Brian and Angie Bolt Interview

This week's guests were Brian and Angie Bolt from Pittsburgh City Outreach in Pittsburgh, PA. PCO is located in north Pittsburgh, one of the worst inner city areas. PCO wants to raise people off the streets to become pastors and to also fulfill their purposes in Christ. They hope to eventually plant other churches in inner cities.

Having Brian come to see us is always a pleasure, but it was especially much more so this time because he brought his beautiful wife, Angie, along. She just lights up the room with the joy of the Lord. I love that you can see God shining from the inside out in some people, and Angie is one of those people.

Both their testimonies are amazing to hear, but I felt ignited by what Angie had to say because God, over the last few months has been placing a desire within my own heart for a church without walls that ministers to garbage dump people. I have been hesitant to voice this to many people because it seems so "out there" and because, once voiced, seems like it needs to be acted upon in more ways than I already am. God has given me a very definite image of a place--a garbage dump--that is unlike any other of its kind. I am now in that "waiting" period to see what God wants me to do and where He will lead. I know the place does exist, because I found three pictures of it on the internet, but I have no idea where in the world it is. Someone suggested the place is "spiritual". Perhaps. But why was I able to find that exact place on the internet?

Other areas where I related to Angie: we are both nurses who work with the elderly, want to continue our educations, and who believe in bringing healing to body, mind, and spirit; we both pinpoint those who are "tender" and are drawn to them (God has a way of drawing me to moms who are grieving and/or wounded, or drawing them to me); and I, too, feel as though God is calling me to missions. God has also been giving me images of the homeless a lot lately and I often wonder, "Where in the world do you plan to take me, God"?

All that aside, it is exciting to see what God is doing with the Bolts and PCO. I would like to go out and see what they do, help with their new building, and serve the homeless. My husband will love me for this, but I volunteered him as well.

Besides finding enough time for one another separate from ministry, there biggest challenge seems to be in raising finances and materials for their new buildings. I love that they pray and God answers in amazing ways. Getting those they are leading to take pride of ownership and tithe, even if it's a widow's mite, may prove to be a huge blessing, as God always multiplies in unbelievable ways. Perhaps the families they lead and minister to could brainstorm and come up with ideas that they haven't tried. Giving to others out of their own need often brings unbelievable results as well.

In any event, I can't wait to see how God provides for His people in Pittsburgh through PCO!