Thoughts by Jennie, 21, Sweden 

I've met a lot of amazing people since I came to Houston, and had the privilege to work with some of them. I want to share a little bit about two of them, so that you, like me, can be inspired and amazed; by them but foremost by God in and through them.

Martin and Kim Dale do a lot of things. My wish with this piece of writing is not to describe all that they do, but to give you a glimpse of what I've seen in them and around them, and what I've learnt from them during my time here.

When Martin and Kim first stepped into ministry God gave them a verse; Proverbs 24:11. This sums up what they do, what they are about and what all the things they work with aims at; to "rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter". For 8 years they have faithfully served those people here in Houston - through Street Church, Mom's Day Out (free kindergarden for street kids), Loving Alternativs (an adoption agency saving kids from the streets, and helping the street moms), walking the streets on friday nights, and YWAM Houston. And they have seen God work in amazing ways in all of those ministries.

The one thing that has amazed me the most is the way they fight for people. When we look at the people who live on the streets it's so easy to be judgemental. It's so easy to dismiss them and say that they just suffer the consequenses for their own choices and actions. It's easy to say that they don't deserve a second chance. Kim and Martin don't just want to give a second chance, but a third and a fourth. Whatever it takes. Even when the help is turned down, over and over again, they keep on loving. Not a weak and submissive love, not a love that ignores and excuses sin, but a love that fights and keeps on fighting. Like God does. They see people with His eyes, they feel His heartbeat beating in their own hearts. They can't just stand and watch any more; they have to do something.

The way they fight for one person at a time is amazing - how they can spend an entire friday night chasing after one transvestite on the streets of Montrose; how Kim can spend day after day in the courtroom trying to save one little baby from the streets; to see them on Tuesdays and Thursdays picking up all the kids for Mom's Day Out, knowing and loving each and every one of them. Every one is worth fighting for. Marting and Kim see what's behind, they see Gods loved, lost little child - not the mistakes and bad choices. They fight for one at a time for the sake of the kingdom.

Another thing that amazes me is the way they depend on God in all that they do. They know who they are - they know the power and authority they have in Christ. And that's the thing, they know it's in Christ, not in themselves. They know they are not fighting alone, in their own strength. If they did, they would burn out. The needs are just so big. They know they work side by side with God, and that without Him they wouldn't be able to do anything. They know He has got their backs in this, that He is the one that provides and opens up ways, that touches and heals, that protects. So many times when things has seemed to be out of hand, when all hope was gone, He has stepped in and changed everything. They know who they are and they know who He is. They know that they have a responsability to do their part, and that they have to trust God to do the rest. Whenever Martin or Kim tell some of their stories this comes up; they call it the But God-factor. No matter how dark it seems, there is always a 'But God'! Nothing is impossible for Him.

Martin and Kim are not above the people they work with. Even though they don't live on the streets, even though they might seem to have everything together, they know that they are as much saved by grace as anyone from the street, that they depend on God as much as the people they try to help. They are not more, or better, then them. They're brothers and sisters. And that's why the people on the streets trust them, and love them.

It's been amazing to see Martin and Kim "in action", to see them fight and pray, laugh and cry, be angry and thankful - and in all things trust God - and to hear the amazing stories about the people they have met and seen God save from the streets. They don't have an easy job, working in the midst of the enemy camp. But they know, as 1 John 4:4 says, "that the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world". And on that they stand.