Yesterday was an incredible day of ministry and service. Not just for the incomparable Team 5, but for our entire student ministry group. I have absolutely no doubt that your prayers on our behalf played a significant role in yesterday's events.
The morning events at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club went pretty much to schedule. Our entire team has fully embraced these children and poured their attention, love and affection into them. It has been a blessing to see our students give themselves totally to these relationships without expecting anything in return.
After lunch - and Mexican popcicles for dessert - our team had the opportunity to serve at Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a homeless shelter for families.
Usually, when a family seeks refuge after becoming homeless, the families are split up. The dad (and sometimes older male children) go to a men's shelter while mom and younger children stay at a women's shelter. Obviously, this not an ideal situation. Safe Haven seeks to maintain the unity and cohesion of a family unit as they overcome their homelessness together.
While at Safe Haven we had the chance to serve the current residents and the ministry in numerous ways. Our students cleaned most of the facility's common areas (including bathrooms), hanging pictures in the hallway, mounting whiteboards in classrooms and by sorting and cleaning a mass of donations that Safe Haven has received.
Now on the surface, that may not seem like a life-changing experience. But when viewed in light of the bigger picture, it most certainly is. Here's why.
When viewed in its totality, the overwhelming need of the poor, need and homeless can seem insurmountable. It can appear too massive, too daunting, with no starting place. It quickly becomes apparent that no single person, group, church, or non-profit can do it alone.
So, what do we do? We do what we can do and let others shoulder what they can do. If that means we clean a housing facility in order to free up a staffer to focus directly on the needs of the residents, then that's what we do. It could look like packing crutches for a shipment to South America. If that's the need, we meet it. There is no insignificant step in the process of meeting needs.
So just how is that impacting the lives of our students?
By their own admission, it is changing their perspective. The phrase "treat others the way that you want to be treated" has become much more than a trite parental platitude. It has a face and a name. It has become real. They have learned that there are more similarities between them and the poor/homeless than there are differences. And probably most importantly, they are beginning to grasp what Christ requires of us to truly "love thy neighbor" and serve "the least of these." During our group debrief yesterday, one of our teens mentioned how much Christ gave for us - his life - and how in gratitude we must be willing to give to others.
Today we find ourselves in the home streach. This is our last day of ministry...in Nashville. It is time to press on to the end. We are encouraging our group to finish strong and - just like when running in a race - to sprint to the tape. But while today concludes our ministry here, my prayer is that today marks the end of the beginning for the students. That their next natural step will be a greater awareness of the needs back home. That awareness of the need and their devotion to Christ will COMPEL them to do whatever they can to help meet that need and serve others.
When I look at our group, I see world changers!
Soli Deo gloria.
Michael
Sent from my iPhone
No comments:
Post a Comment