The last two week's at Beer Store Church have offered up some pretty juicy quotes that certainly brought a smile to my face, and I thought might bring one to yours as well.
Two week's ago I was greeted by Kelly who I used to see quite regularly, but who has not been around for quite a few months. As it turns out he was both collecting bottles for a bit of extra cash, but he had also come specifically to see me. He was having some relationship and some apartment trouble and was wondering if I could help. He gently pulled me aside and asked if we could talk. His actual words went something like this:
"I wanted to talk to you about these things because you are the only normal person that I know."
This made me laugh right out loud! It is not often that I am accused of being "normal." I guess he does not actually know me very well. But I think I understand his point, those individuals from our Hamilton Fellowships who meet on the street corner each Monday are among the only relatively stable people with whom our recycling friends have relationships. Those relationships are based on love and respect and have begun to foster trust. I was able to listen and to share a bit, and with regards to his apartment situation, to steer him towards the agency who can best address his situation. I also gave him my number to call if he needed any help because he had lost his phone and i cannot call him. I did not hear from Kelly and I did not see him this past Monday. That is another lesson that I am trying to learn-our role. I would love to be able to share with you the very exiting and linear story of someone we met, helped, prayed for and shared Jesus with who finds housing, gets his life on track and comes to faith. More often than not we meet broken people who are in and out of our lives week by week, suffer with mental illness, disability, addiction issues and are from crazy environments. We cannot make choices for people, but rather encourage them. We can love and listen, but do not own their circumstances. What we aim to be is a consistent loving influence, and a source of unconditional love and service where they might experience dignity and respect. We can also pray, and ask you to pray, because only with God moving mightily can we ever see life transformation.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to offer Brian a sandwich and, as he was passing, in a slightly mumbled tone, he said:
"I don't look forward to anything in a week as much as this sandwich. I am starving by the time I get here and this is just great."
Again, it was heart warming to hear that our small gestures are so appreciated. It is also special for us to hear because Brian was one who would rarely, if ever, acknowledge us let alone talk with us. He would walk by and keep to himself, and he did this for months. Only recently have we begun to intentionally go over to him and offer a sandwich and try to chat a bit. We are beginning to see him warm up...just a bit.
Let me end this update with a thank you to those of you who have contributed financially to our work here in Hamilton. I recognize that without your support there would be no Beer Store ministry. Working with the poor and homeless is obviously not going to become a self sustaining ministry. But to anyone who has contributed to our work, those funds go both towards keeping me in full time ministry, which allows me to be there every Monday morning, as well as to all the supplies that we use to feed our friends. So, thank you very much.
If you have ever considered helping and were wondering how, there are a few great ways. Firstly, consider joining one of our Fellowships. We can always use people with a heart for Jesus and a heart for the city to join what we are doing spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially. If you are not from the city but wanted to contribute financially, then you can follow the link below to The Hamilton Fellowships website and click on the online donation tab.
www.hamiltonfellowships.com
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