from welcoming arms.  It was as if Jesus was literally reaching out his arms and embracing the homosexual community in West Hollywood through our hands, hugs, smiles and words of love.  I felt the pleasure of God and His love pouring out of me; it was truly one of the most joyous experiences of my life.  A drag queen was one of the people that responded, “Jesus loves me, really?”  I said “Yes, you are beautiful!”  It wasn’t a lie, I wasn’t scared, I really saw him through Jesus’ eyes-the beautiful creation that he was.  There was another guy who said “He can’t love me, I don’t believe in Him.”  I told him, “He still loves you and He is real!” all with a huge smile on my face. He just laughed and smiled, but I knew that He could see the reality of Jesus beaming through my eyes and face-Jesus really loving Him! 

I saw the spirit of suicide on one man and it broke me.  I held him like a child and we wept together.  I told him my own testimony of how I had considered suicide the day I was born again.  I told him that God would show himself real to him within 24 hours and I know it is true.

I listened as one young man told Dave about the hurt he had been living with because his mom had died less than a year ago at age 38.  We discovered that she was a Christian woman who had not stopped praying for her son.  He gave Dave permission to pray for him, and again I wept as I realized that the prayers of his mother had set the stage for this kairos moment.  Her prayers and God’s timing crossed paths on that corner and this young man was changed in a moment.  I knew as he walked away that I would talk with him and his mother some day, and dance with them both in the Glory of Heaven that is Jesus Christ.

Christina Vera and John Hudson