After reading I got dressed and went outside to the bus stop. I've never ridden a city bus in a foreign place all by myself so this was a first for me, in addition to having vague directions. I got on the bus, rode it for about 10 minutes, got off, went into the subway terminal, found the right track thanks to God, got on and rode into Porter square which is where the church is. This I did without any human help and I was thankful to God for getting me to the church on my first day without getting lost or ending up in Vermont. I was also proud of myself for not asking for help, apart from Divine, and making my way there on time. The whole getting-on-a-bus-and-connecting-to-the-right-subway-station-and-getting-on-the-right-train thing is something I've never had to do before and I was thankful and proud in a small way.
That said, when I got to the church we were briefed on our duties of being sent out in pairs with satchels of granola bars and "God loves you/Hope Fellowship information" cards and handed them out all over the city. We did this for most of the day and were able to have some good conversations. Every one else was able to give away their whole bag except for me and my partner. But, I was able to have a few conversations. They were brief and most were unfruitful, but it was a good experience.
The man I spoke to was slow to understand that I was with a church and just giving out granola bars for free. Once he realized that I was from a church he was quick to explain to me his disposition towards the church. He didn't like the Catholics or the Mormons, but more than them he hated the evangelical "born-agains" as he called it. He called us f***ing Nazis and said he hated when people preached at him and asked why we're always trying to convert everybody to "our idea of God". "Why not leave people alone, they're happier with their lives the way they are", he protested. "Their idea of God's love is probably better than your idea of God's love." He wasn't much for preachers but he sure had a lot to preach. He was waiting for a bus and it eventually picked him up and he said "good luck with your granola bars".
The second time I was out I was in downtown Boston and I handed one to a man passing by. He took it and went on his way. About 30 seconds later he came back and said, "You know, the Catholics used to give people a bowl of soup if they came to church. We called them 'soupers'." I could tell where he was headed with that so I said he could keep the granola bar and I would keep the card and I told him Jesus loved him but he just said, "Keep your stuff, keep your bar" as he walked away huffing and puffing. That's the kind of area I'm in. Some people here will call you an effing Nazi and walk all the way back just to give you back a free granola bar because it says "God loves you". Pretty crazy.
Later in the evening we met with a few other Hope members and took the food we prepared last night out to the poor and homeless on the streets in Harvard square. I got to walk a good ways and got to see the area a little better. I handed out sandwiches, bowls of chicken and rice, and socks and other things to several homeless people. Some asked for extra helpings or extra socks, some huffed and said they didn't want anything just money. At first I kind of took offense to that thinking, "Who are you to turn down free food?" But the Holy Spirit immediately convicted me over that. God offers me his best and I often say, in effect, "No, I'd rather have money for booze." It was a powerful word picture to me of how I so often settle for mud pies when I'm offered a vacation by the sea.
About an hour later I talked to a homeless man named Will. You can pray for him. I believe he is a Christian and some of the other servant team members believe so too. I'd say he's about 50 or 60 years old. We small talked a little and after he found out I was from Texas and was studying to be a pastor some day he asked me if I could answer a question for him that nobody else seemed to give an honest answer on. I was expecting some deep theological stumper or a tricky philosophical question but he simply asked, "Why can't and why aren't churches working together?"
And I thought, "Shoot, why aren't we?" Long story short I told him that it would never be solved because humans are sinful, even Christians doing ministry in the church. I told him that I in fact wanted to come back to Boston and eventually build a network of churches that worked together for the good of the people, but that there were several "close-handed" issues that needed to be agreed on for a church to really be a "church". He agreed. And this is because many churches in the area have long since become inclusive and have ceased to be Bible-believing churches. I didn't go too deep, but he wasn't getting lost either. It was encouraging to see a man wanting to see more churches help each other, rather than continue the "turf-wars" as it were. He said he really enjoyed talking to me and appreciated my answer and said he'd be looking forward to seeing me again. Please pray that he would join a good church like Hope Fellowship and get plugged in and be nourished spiritually as well as physically.
I enjoyed tonight very much when I was feeding the homeless. There's nothing quite like serving them on their turf. I've fed them in shelters before, but I've never sought them out on the streets where they live. Pretty Shane Claiborn kind of stuff.
Anyway, thanks for the prayers, I can feel them being answered. Satan isn't going to give up and by God's grace neither will I.
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Oh that my ways may be steadfastin keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
(Psalm 119)
*****
God's mission continues tomorrow in Boston, Dallas, and wherever you are reading this. Thanks for your prayers and keep them coming.Zach
Serve the Lord. You are bathed in prayer!
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