Saints on the Streets: 8/13

James the Just was said to have spent so much time on his knees before the Lord that he had knees like a camel. Tiberius is a modern day James the Just. Whenever there’s a conflict, Tiberius withdraws into the throne room of God and leaves this world behind. There’s no one that this brother would rather talk to than the Lord. Whether happy or sad, grateful or concerned, he prays.

Tiberius Reading his Bible

I watch, day after day, as Tiberius reads the word and talks to God about what he’s reading. We talk about what he reads and learns, and he teaches me so much about how to talk to God. I asked Tiberius what he read today and he told me that he stayed awake most of the night in an abandoned house and read some of all 66 books. "I read from one book ‘til I’m reminded of another, then I go there. That is how I make my way around the Bible."

Mama B sees us all as her children in the Lord. Even though her life is filled with disappointment and loss, she always has an encouraging word and passage for everyone around her. Since coming to Christ, Mama B can’t help but talk about Jesus. She shares Anthony’s books* and her daily passage from her prayer journal with people on the streets. She has brought many people to River City Ministry and helped several of them come to the Lord.

In speaking of her troubles, Mama B doesn’t waste time blaming others. Instead, she said that God is a jealous God and He teaches us hard lessons to bring us back. But when we turn back to him, He gives us all we need. He gives His toughest battles to his strongest warriors, and if He brings us to it, He will see us through it.

 

Mama B gives a copy of Your Seeking Soul Set Free to her friend Randy

 

DJ is not where he wants to be. He was raised up in the Lord but wandered from Him. He has struggled to walk with God while living on the streets. Surrounded by alcoholism, drug addiction, violence, and ungodliness, he strives to live for God. But, the inability to find steady work, a home, or a restored relationship with his family drags him down.

These were all things that DJ kept to himself until last month. "There is no room for softness on the streets," he told me. "That life is hard and the people got to be hard too. If I opened up and cried like this with people on the street, they’d see it as weakness. Then I’m a target. So, I kept it bottled up. But I’m tired, Steven. I’m tired in my soul, and I can’t keep it in anymore."

DJ shared the story of his life with me, the pain, the loss, and the constant presence of God. He told me he wanted to make sure that He made God his escape from His problems, and he asked me to walk with him on his spiritual journey. We prayed together and DJ was restored to a right relationship with the Lord! DJ would do anything for me if I asked, and I would do the same for him. God gave us an instant bond, and I thank Him for the blessing DJ is to me.

These are just a few of God’s children that have made an impact on me. Their loving hearts, prayerful lives, and uplifting attitudes have taken me from teacher to student to fellow traveler on the journey home.

In the month of July, we had twenty-one restorations, and four baptisms. Several of these came from studies that Anthony and I did together and seven of the restorations came from personal studies I had with my friends at River City. Lorry and I walked in the local projects to invite people to church, and the next Sunday five people came to worship with us. This week we have follow-up visits and Bible studies with the ladies who came, and prayerfully, the Lord will add them to His church.

Please pray for us as we continue serving the poor to open doors to God.

*If you would like a copy of Your Seeking Soul Set Free or Spirituality 101 for only $3 per book, contact me and I will get you in touch with the author, Anthony Wood. These books make great baptismal gifts or class material.

 

Human Graffiti

One brief month ago, I came to River City Ministry full of fear, excitement, and eagerness to teach. I was not sure exactly what to expect.

What I found was nothing like what I anticipated. My view and of poverty, urban culture, and myself changed completely. My mentor had me walk the streets with the people we serve and observe how they are treated. What I saw was human graffiti.

When He saw the crowd, He had compassion on them... (Matt. 9:36)

Walls, homes, train cars, signs, abandoned vehicles, and pretty much everything else in the city are defaced by graffiti. We know that it is there, and we may even glance at it every once in a while, but if we comment on it at all it is usually a sad remark of disgust. Many times we cannot make out what the symbols stand for, but regardless of the message, graffiti is seen as a vulgarity. Its existence is a violation of the law, and it makes our cities look trashy. We see it all over the city, but forget it as soon as we pass it. Who gets out of their car to admire graffiti?

Welcome to the world of the homeless. Though they dwell under the bridges, in the parks, and anywhere they can in the city, and we all know they are there, who gives them more than a glance? As a matter of fact, most people pretend not to see the homeless and purposefully avoid eye-contact. Sure we may comment to those riding with us that it is a sad shame that there are people on the streets, but that is usually the end of it. After all, their very existence is a vulgar stain on the city; soon and gladly forgotten.

Because of the difference in our experiences, outward appearances, and living conditions, we cannot even make out what they stand for or who they are. To avoid guilt, we don’t look too hard, or give that much effort to learning anything about them. We reassure ourselves that they are only reaping what they sowed or trying to take advantage of someone. After all, we would probably get robbed if we stopped to help, and if we gave them money they would just spend it on drugs. So now, with clear consciences we “pass by on the other side.”

What we fail to see, is that often, like the graffiti on this page, the men and women we overlook are pointing to Christ and all bear His image. If we looked harder, we would see men find people who rely on God to an extent we cannot comprehend. You would. God has blessed my life by allowing me to walk with spiritual giants. The libraries of most of these men and women consist of only a Bible. They spend so much time in God’s word that they are empowered to serve their God fearlessly in the darkest of places. While living under whatever bridge they are not run out from under, my friends on the street manage to thank God for all their blessings I continually take for granted.

 I came as a teacher, but my God humbled me to make me a student. For years, I preached about a faith that consumes the life of the believer, but here, in the inner city, I have seen it! God broke me down to cause my faith in Him to grow, and now He is building me back up to serve beside my teachers. We share our love for God with each other and lean on one another as we walk with God. My God has opened my eyes, now I can see His Son’s face everywhere in this city, because I now see His people instead of ignoring the human graffiti.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not vanish forever.

(Psalm 9:18)