 |
| "the view from our truck" |
Every
week we go to Tompkins Square Park and set up chairs along the fence for our
guests to sit and enjoy a cup of soup with bagels and hot chocolate. For
some who pass by, the sight of our step van is a delightful surprise to their
day as they take time to rest and appreciate the free food.
Two weeks ago, a man name Pete was passing by when he saw us and joyfully grabbed a cup of soup and sat down. A little after he started commenting about the music he was listening to. “That’s real good spiritual music there. It reminds me of my grandmother, she was a real spiritual woman… she prayed for me a lot and I miss her.” It was then I started asking him about his life. He began sharing how he used to go to church but didn’t want to do “the right thing”. As a result of his choices he was incarcerated and lost everything. He shared how he was trying to live right afterwards but his wife left him and he lost his apartment. This caused him to become very angry at God and questioned what’s the point to trying? All this happened a year ago, but since then Pete said he wasn’t angry and has been meaning to go back to church but hasn’t. It was then that I started sharing how God is pursuing after him to come back. Even if Pete was delaying his visit to church, God had him there to fellowship with the Church out here on the streets. He was encouraged by what I said and we continued to talk. He let me pray for him and I was able to give him some of our SLM worship music to enjoy.
That day, I was reminded what “church on the streets” looked like and like others we meet, Pete is one of many who are not ready go inside a church but God is reaching them through us going to the streets. I love it when God brings divine appointments like this and know that there are many more Petes’ out on the streets of New York.
Thank you so much for reading this & know that your support help make this happen!
Two weeks ago, a man name Pete was passing by when he saw us and joyfully grabbed a cup of soup and sat down. A little after he started commenting about the music he was listening to. “That’s real good spiritual music there. It reminds me of my grandmother, she was a real spiritual woman… she prayed for me a lot and I miss her.” It was then I started asking him about his life. He began sharing how he used to go to church but didn’t want to do “the right thing”. As a result of his choices he was incarcerated and lost everything. He shared how he was trying to live right afterwards but his wife left him and he lost his apartment. This caused him to become very angry at God and questioned what’s the point to trying? All this happened a year ago, but since then Pete said he wasn’t angry and has been meaning to go back to church but hasn’t. It was then that I started sharing how God is pursuing after him to come back. Even if Pete was delaying his visit to church, God had him there to fellowship with the Church out here on the streets. He was encouraged by what I said and we continued to talk. He let me pray for him and I was able to give him some of our SLM worship music to enjoy.
That day, I was reminded what “church on the streets” looked like and like others we meet, Pete is one of many who are not ready go inside a church but God is reaching them through us going to the streets. I love it when God brings divine appointments like this and know that there are many more Petes’ out on the streets of New York.
Thank you so much for reading this & know that your support help make this happen!
