The Lost Sheep Ministries attracted some 400 homeless people on Wednesday night Sept 8 as it publicly showed Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” on two large screens under a downtown viaduct in Knoxville, Tennesse.
Maxine Raines, director of Lost Sheep Ministries, came up with the idea to show the movie outdoors downtown. The purpose of the show is to encourage homeless people to seek a way off the street. Volunteers from area churches participated in the event to serve food and offer resources helping homeless people to get off the streets while they were watching the movie.
Maxine Raines told the crowd, "This is going to help every one of us if you just give it a chance, you will all be blessed.”
"Let God touch you, let him really touch you," Raines said as the crowd applauded. "Let's go! Praise the Lord!"
People started arriving at the viaduct about 3 1/2 hours before the movie and sat in folding chairs to watch the film.
Some people danced and sang “Amazing Grace” as they watched the film.
Along with more than 200 Bibles that were distributed, socks, ponchos, toiletries and other donated items were also given out.
Lost Sheep Ministries started in 1990. Today the ministry has volunteers from many churches and organizations that come together to feed, clothe, care for and share the love of Jesus with approximately 200 or more homeless each Wednesday and 400 young people in Knoxville’s “Old City” on Saturday.
