Got into an interesting discussion the other day.
Our team was talking about the spiritual dynamics of our “down days.” You know, those days when the enemy seems to have stolen all your hope.
Two events came to mind. The first was an afternoon sitting on the back pew in a tiny chapel that was about to become Hope Chapel–Manhattan Beach, California (The church that would eventually move to Hermosa Beach).
My wife and I were praying desperately in that building that seemed so cavernous. It actually was designed for 66 people, but we’d never sustained a youth group of more than 30. And, we had yet to hold a service.
We were scared, very scared.
In the midst of our pity-party/prayer-session a young man stumbled into the small auditorium. His hair was greasy, and he smelled bad. He was living on the road and asking for money to buy food. We gave him what little we had and never saw him again. But, I believe God sent him to us and our response to him became the key that would open the door in the spirit for hundreds like him to be born again in that tiny chapel.
In other words, while we were down Jesus sent us a key to unlock the treasure held in our prayers. Had we turned that young man away I doubt that Hope Chapel would have ever amounted to anything.
The second event occurred just a week ago. We’d had a disruption in our relationship with a nearby drug and alchohol treatment center. They’d been allowing clients to visit our services on Fridays until there was a misunderstanding. Several of our staff met with their staff to mend the relationship.
We’ve done well with men from that facility, but poorly with the ladies. Seems no women in our church could catch the vision to reach out to these folks, despite a dozen or so accepting Christ each week.
We went into the meeting feeling pretty down–didn’t look like much hope for the future. But we came out with one of our Women of Hope pastors excited about engaging the ladies from the center.
In the past few days several “middle-class” women have volunteered to give rides and to make disciples as God opens doors. Again, I believe in the midst of our “down days” God presented a key to future blessing.
It is nice that our church reaches out to folks in treatment, but until the people who make up the heart and soul of the church get in the act the ministry is just a toy to brag about. As long as we leave ministry to addicts solely in the hands of former addicts we really aren’t living the love we talk about. All that changed a few days ago.
I believe we’ll now see the ministry to addicts expand, but more importantly I think our church just became more blessable. I think this simple act of love in one of our down moments was a test from the Lord of the Harvest to see if he could trust us with more acreage. This time I think we passed the test. I’m sure we’ve failed a few along the way, but this time I think we passed.
4 responses so far ↓
1 John // May 13, 2009 at 8:08 pm
I would say “passed the test” with flying colors!
Amen!
2 Noah // May 14, 2009 at 2:43 pm
The Church is like a hospitial, useful hospitials are filled with people of various illnesses, not just a certain disease.
3 Rod // May 15, 2009 at 9:27 am
This statement you made is so true…
“It is nice that our church reaches out to folks in treatment, but until the people who make up the heart and soul of the church get in the act the ministry is just a toy to brag about. As long as we leave ministry to addicts solely in the hands of former addicts we really aren’t living the love we talk about.”
I think it applies across the board with all area’s of addictions, area’s of wounds in people’s lives.
I know that in my life the deepest and hardest area’s of addictions, and wounds that God has broken me free of in the past have “ONLY” been through God using people who have the scars from their own failures and the badges of their deliverances that God brought in their lives as well.
I have a lot of memories of those who did not have these as well who have tried to help me break free from these things. These memories are not so pleasant and are memories of having these area’s get worse and more stuck as they tried to apply God’s healing to me. Yes, they had great intentions as they tried. Although the end result was more destruction and much more shame and pain in my life as the result of these well intentioned folks in the church.
Thanks Ralph for this post. It is resonating in me deeply…
4 clayton arnett // May 20, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I read this blog last week before the service on friday night with hina mauka, and did not have time to coment, Iam glad i waited. Iam the guy who orgainizes this ministy. and i have a huge praise report. more people reached out to our geusts than ever before last friday night a great number of people got together to make sure there prayer needs were met. when they went outside to receive there bibles after receiving the lord they were met with another group of prayer warriors to explain what just happend. i myself felt the love from the body and i also felt releived. this week i will be bring the wemen up to are church friday from hina mauka and i know they are going to be greeted just as well as the men were last week.I came up to hope chapel the fist time on a friday night alone. it was my third time i went to any church in my life, i was desperate i felt alone. I had been strugleing all my life.with drugs gangs depression and a down right emptyness and the people that made me feel welcome that night probobly could not relate to any of these things. soon after that my family and i got close to some of the finest people i have ever met in my life though mini church those people were so paitiont with us they really shined a light in my life. thats how my disippleship begain not to mention ralphs help and constant words of incouragement. my point is that all in all it took the whole body to help a wetch like me. and most of them.had not a clue what my life was like before jeasus entered my life. but you hope chapel execpted me just as i was and iam so gratefull to god for that. thanks clayton
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