A Season of Change: Long Beach - 2 Corinthians 4.1-6

This last Tuesday, I made the move to the Sanctuary. It is only about a block away from the Friends’ Church, the site of the prayer
meeting with the Long Beach street people that I have led the
last six months, but . . . it was a big change. Moments
were inspiring and God-filled, others were trying . . . and shame on me .
. . I drove away discouraged. What can I say? It
happens . . . even in Australia.1 But as Paul
wrote, “through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose
heart.”2

After taking a breath, and a day to process, I should like to thank God for what he did that day—first of all, he gave us the great venue of the
Sanctuary, no doubt about it. Whenever a good gift just
seems to drop in my lap, I know who sends it—why it is the Father, the
giver of all good gifts! And as always, God showed up on
Tuesday, and so did my ‘favorites’. Yes, the Duke of Earl was there to
help me unload my car and arrange the charming, old Sanctuary with her
hardwood floors. And among others, came Popeye on
his bicycle, brilliant Bernard on foot, and Howard on his motorized
wheelchair. It was the Duke who first greeted Howard and
drew him into meaningful conversation. I was kinda’
mesmerized as Howard revealed his ten-year prison sentence for a
self-defense ‘killing’ to the Duke. He talked about his
time in San Quentin
and Soledad prisons, both maximum penitentiaries”, and I’m sure my eyes
were as big as dollars. “But now,” Howard
said, “I have peace.” He credited his peace to the grace
and forgiveness of God, noting that recently getting into a small
apartment had helped too. The Duke nodded in approval.

People aren’t street people unless they’ve had some major ‘stuff’ come down, and most times, that ‘stuff’ includes some kind of mental dysfunction. Take Ricky, a newcomer and a
serious follower of God, who is involved in mentoring abandoned teens. Strong
convictions, hard won: his tattoos told the story. “Viva
la raza” on his neck and other symbols from the infamous 18^th Street
Gang he ran with. He too has done hard prison time, but
now wants to take what he was, and let God use it to help kids who are
heading in the same direction—kids whose parents have neglected or
abused them, and just want some place to ‘belong’—even if ‘belonging’ is
to a criminal gang.

So, why was I discouraged?? I suppose because so many of my faithful weekly pray-ers didn’t find their way to the Sanctuary . . .
because really, I realized I was starting all over. But as
Paul said, because it is “through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we
do not lose heart.” Never mind that three people didn’t
speak English, one precious fellow had difficulty even ‘tracking’ with
our discussion, and Ricky was ready to string Popeye up for interrupting
him, and so on. . . this is God’s work, and these are God’s people. In
his mercy, he allows me to serve him by serving them.

Paul writes, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and
shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On
the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves
to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if
it is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The
god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they
cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For
we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as
your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let
light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give
us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2
Corinthians 4.1-6

I cannot be discouraged, even if I underestimated the scope of the challenge. God’s calling has been clear, and my footing is
sure. Besides, God is getting his man, the Duke of Earl,
and it is quite something to watch.

God is going to do “a new thing,” I’m sure. Part of the new thing is the forming of a life-altering community that I wish to think of as a “Room of Grace.”
And I’m ready. Mission Possible is letting Christ’s light
shine in the darkness of Long Beach, giving folks a place to
‘belong’—Ricky, Popeye, Bernard with his rosary beads in hand and a
Latin chorus on his tongue . . . a marvelous, odd little group that I am
to love, teach, and lead into prayer. Yes, God has been
merciful to me. Pray for us, won’t you?

Christine