Back to the Basics

    This past Friday I was not having the best day in the world.  I was serving in Manhattan at Chelsea Park, a spot that homeless men tend to hang out.  For some reason I had woken up on the wrong side of the bed and was not my usual self.  A semi-full container of soup had spilled on me so my pants were nice, wet, and soggy. And to top it off, it was exceptionally cold that day.  As the afternoon wore on and the crowd started to fade I wondered if the day would bring any "success."  I had not seen or helped refer one person  to a detox, employment agency, or anything else.  By this point I was counting the seconds till we would leave.  But in the midst of wallowing in my great despair I met a man named Saleem.  

    Saleem was an out of work engineer.  He had received his masters in aviation, but had been laid-off about a year ago due to the economy.  Despite the fact of his unemployment Saleem was not in need of housing, money, or food.  He was looking for was spiritual direction.  An avid reader and having more formal education than myself, we were able to go deeper into the basic principles of our faith.  As I began to share my story and my faith in Jesus something crazy happened: I was blown away at awesomeness my God.  We discussed the craziness of how a perfect man of love took upon himself the sins of the world, brought them to grave, and left them there!  How insane is that??  We talked about how when He returns all of our diseases, crimes, poverty, infant mortality, all of it, will be gone.  We talked about how we as urban missionaries bring hope and healing into dark places in anticipation of that great return.  By the end of our conversation I felt like I had re-lead myself back to a salvation experience!  

     As I was driving home I was thinking about why we do what we do... Why I do what I do...  That day I was reminded what it means to be the bearers of Christ's love and hope.  And I was encouraged to continue doing the work that the Master has set before me.  Although I'm not sure if Saleem fully understood what we were discussing, I know the Spirit was in our conversation and a seed was planted.  Please pray for Saleem as he continues his journey in search for truth.  And as always please keep the ministry and myself in prayer as we bring hope to the hopeless of NYC.

   I would also encourage you and your family to pray about possibly partnering with me financially as I continue to work the fields.  God has been beyond faithful during my short time here and I have faith He will continue to provide.  Grace & Peace to you and your family...