Do you help people...like me?

We never know what challenges we may face in Chester. 

The key is being here, being available for people.

Recently I was outside, on the corner of 23rd & Crosby, right on the corner of the Greenhouse project on a very cool, sunny day. 

It's odd for us to have a quiet peaceful day, most days are filled with cars whizzing down the street, sounds of sirens from emergency vehicles, stereos blasting, kids yelling and playing.

But this Saturday was the day to meet new friends. I was looking down Crosby, towards 24th and all of the sudden I heard a voice. The voice said, “Can women come to that place?”

I was kinda confused since I didn’t see anyone. Then a woman appeared seemingly from nowhere and carrying a 40z bottle of alcohol.

She repeated herself “Can women come?” After a short pause, she said, “Do you help people like me?”

She didn't need to go into depth, but I knew what she was saying. She needed help, she had heard about Greenhouse Project and wanted to know if we really help and care for people struggling. 

We never know the challenges, the burdens, the years of trauma or abuse people are carrying around and here is a woman who I never remember seeing, asking for help.

Within a few minutes I shared about our normal week of ways we could help. Church on Sunday, Monday Recovery meeting, Tuesday Food outreach, Wednesday after school programs, Discipleship Meetings, and Saturday Outreach. 

The answer to her question is “yes!” we do help people like her. No one is “too far gone” to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. We want to share His love and salvation with anyone and everyone. 

Our ministry for people like her, the hurt, the lost, the outcast. Because that is my story. A homeless, convicted felon junkie,transformed by the blood of Jesus Christ! Something we forget is that Jesus was known as a friend of sinners, “Seeking to save the lost.”

I don’t know how she heard about Greenhouse Project. Maybe she heard from a neighbor or friend that we have impacted. Maybe she lives at a house where we knocked on the door offering to pray for people.

My conversation with her wasn't bold, or an exciting interaction, but one that might just change the course of her life. I didn’t catch her name, and we have not seen her again, but seeds have been planted. One thing I do know is that we will spend every day sharing Jesus with our community. 

We spend a lot of time outside the building and want to be a church on the streets.

Ministering to people right where they are.

Someone once said the greatest ability for the kingdom of God is availability. Are you available for the King? Are you available to be used by Him? 

I would like to say that I am. We regularly spend time in prayer for these interactions with people. We pray for God to draw people to us and provide open doors for conversations about Jesus.