Erica in 628

My Saturday morning consisted of the stench of beer, numerous broken bottles, and a ladies undergarment.

Before speculating that you ran across the wrong blog, rest assured you are reading this accurately.

While many comfortably nuzzled under their warm blankets, the Revolution student ministry purposefully rose early to spend their day serving those less fortunate at the Decatur Dream Center. On the first and third Saturday of each month, volunteers from churches and organizations across the area come together with one goal:

To share the love of Jesus Christ with the hundreds who arrive. No strings attached.

Besides a piping hot meal, free clothes, haircuts, and a powerful gospel presentation we spent most of the afternoon taking enormous bags of groceries to the vehicles, bicycles, and buses our guests arrived in. Looking into their eyes, hearing their stories, and having the opportunity to simply ask their name and shake their hand gave all involved a sense of dignity and purpose.

Prior to this we were strategically dropped off in one of several local housing projects to invite the community to the outreach. With sacks of candy for the children, a detailed flyer explaining our intentions, and a large black garbage bag our team prayerfully began going door to door.

Of all the personalities we encountered, one stood out.

As we picked up empty beer cans, food wrappers, and yes, the aforementioned undergarment, a young woman opened her front door.  The sound of a party that either started way too early or had gone on far too long emanated from behind the walls.

“They got somebody picking up our trash out here!”

Upon my approach, I realized she must have believed we were doing some kind of work release or community service project. When told we were doing this just because we wanted to serve them, she began laughing and calling us crazy.

Then reality dawned on her. I was serious.

As the details of the Dream Center were explained and others began coming out of the house, it became apparent that there had been a long, difficult road she had travelled. For all of the braggadocio, swagger, and attitude she exhibited a deep sadness that belied her hard exterior.

Before departing for the next set of buildings this woman mockingly yelled inside the door to an unseen acquaintance that they needed to watch their behavior or we might come inside and pray for them. It was then that I asked if we could pray for her.

Her neck stiffened. With a set jaw she looked me directly in the eye and boldly declared that she could pray for herself and did not need any of our help. She smiled at her friend and began to walk back inside.

Then she turned around.

“When you pray tonight, remember me. Erica in 628.”

The door closed. While our crew moved on, my heart and thoughts remained at their entrance. This was an individual that God Himself created with a plan and a purpose. Someone He passionately loved with such an overwhelming zeal that He would allow His Son to die for her. Yet through choices and circumstances of her own or someone else’s choosing Erica found herself in a place of tremendous complication.

In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus openly wept over the inhabitants of the ancient city of Jerusalem. “How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let Me. And now you’re so desolate, nothing but a ghost town.”

Our cities and communities are filled with desperate, hurting people just like Erica. While many of us are content to lift our hands high in worship on Sunday morning, God expects us to extend those hands outward the rest of the week.  If we would be brutally honest, were it not for God’s magnificent grace and mercy we are only a couple of bad breaks from being in that same position of near hopelessness.

When you comfortably nuzzle under those same warm blankets tonight, join me in praying for Erica in 628 and the millions around the world who desperately need not only the salvation that Jesus Christ brings but someone who will have the courage to step into their world to offer the hope that is within us.

If you have the guts, pray that He would send you.

 

For more information visit the Decatur Dream Center online. I also highly recommend Servolution: Starting a Church Revolution through Serving by Dino Rizzo.