If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
— 1 John 1:9

This past Saturday I agreed with a concern/comment that was made by one of our residents. At the time it made sense to me, at the time I was frustrated and tired, at the time I allowed my sinful nature to get the best of me. Yea, Saturday was a rather eventful day. (As to what I agreed with, I’ll get to that later).

While I was giving a tour of Jeff St. to a seminarian who wanted to research homeless shelters and other organizations that promote mercy, he asked me the question of what made Jeff St. different than all the other shelters in Louisville. Now being that I am not too familiar with all the other shelters in the city, I encouraged the student to ask one of our residents who was very familiar with the other shelters in the city. Our resident replied with, “This place is a lot more secure than other shelters,” the student hurriedly took notes and listened with great intent. And sure enough something rather ironic took place; just after the Jeff St. resident praised the security at Jeff St. something came over my radio along the lines, “Darrell there’s a fight in the cafeteria.” I quickly excused myself from the second floor and headed downstairs to the day shelter.

When I arrived I heard yelling and saw two men engaging in fisticuffs (yea, that’s right I used the word fisticuffs). With the help of other staff, some volunteers, and day shelter guests, the rumble subsided and we were able to separate the two men. Only one our guests sustained some mild injuries, but the tension in the air was thick and we quickly asked the guest who was not injured to leave the premises and informed him that he was suspended indefinitely as we do with any party that is involved in a fight. I spoke with the young man who was injured and asked him why the fight took place, he looked down and slowly told me that it was over the state of Alabama. Not a sports team or any kind of rivalry of sorts, but the actual state itself (this was definitely a first).

The young man I spoke with was talking with his friend, who is from Alabama, and made a comment that didn’t settle well with an older gentleman who has some ties to the state. Some words were exchanged and the two men quickly found themselves in each other’s faces. It was really a sad sight. When I asked the young man if he understood why we were going to have to suspend him from Jeff St. he brushed it off and seemed to not realize how fighting was not the answer to anything. I found myself rather frustrated with the situation that had taken place and the conversation I had with the young man.

Later that evening at dinner, I was sharing with one of our residents what had transpired and he said something that I didn’t expect him to say. He said that since Jeff St. is in the process of parting ways from government funding that we should be more exclusive about who we allow in the day shelter. His comment wasn’t promoting defining the lines between the bourgeois and the proletariat, but for the “good” folks (my interpretation) to come in and the “bad” folks to not come in. And in the midst of my frustration with my previous conversation with the young man in the day shelter, I foolishly said, “you may have something there.”

Looking back on it now, I can’t believe I agreed with that statement. Because I know that my agreement was due to my sin. It was due to my judgment and anger I had towards that young man who was quite disrespectful to me as I spoke with him.

Is that how heaven works??? NO ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

My foolish rationale resonated with a line from a Matthew Good Band song “Load Me Up” which claims:

…”if heaven is for clean people, then it’s vacant.”

Such cynicism is so far away from the Gospel that I’m having a hard time admitting to this to all you folks out their in cyberspace. But as we learn from 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins we will be forgiven. Now if I, a believer who serves in a homeless shelter, am hesitant to own up to my own sin how is that I could be so callous to expect someone who may not have any idea what the Gospel is to understand the importance of being repentant of sin.

Heaven is full of clean people who were washed in the Blood of the Lamb, just like the old hymn says. It’s not vacant! The two men who were fighting over the state of Alabama may very well be up there with me one day, but if I sit and say let’s allow this person to come in, but this person not to due to a unfair assumption of another person’s character or lack thereof then we’re pretty much shooting ourselves in the foot when we wish to share the Good News.

“The least of these” are not just those that we get along with, they are those that we do not understand and sometimes have to ask to leave for being in a fight. But to not give them a chance would be such a disservice to folks.

Owning up to your own sin isn’t always easy. Jeff St. has made some bold decisions to be able to advance the Gospel, not make our place an exclusive ministry. This is my confessional blog, this is my cry and plea. Please continue to pray for Jeff St. Pray that we, as staff, would seek out the wisdom,peace and love of our heavenly Father and that we would not fall into the temptation of the enemy. That we would be lights that shine for Christ  who show His mercy to those we’ve been called to love and serve and not people manning a velvet rope at our day shelter entrance. Pray for God’s kingdom to be advanced in our community, pray for the two men who we’ve suspended due to fighting.

Question for myself and the masses:
ARE YOU DENYING THE CROSS’ ABILITY TO FORGIVE YOUR SIN?

“Forgiveness yields real, lasting joy…unconfessed sin yields heartache and devastation.” —Chad Lewis, a pastor at Sojourn Community Church

OH LORD, guide us all.
-Amen.

“The Christian never loses, because the Christian has nothing to lose.”
-Richard Rohr

I had a lot on my mind the other night so I got in my car and took a drive through the city. While driving downtown, I thought about an argument that took place in our day shelter earlier that day. The exchange of words didn’t disrupt the other guests; it wasn’t loud, nor was it vulgar, it was just unfortunate. It was unfortunate to see two friends get frustrated with one another, it was unfortunate that the argument stemmed from greed and envy. But that’s to be expected (but not accepted) in this fallen world. The day was busy and the night drive was much needed…I covered many parts of the city; from poorer neighborhoods to very affluent neighborhoods. While at a stop light in one of the more affluent neighborhoods, I found myself behind a Mercedes that looked like it never saw a rainstorm or ever touched a gravel road and in the left lane came a nice sports car. The two cars revved up there engines beneath the red light and the two drivers exchanged some words (they didn’t seem to be too pleasant), then once the light turned green the two cars peeled out and raced one another down the street. As this took place one of the cars carelessly swerved in the other’s lane to secure its position in front of the other vehicle. It was something of a cross between a NASCAR race and a Grey Poupon commercial gone bad. Needless to say it wasn’t necessary.

It’s funny how God can remind you that no matter what your socioeconomic status, we are are all subjected to sin. And that when we fail to recognize Him as our Lord, the one who gives and takes away, we then see  our own ability and understanding as God-substitutes.  It’s not a money thing, it’s a sin thing.

“We live in a world where lust and greed motivate hearts, not what God intended the heart to do. We live in a world where all of these things touch all of our lives. No relationship is free of disappointment. No institution is totally free of corruption. No location is free of difficulty. No moment in our lives exists untouched by the fall.” — Paul Tripp

BETTER is a poor man who walks with integrity
Than he who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

(2) Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who makes haste with his feet errs.

(3) The foolishness of man subverts his way.
And his heart rages against the Lord.

PROVERBS 19:1-3

OH LORD, guide us all.
-Amen.

Romanticize
–verb (used with object)

1.	to make romantic; invest with a romantic character: Many people romanticize the role of an editor.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to hold romantic notions, ideas, etc.

I’ve learned a great deal during my time here at Jeff St. Something that I’ve learned here is that when it comes to serving the Lord, whether it be overseas installing water purifiers, leading a small group at a church, setting a good example amongst our coworkers, or handing out a bowl of soup in a homeless shelter…such service is not ours to make of it what we will. We should not  get caught up in the romantic ideas of fulfilling our heart’s desire.

What I mean by that is that our first passion, whether you be a school teacher or a missionary supported solely by a church, should be that of Christ Jesus. Living a life that serves as a living sacrifice and falling in love with the Lord all over again everyday as well as dying to our own ambitions and selfish desires daily is what should fuel our hearts to serve faithfully and humbly. Recently a friend of mine asked me about my thoughts on the possibility of them moving to Africa and serving as a missionary there; I quickly said, “don’ t do it.” Confused, my friend asked me why I would say such a thing and probably wondered (at the time) what kind of friend I was; but I replied by telling this person that your call to serve should not be dependent on my affirmation/support but rather what it is that the Lord is telling them to do. I answer the same way to friends who are interested in attending a Bible college or Seminary, it’s not to be discouraging but to rather challenge them to seek the Lord more than people. NOTE: I do pray for these people to seek out the Lord and recognize His guidance in their lives.

Stressing the importance to seek out the Lord is something that I need to do everyday, it’s so easy for me to take my time at Jeff St. and make it my own. Such thinking leads me astray from what I was called to do…Love God & love others. Instead, I mull on why the ministry isn’t this picturesque experience that you see on film and read in books. The letdown that, at times, ensues is the aftermath of recognizing that my own desires and ideals on how things should be are not the way that God had intended it to be.

Why is that I can nod my head and agree with the preacher on a Sunday morning, but fail to do the same thing when I find myself breaking up a fight that started over a piece of luggage. Something is not right here, and that something is my own heart.

It’s not always easy hearing people tell you that “you’re doing such a great thing” or “I’m very proud of you” when I know in my own heart that  some days are sullied with the selfish aspirations of living out a movie script or being the central character to helping someone change. SHAME ON ME! How on earth will I selflessly serve when my service is fueled by romanticizing the ministry field.

One tragic result of romanticizing the ministry field (or anything in life even) more than we love and adore the Lord, is the paralyzing trend of setting unrealistic expectations. Noted pastoral counselor and author Paul Tripp observed that…”unrealistic expectations cause each of us to live more independently and self-sufficiently that we ever should.” He goes on to further note that we set unrealistic expectations because, “we don’t take seriously what the Bible has to say about the condition of the world in which we live. Here it is: Sin has cast this world into trouble.”

Now it’s easy to sit down and have visions of extending a helping hand to someone who thirsts (there’s nothing wrong with this kind of mercy/help), but when the moment comes that we have to endure the evils of this world and witness first hand that spiritual warfare is indeed a reality…the ideal version of our service conjured up by unrealistic expectations and romanticizing the idea of serving our Lord is not being lived out. We then have two options, cash in our chips admit defeat before the masses and leave the table or humbly repent before the Lord and ask for a renewal of the heart, so that we do not fall into the trend of self-seeking/romanticized ministry all over again.

“The opposite of being in despair is to have faith.” — Soren Kierkegaard

Today I spoke with a two young people and it broke my heart to speak to them, it broke my heart to know that the 18 year old young man and his 17 year old girlfriend were on their way to Daytona Beach, FL to live the “good life.” It broke my heart to urge them to find people who cared about them and wanted the best for their lives. It broke my heart to then think that may not be a reality. No you can’t plan ahead for these moments, nothing from a book or a film can prepare you for the ministry that God calls us to do everyday. And that’s exactly why we shouldn’t romanticize serving him, because we don’t want to make it our own. That’s why quiet time with God and finding the truths of His Word are so vital for our day to day lives and I pray that all our thirst would be quenched by his righteous Truth.

“God created man in his image, man returned the favor” – Blaise Pascal

Oh I pray that we do not fall into the trap of thinking that we’ve got a better plan for ministering to “the least of these” or that doing so is some picturesque endeavor that makes us feel good about ourselves when the day is done.

OH LORD, guide us all.
-Amen.

First of all I apologize for my lack of blogging.  I know that I have some faithful readers, and I would love to be consistent in writing for you all; however, you understand the crazy schedule that comes with the nature of what I am doing.  Quite honestly sometimes I really don’t feel like writing anything coherent.  My mind can get to racing, and recently my heart has been heavy with the circumstances surrounding the Hope Team and residents of JSBC.  With all of that said, I hope you enjoy my thoughts on community and are challenged in some small way to evaluate how you do life.

There is a kind of massage where they press deep into your muscles, called a deep tissue massage.  It is painful.  They literally hurt you and say it’s a massage.  Hah.  But the hours and days following are incredibly relieving and refreshing.  You somehow feel less stressed.  Your body loosens up too.  That lower back pain doesn’t seem to be there, at least not nearly as prevalent.  The lunchtime racquetball games are actually enjoyable, well, until a shot inevitably smacks you in the nose.  In the next week or two, you are craving another deep tissue massage – that’s right, you long for another hour of pain, where the masseuse is digging his knuckles into your shoulder with all of his body weight.  You are totally cool with the temporary pain because of the relief that is sure to come.

I would compare aspects of Christian community to a deep tissue massage.  There is something called accountability.  Christians are called to dig deep into one another’s lives, to the point that it can be painfully awkward or humiliating.  It’s unusual, and it can really mess you up.  When they start asking the tough questions, you want to fight it and tell them to get off your back.  When they really start to dig in with the knuckles and body weight, every fiber of your being tells you, “This isn’t right.”  But remember how I described the after effects of a deep tissue massage?  There is relief and a totally unexpected freshness that results.  The temporary pain has passed, and you are actually stronger, more flexible, and more alive.  A weight has been lifted.  In a week or two, you are craving another session of accountability – that’s right, you long for those deep layers of life to be seen again, for the forgotten pieces of the puzzle to be dusted off and reevaluated.  You are totally cool with the temporary pain because of the life that is sure to come.

God calls His followers to this kind of accountability and community.  The book of James tells us to confess our sins to one another.  Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains, “A man confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself, he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person.  As long as I am by myself in the confession of my sins, everything remains in the dark, but in the presence of a brother, the sin has to be brought into the light.”  Proverbs says as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.  The past Sunday our pastor at Sojourn preached on Friendship.

He mentioned the necessity and usefulness of a loving rebuke – when a man can speak truth into his friend’s life even when it hurts.  I confess that I struggle to speak boldly, opting to ignore or rationalize my friends’ behavior.  I now realize that is not at all loving!  I am allowing a brother in Christ to blindly disobey, and I do nothing to correct him and point him back to God.  May God give me the boldness and love to speak up when I see a friend stumbling, to dig my knuckles deep into his skin so that he can walk away a changed man.

Sadly we don’t see this very often.  How many of you have deep friendships like what I described earlier?  How many of you are being completely transparent with someone?  Are you digging deep into anyone’s life?  We rarely let anyone past the surface layers.  We have a lot of hidden stuff.  They say nothing good comes easy, and we usually choose the easy things in life.  So many communities, so many circles of friends, so many aspects of American society, act much more like a light back rub.

I can’t help but wonder if God meant something more for us…if he meant for us to grow deeper in community.
So many times in the bible people are referred to as an entire population. Quite rarely does the Lord speak on a specific person. Most often, it seems that people are massed together based on their works and faith as a people.
We are deeply connected.
That is undeniable.

Much of the world however is bound in a selfish and prideful state of mind. We are caught in a belief that our life is our own. It is a state of mind that has been passed down through generations.

Mat 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Mat 18:2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
Mat 18:3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
Mat 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Children relate with humility. When we picture a healthy child we picture him active with many friends. He is running around outside…not sitting in the sandbox by himself.
This is the call of humility we must respond to. To live not a life in a sandbox, but a life affecting others.
We should feed off of the people we encounter – and we should always be willing to give everything back.

We are accountable not simply for our own actions, but those of our community. It is our actions that shape the people around us. Our actions can very simply cause someone to stumble.
We must realize that God sees the deep connections in our lives. He knows how our words and thoughts effect the people we are surrounded by. He knows and he keeps account.
When another stumbles, how quickly we point our finger at them…but perhaps sometimes, God points His finger at us.

Community in the deepest sense should be a realization of dependency on one another.
We should realize that we receive our strength from one another – but also that our interactions with one another are necessary for advancing the kingdom of heaven.

The way that we interact..outdoing one another in service, abounding in love – that is the ultimate example of Christianity.

We must remember that Christ dwells within. The depth of our love for Christ reflects in the way we interact with one another.

***

Important questions to ask yourself:

Is Christ holding the number one position in my life?

Does that reflect in my interactions with others?

Do I spend time alone to get closer to Christ or to focus on myself?

What is my purpose when I wake up?

What is God’s purpose when I wake up?

Do I complicate the will of God with my own desires?

Do I set up my own expectations that create pain, sorrow, doubt, and anxiety when they fail to come to fruition?

Where do I find my identity?

Do I make my decisions based on my good or the good of the community?

Do I realize that “each one of them is Jesus in disguise”?

How do you act around the most important person you know? Do you treat them with respect and dignity? Is there a reverence? How much greater is the holiness of God? Do you treat him with the same reverence? Do you have an understanding of God that makes people pale in comparison?

What do you see first: the actions of the person – or the spirit of God at work within them?

Who is my closest community?

Who can affect me the most directly?

Am I realizing a “true” community with them? Do we build each other up? Do we willingly give and take from one another?

In times of stress do I lean harder on my community or do I turn to myself?

Is the base of my community God? Is it apparent in our interactions? Can our love be seen? Does it give testimony to our faith in Christ?

Do I smile when I see people?

Do people walk away from me happier…with more love then before?

Do I think that my purpose is to transform people – or simply to love them?

***

Quotes from Mother Theresa:

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much
love we put in that action.
Mother Teresa

Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.
Mother Teresa

Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the
love of Jesus.
Mother Teresa

Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary.
What we need is to love without getting tired.
Mother Teresa

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you
without leaving happier.
Mother Teresa

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to
love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve
hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved
in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our
love for each other must start.
Mother Teresa

The success of love is in the loving – it is not in the result of loving. Of
course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but
whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of
what we have done.
Mother Teresa

The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.
Mother Teresa

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong
to each other.
Mother Teresa

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless.
The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest
poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.
Mother Teresa

Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high
vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace
it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience.
Mother Teresa

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the
beginning of love.
Mother Teresa

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope this finds you doing well as we welcome a new year, a new decade – the year 2010. I spent the start of this New Year in my hometown enjoying a refreshing and much-needed vacation from the ministry here in Louisville.

A new year brings the start of a new beginning – a fresh start so to speak. I don’t know about you, but I find myself looking for a new year to help me forget about the trials of the past year or to bring better days ahead. Often times the coming of another January 1st signals a coming of change.

While I may associate change with the start of a new year, change is taking place all the time. I’m blessed to be serving at Jeff. Street, where I see change occurring in people’s lives regularly. I talk to our residents here, many who are in our 6-month Fresh Start recovery program, and listen to the positive work God is doing in their lives. My friend Jeremy was one of four men who made up the first graduating class from the Fresh Start program. Jeremy recently acquired a job last month. He enjoys the work he is doing and is making progress towards leaving Jeff. Street soon. Change is happening.

I see change in our neighborhood as well. For Thanksgiving a neighbor cooked us dinner, rather than us cooking for her as a ministry opportunity, which we’ve done numerous times since the summer. Our relationship with a Christian single-mom, domestic abuse victim, and cancer survivor is changing too. Ms. Nancy, our neighborhood “mom”, invited us to go shopping with her last month; it was the first time we went out of our neighborhood and did something together as friends. Change is happening.

Change is happening. God is at work. Whether or not we want it, expect it, or hope for it, “a change is gonna come” (to quote the song originally written by Sam Cooke during the Civil Rights Movement). Change is most certainly going to be a part of this New Year. It is inevitable. Change may bring about joy such as the union of two lives in a Christ-centered marriage. Change may bring about suffering with the loss of a loved one or the discovery of an illness. No matter what the changes may be, God will ultimately be glorified and honored in and through change.

While we may not see why such changes are occurring in our lives, we can have faith that one day we will see things clearer than we do here on this earth. The apostle Paul writes these words to the church in Corinth, “Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Yet, until that time comes, until we arrive at Heaven and see Christ face to face, we are to lean on Him for strength in the midst of change. Paul writes in Philippians that, “…I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (4:12-13).

I pray that in this year ahead, you will seek Christ and lean on Him in all situations and circumstances. May you place your faith, trust and hope in Him in all the changes that are to come.

Thank you for your continued love and support!

“Petru Barladeanu was accidentally shot by Italian mafia in a crowded street in the center of Napoli close to the Spanish Quarter, on the 26th of May, 2009. The event took place at a moment when the street was full of people who witnessed the assault at early hours of the evening. Taking refuge at the entrance of a station, Petru Barladeanu fell and died half an hour later in the presence of his panicked wife who called for help. As shown in the CCTV video of the event the victim was surrounded by ordinary people who looked at the victim without giving any help whatsoever and then fled the scene. The victim eventually died and the perpetrators as well as those who refused to assist the victim have not been convicted.”

Feel the paper between your fingers. This paper links you to 150 others. It links you to the old and to the young. It links you to Christians and Atheists. It links you to married couples and divorced singles. This paper links you to people across the US. Each of these people lives a life different from yours. You might not like someone else who holds this paper. Some of the people who hold this paper make double your salary in a month. Some of the people who hold this paper are unemployed. Some of the holders are liberals. Some are conservatives. Some are republicans; others are democrats. Some of the people who hold this paper are full of blinding pride. Some of the people who hold this paper lust after countless impurities. Some find their fulfillment in drinking. Some of the holders are workaholics. Some holders have had an abortion. Some of the holders are pregnant and not married. Some steal regularly. Some of the holders think they are perfect. Some holders are depressed. Some holders find their identity in their children. Some live without a purpose. Some holders want to know who I’m talking about. Some holder’s think I’m talking about them…some holders think I’m not talking about them. Some aren’t actually holding a paper, but a mouse instead. Some holders have already put this paper in the trash. Some have already closed their browser. 150 people, each different, but bound together in a group. 150 people linked to a cause. 150 people, I wonder how many will hear?

The Bystander Effect – you have undoubtedly heard this term. Our awareness is awakened with the unreported stabbing of Kitty Genovese witnessed by 38 individuals in New York, the story above, and episodes of Law & Order and Real TV. We are shocked and horrified as we watch people suffer horribly through the eyes of so many passersby’s. It makes us doubt that goodness even exists in this world. It tears us to the core.

Why? Why do you expect someone to do something? Why in the face of injustice do we expect righteousness? What is righteousness? If we are beings who have evolved through survival of the fittest, why do we care as it continues to take its course? If people are born out of cosmic coincidence…where do we get a concept of right and wrong? If we are people, rather, if we are evolved apes, why should we expect justice to even exist? Why do we feel the pains of emotion when we are the one who is left to suffer? Why do we almost tangibly feel that if we can only hope hard enough, we will be delivered? What makes us long for deliverance? What keeps us from giving up?

My friend Ryan, a graduate of Jeff Street’s Fresh Start program has a chilling history. Abuse haunted his past. It traumatized his ability to build healthy relationships. It gave him an inability to trust those around him, even as they reached out to him. Yet even as he pushed people away, he pushed himself to the center. He willingly took the pedestal, longing for the attention he was granted in his abuse. Drugs and partying were quick to follow. He became lost in a scene of devastation. It’s a state that many will never leave, but as Ryan would say, “I found Our Heavenly Father.”
In the acceptance of a heavenly father he was able to move past the transgressions of his earthly father. He was able to heal his inner injuries. He was able to live for a purpose higher then drugs. He found his identity in something more meaningful than parties.
His past caught up with him. He was sentenced to a year in jail. It was not easy. Abuse, taunting, and isolation violently recreated images of his past, but he had a new foundation that could not be destroyed. Leaning upon Jesus Christ he led bible studies and ministered to his fellow inmates. Despite this, he did not emerge unscathed. Still young in his faith he was bitter toward God – bitterness led to doubt, and doubt led to regression.
His Older brother, not willing to allow Ryan to return to a lifestyle of waste, checked him into Jefferson Street. Ryan came…grumpy, untrusting, and mad at the world. He was bitter and sarcastic. He had lost sight of what was important. The change from that time to now is startling.
Ryan has once again found his faith in God. He has emerged with a faith not so young and naive, but of deeper understanding and maturity. He has found his rest in God, and a deeper transformation is occurring in his heart.
That transformation may not be complete, but it’s amazing to witness the process. It’s inspiring to watch selfishness dissolve into selflessness. It’s encouraging to see self adoration turn to Christ adoration. It’s amazing to see a focus on earthly relationships refocus into godly relationships. Ryan has reconciled with his father; he now regularly attends service at Sojourn Community Church, and participates in their local outreach program. A boy, who came pouting, has emerged a godly man.
I was blessed to hail in 2010 with Ryan and couldn’t help but be proud of him as he humorously interacted with my friends. His resolution is Luke 9:62, “Though we don’t have plows,” he joked, “a mop will work.”

The Bystander Effect can occur on many levels. It might be abuse. It might be emotional trauma. It might be addictions. You are a bystander to something. You have witnessed a wrong and done nothing to confront it. You have seen the elderly neighbor struggle and passed responsibility to her children. You have seen the co-worker lost in melancholy and passed responsibility to your boss. You have heard the request for volunteers at work or at church and passed responsibility to the many others. You are busy, he’s not doing it, I’m doing way more then she is – these are the excuses of a bystander. These excuses so loudly reverberate in our minds that they mute the cries for help as our neighbor is repeatedly stabbed to death.

I must confess supporters, I have felt this effect. There are 150 of you. 12.6% of the 150 have offered tangible support (letters, cards, donations, phone calls, e-mails, etc.). 6.6% of the 150 have offered financial assistance. Of that 6.6% 1 person has donated more than everyone else combined. So far, my most extreme donation has been < $1 in change from a delightful and caring 10 year old. It is not a small amount that concerns me; it is the lack of any amount. I need your visible support. I need to know that as I pray to not be a bystander to the “hurting” that comes into Jeff Street, you are praying right beside me. I know the prayers have been happening.
I have seen their effect, and I have suffered in their withdrawal. Please do not be sparing. Overload me with communication. I want to hear your prayer requests. I want to give you more of mine. I want to share in your life stories as I describe my own adventures. I, dear supporters, do not want to simply be a bystander to you.

I challenge you this year my friends and family. I challenge you to not be a bystander. Start with me! Send me an e-mail, write me a letter, mail me a picture, donate $10, put a note to pray for the mission on your bathroom mirror, send me a story…. Do not shirk me onto the crowd, I want you! Do not abandon me; do not answer my request only to satisfy a temporary conviction. Be consistent; fulfill the need for prayer, communication, time and money until the mission has ended. We all have our own journeys and I welcome you to mine. Inspire me daily.

You are linked to 150 others through this paper. None of our journeys are perfect. We each have the ability, however; to cling to perfection. I can confidently and undoubtedly assure you that we are not the effect of a “cosmic coincidence.” Our emotions and inner desire for righteousness are case enough for this. There is a creator who has a perfect standard. He has revealed his will to us through his word; he has manifested his word in the perfect life of Jesus Christ. We have all been bystanders, but Christ has carried that burden for us. When we take Him into our hearts we begin to feel, hear, and empathize with those around us. It becomes harder to be a bystander when you feel the tug of the Lord calling you to act on his behalf. The purpose of a Christian is not to judge; it is to convey the love of Jesus Christ to one another, and in effect, the world.

May Christ’s Love enter fully into our lives; may it transform us, may it comfort us, may it grow and overflow into the world around us. Amen.

Love, JC Williams

Throughout my life I have always had neighbors, but I never intentionally tried to get to know them.  In the past I just lived for myself, not caring for those around me.  I was completely focused on me.  Even while attending a bible college, I did not really talk to my neighbors, I just associated with my friends.  This pattern would have continued if I had not come to HOPE.

Nancy is our neighbor.  She is an African American 46 year old woman.  She is a school teacher, domestic violence survivor, single mother, and an amazing Christian woman.  She inspires me in so many ways. She has not had an easy life. She was married but it ended in divorce because of abuse.  She knows God is going to provide her with a good Christian man in the future.  Her confidence is a tribute to her faith…and an inspiration to myself.  It is largely thanks to her that I can confidently proclaim, “I love getting to know my neighbors!”

The week before Christmas break, Emily, Linsey and I surprised the kids on our street by making cookies.  Emily and I went to deliver the cookies. (Linsey was not able to go with us because she has been ill.  Please keep Linsey in your prayers as she is still going  through a time of illness). As we were returning home, Nancy was outside talking to Eliza (another neighbor) about recent events that occurred in our neighborhood.  Emily and I joined the conversation and before we knew it we were on our way to K-mart with Nancy.  We went shopping and got a few things for the house while Nancy bought Christmas presents.

While we were shopping, Nancy bought us a Christmas present without telling us who it was for.  Fortunately, we had the same plan for her: we discovered several elegant glass candleholders that Nancy loved.  We went back and got them for her as a Christmas present.  The warmth and excitement I felt when we gave her the gift still resonates; she loved them! She even stated that she is going to use them as a centerpiece at her wedding.

After Christmas break, Emily and I returned to her house and the candleholders where her table centerpiece. She was so excited to show them to us. Nancy had purchased herself a Wii while were gone – to workout on the Wii Fit – so she invited Emily and I to play.  We stayed there for about an hour, laughing and enjoying each others company.

Nine months ago I had not a clue who Nancy was, but now we are exchanging Christmas gifts, hanging out, and playing Wii. If I would have moved into this neighborhood on my own, I would not have gotten to know Nancy, but because of the HOPE program where I was challenged to get to know my neighbors; I am able to exchange gifts and develop long lasting friendships.

There are so many other neighbors I have gotten to know.  There is an atheist couple down the street expecting their first child.  A blue collar single mother and her teenage son live right next door. A grandmother, her son, and his kids live just down the block. Our block is very unique.  It is mixed of both African Americans and Caucasians. Our neighborhood itself, however, is predominately African American.  These demographics are completely different from my hometown.

Going home to PA for Christmas I very easily fell into my old pattern.  I did not talk to one neighbor.  I know it’s not where I live anymore, but what I am learning now is something I want to take with me the rest of my life. If I am not being intentional while living in my current lifestyle, how can I ever hope to be intentional once I complete the HOPE program?

This is where ya’ll can come beside me in support.  I know it is far off, but I will need your support when I am done with HOPE.  Returning home exposed the depth of materialism that is present in the world.  I was home for such a short period, yet found myself reverting to old patterns of behavior.  HOPE is making it plain that accountability is key.  I am asking you to keep me accountable in all areas of my life that have changed while I have been at HOPE.  I want you to ask me how I am doing.  I want you to be involved in my life.  I will need you then and I need you now.  Please continue to send your support.  As a team we are still working to reach our goal.

Though I have built a great  community here, I still miss home.  I could use your support financially, but I can also use it with letters of encouragement, cards, and prayers.  Knowing that you are with me in this journey offers me the encouragement I need when things get really tough.  I need you guys!  I can not do what I am doing with out you!

There is a hill in Lithuania that is covered in symbols of faith in Christ. In the face of adversity, pilgrims made homage to the Lord in the form of tens of thousands of crosses. Some of these are giant crucifixes; others are crosses no more than half a meter. But all demonstrate their faith.

“Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” – Psalm 31:23-24

When Lithuanians rebelled against their Russian occupiers in the 19th Century, many were killed and their bodies never recovered. It is at this time that villagers first started coming to the hill to honor their fallen by placing crosses there. When the Tsar fell in the early 20th Century, Lithuania regained its independence, but it wasn’t long before the Soviet Union took over in the wake of World War II. Moscow considered the display a threat to the Union and fought against it. The hill was plowed several times, but each time the crosses materialized again. There were even rumors that a dam would be built nearby, in effect drowning the hill and centuries of heritage. The Hill of Crosses eventually became a symbol for peaceful resistance.

The crosses once again began to flourish like spring grass poking out of the snow. As the bitter winter came to an end, a revival of faith came. Today over 55,000 crosses stand on the hill, an incredible number compared to the 400 before the war. The liberty and the faith of the people of Lithuania, and indeed all of Eastern Europe, could not be taken away from them.

There are times in a man’s life when he must stand up for his beliefs and inalienable rights. The Creator imparted all mankind free will. In hard times, it is easy to doubt God and your own ability to change the circumstances. But a single contribution can encourage so many more than yourself. A single man changed mankind’s fate as we know it.

We had a group come all the way from the University of South Florida to devote themselves for a week to the shelter. Their commitment, and the effort of so many other volunteers, including Morehead State University, is deeply appreciated. Please be willing to take the time to reach out to one another, be it your family, neighbor, or a complete stranger. A few words of encouragement could be all it takes to brighten someone’s day. But I do hope you’ll take the time to help turn their life around. Jeff Street values every donation, but financial contributions are direly needed more than anything. I sincerely thank all of you who have donated and prayed for our mission.

With Love and Hope,
Linsey Edn

I’m feeling so much better today. I could have worked all day today and it would’ve been fine. Maybe I’ll even stay up late tonight . It’s great to not feel like you’re freezing all the time and struggle just to pay attention to people. Sorry, Pastor. I hope that I remember to stay focused on God and remember that he gave me my health back. I don’t expect to feel perfect until the 21st or Christmas, but just this change in energy is exciting.

I want to record this so I don’t take for granted what a miracle it is to be alive.