Rev Larry Rice — Founder and Director of the New Life Evangelistic Center in St. Louis, MO — is known in the Midwest as a defender and provider of the poor and homeless. His Center at 14th and Locust in downtown St. Louis is thought to be the only “walk in” center in the Midwest. NLEC provides overnight shelter for upwards of 300 people a night … children, women, men, women, veterans … people of any race or color.
Do the math: 300 people multiplied by the 365 days a year produces a staggering result. More than 80, 000 nights of care and shelter – per person, per night – for the poor and homeless!
This subject – and the threat of the city government of St. Louis — is mentioned in this radio conversation with Larry … with two other recorded segments to soon air about it.
But the primary focus here is Rev. Rice calling our attention to a police program of “Positive Ticketing” that is practiced in a few other parts of the world.
“Positive Ticketing” summarized: police give out tickets for good behavior!
Results:
· The tickets are submitted by the recipients and redeemed for prizes!
· The issuing policeman – usually with his/her name and/or picture on the ticket — is appreciated rather than feared – and relationships are formed;
· The businesses donating the prizes usually have their names on the prizes issued, providing them with free advertising for all who handle the prizes;
· Good stories about the program and its results create “buzz,” being told and retold around the community;
· Good will is advanced in the participating communities.
More about the New Life Evangelistic Center and its total ministry to the poor and homeless can be found at www.newlifeevangelistic.org