Everyone Belongs (Part 2)

Every day the doors are open at West Ridge there people here who have never been before. Many of them have not been to church before, at least not since they were kids. People from around the community come here looking for Benevolence help. Currently, they come in look for Christmas assistance (See my post, “A little dose of hope”).

In Benevolence there are always people that say they want to come visit. It’s from a pure heart. It’s not money grubbing. It’s literally people that think there is a string attached to getting their heat or light bill paid. There isn’t one. We also don’t just write checks. To get assistance here you are going to have a lengthy conversation with a person that cares enough to communicate God’s love on a personal level. Our Benevolence volunteers, especially their leader Michelle, are as caring as it gets.

I am always struck by the surprise I see in people’s eyes when you take time to talk to them and invite them to come back. Bring your kids. Bring your teens. Bring yourself. We want you to find your place here. So why don’t they?

What is it about the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed that makes them think, “I can come here for ‘this’, but I can’t really be a part.” What is it about us? Why is the church a good place to get help, but not a good place to belong?

By the way, since we are temporarily labeling people, who would you put in the categories, ‘poor’, ‘outcast’ and ‘oppressed’? Who goes through your mind? Was there ever a time when you would have labeled yourself that way?

Ok, so I didn’t even touch the ‘Largest unreached people group in America’ thing’. I’ll get to that.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul