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Cover Article
Lead Them To Us, That We May Lead Them To You
There are many different activities that happen around the
Rescue Mission. Many and varied are the tasks that are ours to accomplish in a
typical week. Sometimes my head spins when I think about the food orders,
vehicle inspections, maintenance and remodeling, cleaning, maintaining the
church chapel schedule, raising the funds, counseling the men, preparing the
newsletter, keeping the work schedule current, and so much more! I thank the
Lord that Alan and I are surrounded by faithful people who shoulder many of the
details of Mission life and work.
It is easy at times to get caught up in the “daily grind,” and miss out on some
of the blessings God has for us. I occasionally remind our staff (and myself)
that we are here about people. More important than the sales people, the service
technicians, the delivery guys and gals that stop by, are the clients - the
people who seek to us for help. As we were praying in a recent staff meeting, I
heard the words said about people with needs, “Lead them to us, that we may lead
them to You.” Those words gripped and still have hold of my heart! The
40-year-old agnostic who sat in our chapel (and later in my office) this morning
needed to be loved on. He needed to hear a logical presentation of Christ’s
claims on his life. We had won a hearing by feeding and housing him, and by the
kindness others showed him before ever he encountered me. Though not yet
convinced of the truth of the gospel, he listened graciously. He seemed to be
fertile soil for the gospel seed, and we had a chance to do some planting.
In this still somewhat “new year” of 2009, we will encounter an untold number of
people in a variety of situations. Most of them will seek shelter and meals.
Many others will be looking for groceries, clothing, furniture, or financial
assistance. Summertime will bring us a meeting with 128 children at Camp open
Arms. For 100 hours we will have the joy of impacting their lives for Christ.
Again, we will be surrounded by faithful people who will share in this ministry.
Our desire is to be poised to meet each of them with deep passion and
compassion, knowing that any such meeting can make a difference in someone’s
eternity. This takes, among other things, a great deal of prayer.
We need, covet, and request your aid in prayer this year more
than ever before. As we get deeper into the last days, called “perilous” by Paul
when writing to Timothy, ministry becomes more and more difficult. Hollywood and
Broadway spew out so much that is anti-Bible, anti-Christian and anti-God.
Liberal news media and education systems harden minds and hearts, young and old
against God’s truth. The growing menace of Islam, running rampant in our prison
system, is turning men into religious deviants, following a faith whose deity is
one of hate and destruction. Many of these men find their way to our shelter
(which exists in part because we serve a God of love and compassion). These are
so very hard to reach, and yet we must give every effort to do so. God leads
them to us, and we must lead them to Him.
Pray for our days to be full with ministry opportunities. Pray for our staff to
walk closely with God, in obedience to His Word. Pray for many people to find
their way to our door, and pray that we may lead them to One Who knocks at their
heart’s door, seeking entrance. Pray for health and strength for our staff, all
now a year older. Pray for God’s provision through our friends, that we may meet
the needs of others in Christ’s name. Thank you so much for praying.
Superintendent's
Corner
Loved Defined
When looking at words (which I love to do!) that have a
Biblical connection, I like to derive a definition for them from their usage in
the Word of God. For instance, the word “love” in various forms is found over
500 times in Scripture, so we should be able to come up with a clear meaning for
it. My own connotation goes something like this: “Love is a decision, resulting
in action, to pursue the welfare of another, regardless of what that pursuit may
cost me, and without regard to getting anything in return.” Now this is not
affection, infatuation, or a feel-good attitude about another person. While this
kind of love may generate feelings, it is not in itself a feeling, nor does it
depend on feelings.
This is the love of God that led Him to send His Son Jesus to
be my Savior. God made a decision, following it up with action, to pursue my
welfare in spite of there being great cost to him in that pursuit! The action
was the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The cost was watching His
Son be ill-treated by men, allowing Him to be handed over to wicked men for
trial, sentence, and execution, and ultimately turning His back on Jesus while
He bore our sins on the cross of shame. Interestingly, the profit from this
thing was for me; I am the one who benefitted from Christ’s great sacrifice of
Himself, equally costly to the Father and the Son, both of Whom are said to have
loved us so much as to prompt this great act.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” Ephesians 5:25 follows up with this, “Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” A
songwriter put it this way, “O, what love, that He should die for me; saving
grace thus to supply for me. O, what love - O, what love - evermore I’ll sing
it, O, what love!”
Here are three quick “R’s” about God’s love:
1) Recognize it, and worship Him;
2) Return it - love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength;
3) Replicate it - try and love those around us as God has
loved us. “Let us love one another...”
A Note From Alan
Morning Observations
It was an ordinary Monday morning as I walked through the
dining hall. Minutes before it had been busy with the typical pre-chapel
activity – men sitting around the tables enjoying the first cup of coffee while
engaging in conversations about the weekend’s sports wins, losses, and upsets.
Others just sit alone, quietly contemplating the day
ahead of them.
However, now the dining hall is quiet. The men are in the morning chapel
service. As I look around the dining hall I’m intrigued with what I see. There
are coats hanging on the backs of chairs. There are hats and backpacks sitting
neatly atop the storage bin. Why is this intriguing? For these men, these are
some of their most valuable possessions. Coats and hats are absolutely essential
for men who will spend most of their day outside in January. Their backpacks
contain vital information - medical records, birth certificates, small
collections of photos of family members. These are items that these men would
not leave sitting around just anywhere, but here, they feel safe. They feel
assured that their valuable items will not be taken from them while they are
here. There is a highly sought after sense of security inside these Rescue
Mission walls.
I look further and see coffee cups with napkins laid over
their open tops (this is the Rescue Mission way that a man saves his seat - and
his coffee cup!). There are place settings where a hot breakfast will be enjoyed
when the chapel service ends.
These observations speak to the physical side of the Rescue
Mission ministry. Secure shelter, clothing, and food are needs we must provide
if our residents are going to be open to any message aimed at their soul. That
morning the dining hall was a picture of physical needs being met. Through the
door into the next room (the chapel) represents the most important work – the
eternal work of delivering the message of the gospel into the lives of the
residents. Our residents, knowing at least for the moment that their physical
needs are met, now have the opportunity to slow down and hear God’s Word go
forth. It is because of your continued participation in this ministry that needs
– both physical and spiritual – can be met inside these walls!! I am so very
grateful for all of you!!!
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