The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people… I have heard them crying out…and I am concerned about their suffering. Ex. 3:7
Last week Saturday I had the chance to lead the chapel service at the Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls. This ministry offers beds and meals to homeless people, as well as other services such as life-skills training, employment leads, Bible studies, addiction support, etc. They still hold to the traditional format of offering an evening meal after you have listened to a required chapel service, and ARC leads that service every 2nd Saturday of the even-numbered months (anyone from church is free to attend with me or whoever leads).
I got there early, set up my guitar and music, and then began to walk around the room greeting people as they came in. I wanted to put into practice the skills we are learning in Experiencing God, so I stood by the kitchen at the back of the room and began to survey the crowd, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me to the place where He was working, that I might join Him there. I wasn’t hearing anything specific, but I did notice there were tons of children there that night.
“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering…” Is. 53:4
The chapel service began and I introduced myself, led a couple of songs (a loud version of “Soon and Very Soon” and a country version of “Victory in Jesus”) and then had the feeling from God that I should call the kids up for a children’s message. I went with that impulse and they all gladly and boldly came forward and encircled me. I asked them if they knew any songs about God or Jesus, and one 10-year old boy said, “Jesus Loves Me!” We began to sing together and it was clear the majority of the kids were unfamiliar with the tune. However, after singing through it twice they were beginning to learn. It was clear the adults appreciated the extra attention given to the kids.
I shared a short message based on a conversation I had last week with someone who was battling suicidal thoughts, and I encouraged people to not give up and to discover their purpose for life. We talked about Paul, who would have rather been done with this life on earth and go be with Jesus, but was willing to stay for the sake of the people who still needed him a little longer. Then I suggested that everyone in the room had someone out there who needed them, and that was a great reason to press on in this life and to follow Jesus, not just for our own sake but for those around us.
After the service was over and we all sat down together to eat, I enjoyed several meaningful conversations with the people there, but one stood out. There was a couple not much older than myself, probably early 40s, and they had a 3-year-old girl with them. They told me that when I mentioned suicide in my message, the little girl started to cry because a year ago her daddy killed himself. Naturally I was touched by that and asked more questions about their story. The couple was the child’s grandparents, and it was their son who died. The mother of the child is not in the picture as she is caught up in the partying lifestyle, which only got worse after the suicide.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:2
As I drove home that night I found myself wondering how we can get more ARC members into meaningful relationships with people who find themselves in the midst of challenging circumstances. In our culture people tend to withdraw when they are in crisis: major financial issues, loss of family members, divorce, drug/alcohol addiction, etc. Yet these are the times when a heart may be most open to the tender and loving voice of Christ. Traditionally church people have kept their distance from those whose lives are in disarray, but may it not be so with us.
Cory Grimm