There are days -- all of them, in fact -- when God reminds me why The Lord's Rain is there.
Yesterday (Tuesday), only a handful of people showed up -- which was just as well, because I didn't have any volunteer help -- and no one took a shower. But we still saw the value of the ministry.
There is a woman who's been coming in for the past six months. Let's call her Tina (which is a good idea, because that's her name). When she first came in, she told me that her son "went to the Lord in March". I had one of those embarrassing moments, when I started to rejoice in his salvation, and then realized that by "went to the Lord" she meant "died". He'd died of a heroin overdose, not long after Tina's father had passed away.
In the time since then -- and she comes in pretty much every time I'm there, Tuesday and Saturday mornings -- Tina has constantly declared God has had His hand on her life. She's been gradually coming off crack, cutting back on smoking, and restoring her relationship with her mother. She also works on a street-and-alley cleanup crew, run by the Bottle Depot down the street.
Like most of the women on the Downtown East Side, Tina used to be attractive. The ravages of the drugs and the tough living she's gone through have taken their toll -- not to mention her teeth. But in less than a year, she's gone from living on the streets and suicidal, to having a place of her own and with a joy an optimism in her life that would amaze people.
Yesterday, she was in a particularly good mood, having come into an additional $20 and, while she'd initially planned to buy a rock of crack cocaine with it, she took a deep breath and phoned her mother instead. Mom was a little "down" because, as it turned out, she had no money for cigarettes. So Tina bought cigarettes with the $20, hopped on a bus and went up to see her. On the DTES, that's a major victory!
But then she opened up about a situation she was trying to deal with. She'd learned that she's eligible to receive the WCB benefits her son would have received but didn't collect. (I don't know anything about WCB regulations, so I don't know how "on the level" this is, but since she wasn't trying to use that promise for collateral, let's go with it for now.) In order to do so, though, she'd have to obtain Ryan's death certificate and get her own documentation to prove she's his mother.
"I'm scared to do that," she said. "That will be the final confirmation for me that he's dead. I don't know if I can handle that closure."
At first, I suggested that she might not be supposed to obtain that money, anyway, considering how God tells us He doesn't dump blessings in our laps all at once, but doles it out as we can handle it (Deut. 7:22). She agreed that it might turn into a temptation, rather than a blessing. Then we talked some more, and she declared -- as she has done often in the past -- that she knows God has something better for her. She recalled how, after Ryan had died, she was ready to end it all, herself, and then she had a dream. Her father -- who was in a wheelchair when he died -- was standing, with his arm around Ryan's shoulders. They were smiling and waving at her. She woke from that dream and determined she was not going to commit suicide.
She also pointed out that her brother, who's been quite well-off and "good with money", has offered to set up a joint bank account where the money can be kept, and which would require both their signatures. He's also talked about socking it away in RRSPs, which would certainly prevent her from spending it on drugs. That puts a different light on things.
So I suggested that -- even leaving out the prospect of obtaining money -- the "closure" represented by obtaining the death certificate would allow her to let go of that part of her past and break through to that "something better". It's a matter of stepping out of the comfort zone -- a vital element in receiving God's promise for us. Tina's comfort zone involved grieving for her son, and the idea of living without that grief is new, different, and a little frightening.
(In the years since my previous marriage broke up, I've been separated from my kids, and that pain has been unbearable. For a long time, I was scared to ask God to take the pain away, because I thought that would mean I'd stopped loving them. It was a major step to spit out the prayer that He would remove it, but you know what? I'm much more confident about the relationship ... and the grief is almost all gone.)
The conversation ended with Tina feeling much better about the idea, and grateful to have had a sounding board. "I don't know anyone else I could tell about this," she said. When I write that ministry on the DTES needs disciples, that's what I'm talking about: sounding boards who can help put problems into perspective -- a smattering of Biblical knowledge helps, so that people realize there's an Absolute Authority, where they can get their guidance.
Once again, The Lord's Rain is in the right place, at the right time -- and it's more than coffee and showers.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Deuteronomy and The Lord's Rain
Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It should be required reading for anyone who's going through a tough time, wondering how he or she is ever going to pull through; it inspires one to think back over past crises and remember how God has come through in the past, and declare that He's not going to let them down now.
Deuteronomy (the word means "the second telling") is the last of the five "books of Moses", and consists of a recap of the previous 40 years. Moses, standing at the brink of the Promised Land (which he knows he'll only be allowed to see and not set foot in), reviews for the Israelites all the hardships and trials they'd gone through, all the victories God had given them, all the bad choices they'd made, and all the ways God had pulled them through. He also reminds them of the promise -- the land God had sworn He would give to their forefathers. Fired up with that reminder of His faithfulness in the past, the Israelites are prepared to cross the Jordan into that land.
I was prompted to pull out Deuteronomy early one morning recently and start re-read it, and it was even more impressive, as it goes over the battles in which the enemy seriously outnumbered ... or at least seemed more powerful ... than the Israelites; or had cities that had enormous walls that no one thought could be scaled ... and yet with God in command, the Israelites moved forward.
And why would I be "prompted" to get up at 3 am and read Deuteronomy? It had a lot to do with the headline in an issue of 24 Hours, the daily fishwrap handed out free at SkyTrain stations, which itself was arresting: "Gospel Mission in dire straits".
Having recovered from the near whiplash caused by the double-take (my comedy tends to make Kramer look understated), I realized the headline was referring to Union Gospel Mission -- not us. Regardless, the story was about the decline in donations at UGM, and the underlying theme is that donations are down all over. So, indeed, are they with us at Gospel Mission, which is why a sort-of Deuteronomy is in order at this stage, so we can all be fired-up with faith again.
The best records Barry can find show that Gospel Mission was founded "sometime in the 1920s", and I have seen one reference to the founding year as being 1929. Now at that time, the stretch of Hastings between Cambie (Victory Square) and Main was not the Downtown East Side. It was the central business district of Vancouver, with at least two major department stores (Woodward's and Eaton's), theatres, restaurants, night clubs, law offices, and at least one consulate. Why set up a rescue mission in the midst of such apparent prosperity?
Because God knew what was coming: in 1929, we ran smack into the Great Depression, which, coupled with the Dust Bowl days, landed a lot of guys on skid row -- and the Mission was sorely needed. Then came the Second World War, which may have revitalized the economy, but landed a lot more people in the area -- mainly guys who'd lost limbs or been left shell-shocked or otherwise unable to hold down jobs. And Gospel Mission was still there.
God, therefore, has provided for the Mission through the Depression, a World War, and through succeeding decades, including at least three major recessions. The current financial uncertainty is just the latest challenge. The Mission has remained alive and kicking, ministering the Word and preaching Hope -- the wonderful, intangible hope that comes in Christ.
Just as in 1929 and at succeeding times, people on the Downtown East Side today have been failed by the world's "systems". Their only source of hope is the knowledge that God is able to do what He's said He will do. Hey: we've not only stayed alive and kicking, but expanded this year, totally under the direction, leading and provision of God. God engineered the whole building of The Lord's Rain, providing the vision, the prophecy, the space and -- most importantly -- the people, doing what they can, as much as they can, to make it happen.
The construction has been nothing short of a miracle, and the expansion -- including the new daytime openings on Mondays and Fridays with our newfound sister Teresa -- has come exactly in His time. The Ministry has developed "by little and little", with God meting out the responsibility -- and the blessing -- as He knows we can handle it (that's also in Deuteronomy -- Ch. 7, v. 22).
If God knew what was coming back in 1929 and positioned His people with Gospel Mission on the brink of the Depression, it appears He sees something else looming, that will make the work of Gospel Mission even more crucial. I believe God wants to step up efforts to turn lives around and get as many of those currently on the DTES moving up and moving on so that the soon-to-be-poor will have someplace to come to have their hope and faith restored -- and so these newcomers will also see the example of others who have recently left the area.
Jesus says "the poor ye shall have always" ... but nowhere does He say they have to be the same poor.
Deuteronomy (the word means "the second telling") is the last of the five "books of Moses", and consists of a recap of the previous 40 years. Moses, standing at the brink of the Promised Land (which he knows he'll only be allowed to see and not set foot in), reviews for the Israelites all the hardships and trials they'd gone through, all the victories God had given them, all the bad choices they'd made, and all the ways God had pulled them through. He also reminds them of the promise -- the land God had sworn He would give to their forefathers. Fired up with that reminder of His faithfulness in the past, the Israelites are prepared to cross the Jordan into that land.
I was prompted to pull out Deuteronomy early one morning recently and start re-read it, and it was even more impressive, as it goes over the battles in which the enemy seriously outnumbered ... or at least seemed more powerful ... than the Israelites; or had cities that had enormous walls that no one thought could be scaled ... and yet with God in command, the Israelites moved forward.
And why would I be "prompted" to get up at 3 am and read Deuteronomy? It had a lot to do with the headline in an issue of 24 Hours, the daily fishwrap handed out free at SkyTrain stations, which itself was arresting: "Gospel Mission in dire straits".
Having recovered from the near whiplash caused by the double-take (my comedy tends to make Kramer look understated), I realized the headline was referring to Union Gospel Mission -- not us. Regardless, the story was about the decline in donations at UGM, and the underlying theme is that donations are down all over. So, indeed, are they with us at Gospel Mission, which is why a sort-of Deuteronomy is in order at this stage, so we can all be fired-up with faith again.
The best records Barry can find show that Gospel Mission was founded "sometime in the 1920s", and I have seen one reference to the founding year as being 1929. Now at that time, the stretch of Hastings between Cambie (Victory Square) and Main was not the Downtown East Side. It was the central business district of Vancouver, with at least two major department stores (Woodward's and Eaton's), theatres, restaurants, night clubs, law offices, and at least one consulate. Why set up a rescue mission in the midst of such apparent prosperity?
Because God knew what was coming: in 1929, we ran smack into the Great Depression, which, coupled with the Dust Bowl days, landed a lot of guys on skid row -- and the Mission was sorely needed. Then came the Second World War, which may have revitalized the economy, but landed a lot more people in the area -- mainly guys who'd lost limbs or been left shell-shocked or otherwise unable to hold down jobs. And Gospel Mission was still there.
God, therefore, has provided for the Mission through the Depression, a World War, and through succeeding decades, including at least three major recessions. The current financial uncertainty is just the latest challenge. The Mission has remained alive and kicking, ministering the Word and preaching Hope -- the wonderful, intangible hope that comes in Christ.
Just as in 1929 and at succeeding times, people on the Downtown East Side today have been failed by the world's "systems". Their only source of hope is the knowledge that God is able to do what He's said He will do. Hey: we've not only stayed alive and kicking, but expanded this year, totally under the direction, leading and provision of God. God engineered the whole building of The Lord's Rain, providing the vision, the prophecy, the space and -- most importantly -- the people, doing what they can, as much as they can, to make it happen.
The construction has been nothing short of a miracle, and the expansion -- including the new daytime openings on Mondays and Fridays with our newfound sister Teresa -- has come exactly in His time. The Ministry has developed "by little and little", with God meting out the responsibility -- and the blessing -- as He knows we can handle it (that's also in Deuteronomy -- Ch. 7, v. 22).
If God knew what was coming back in 1929 and positioned His people with Gospel Mission on the brink of the Depression, it appears He sees something else looming, that will make the work of Gospel Mission even more crucial. I believe God wants to step up efforts to turn lives around and get as many of those currently on the DTES moving up and moving on so that the soon-to-be-poor will have someplace to come to have their hope and faith restored -- and so these newcomers will also see the example of others who have recently left the area.
Jesus says "the poor ye shall have always" ... but nowhere does He say they have to be the same poor.
The Showers Saga - 17: BREAKTHROUGH! (orig. posted Apr. 13/08)
We all bring various gifts to the table when it comes to getting this job done -- building the showers facility at Carrall Street Church -- and one of the gifts Barry Babcook, the senior pastor, has is to keep things realistic but positive.
Barry has been dealing with an interesting two-way spiritual stretch over the past month: dealing with the reality, while trying to keep me from getting discouraged. Sometimes, in fact, you hear a preacher say in a sermon, "I'm preachin' myself happy up here!". It's a lot like that, I think. Let me explain.
Near the house where I grew up in West Van, there lived a 30something woman who drove a big black Pontiac Trans-Am. She would drive up to the corner beside our house, which led off Marine Drive onto a steep hill, then punch the accelerator and go screaming up the hill. Lately, it's felt like our project was a but like that Trans-Am, only stuck in deep mud. Standing on the gas pedal only drives the car deeper into the mud and the only way to get out is to just Let It Happen.
It's been those "little" delays that can add up here and there, and it was starting to get frustrating. Barry, who has dealt with building and city permits and tradespeople (and is one, himself), has had to fall back on his aphorism that "God comes through in the 11th hour, 59th minute". It's become our rallying cry. Fact is, God comes through in what we think is the 11th hour, 59th minute: but for Him, it's exactly On Time.
Or, here's a parable Barry used: a construction site can appear to be a hole in the ground for a long time, but during that time, there's ant-hill-like activity putting in the necessary things like electrical, plumbing and gas. Then, once that is finished, you go walking down the street past what you thought was a hole up till yesterday, and there's a 30-unit complex in its place. Remembering that is also encouraging. Well, the "hole" that was 327 Carrall Street is about to be replaced by the complex. The City of Vancouver inspected and passed the plumbing*, and we are now, suddenly, on the home stretch. The final plumbing connections will go in in the coming week, and the work party from The Oasis will be back on Saturday, April 19, for the work blitz to complete the walling-in. Then comes the painting and decorating, and Lord willing, we can turn on the taps and start cleaning up this town!
Of course, I won't say anything about an actual start-up date yet. But it's coming quickly, praise God! Earlier this month, a group of us met to discuss operations matters: what times the project would be open, who would volunteer, how we'd administer the service, and so forth. The Lord's Rain will be open Wednesday mornings, 7-8:30 and Saturday mornings, 7-10 for men and Friday evenings for women. We have a core group of volunteers to oversee the operations, and are now assembling a roster of others ready to commit some time to helping out.
Arlene in New York has become our liaison with Pastor Reggie at the Bowery Mission, and they've already had a good chat about operations there. It seems they employ a combination of easy rules and toughness to make sure things stay orderly, which is the way I like it.
One of the main points of all this has been the way people have come together to make this work. People with different skills and gifts and ideas, coming up with questions and solutions that no one person could have thought of. I keep thinking about the Apostle Paul's comment about "many members ... fitly joined together".
One more thing: CTV is doing a follow-up story, which will air Sunday, April 13. It's the 50th anniversary of the network, and Peter Grainger -- who did the story that mentioned the theft in February, and which led to a major donation to get things back on track ("The Lord always has a ram in the bush," as Kenny Black put it) -- was asked to do a piece on any news items that have made a difference in the community. He thought of The Lord's Rain and we did an interview. It was a pleasure to be able to point out how the story helped give us a much-needed boost, and led to further confirmation that the Lord has His hand firmly on this project, and when He does that, nothing can get in His way.
******
*This is not to be confused with the notice, purportedly placed in a Hong Kong hotel room, stating "Customers will be assured that all drinking water has been personally passed by Management."
Barry has been dealing with an interesting two-way spiritual stretch over the past month: dealing with the reality, while trying to keep me from getting discouraged. Sometimes, in fact, you hear a preacher say in a sermon, "I'm preachin' myself happy up here!". It's a lot like that, I think. Let me explain.
Near the house where I grew up in West Van, there lived a 30something woman who drove a big black Pontiac Trans-Am. She would drive up to the corner beside our house, which led off Marine Drive onto a steep hill, then punch the accelerator and go screaming up the hill. Lately, it's felt like our project was a but like that Trans-Am, only stuck in deep mud. Standing on the gas pedal only drives the car deeper into the mud and the only way to get out is to just Let It Happen.
It's been those "little" delays that can add up here and there, and it was starting to get frustrating. Barry, who has dealt with building and city permits and tradespeople (and is one, himself), has had to fall back on his aphorism that "God comes through in the 11th hour, 59th minute". It's become our rallying cry. Fact is, God comes through in what we think is the 11th hour, 59th minute: but for Him, it's exactly On Time.
Or, here's a parable Barry used: a construction site can appear to be a hole in the ground for a long time, but during that time, there's ant-hill-like activity putting in the necessary things like electrical, plumbing and gas. Then, once that is finished, you go walking down the street past what you thought was a hole up till yesterday, and there's a 30-unit complex in its place. Remembering that is also encouraging. Well, the "hole" that was 327 Carrall Street is about to be replaced by the complex. The City of Vancouver inspected and passed the plumbing*, and we are now, suddenly, on the home stretch. The final plumbing connections will go in in the coming week, and the work party from The Oasis will be back on Saturday, April 19, for the work blitz to complete the walling-in. Then comes the painting and decorating, and Lord willing, we can turn on the taps and start cleaning up this town!
Of course, I won't say anything about an actual start-up date yet. But it's coming quickly, praise God! Earlier this month, a group of us met to discuss operations matters: what times the project would be open, who would volunteer, how we'd administer the service, and so forth. The Lord's Rain will be open Wednesday mornings, 7-8:30 and Saturday mornings, 7-10 for men and Friday evenings for women. We have a core group of volunteers to oversee the operations, and are now assembling a roster of others ready to commit some time to helping out.
Arlene in New York has become our liaison with Pastor Reggie at the Bowery Mission, and they've already had a good chat about operations there. It seems they employ a combination of easy rules and toughness to make sure things stay orderly, which is the way I like it.
One of the main points of all this has been the way people have come together to make this work. People with different skills and gifts and ideas, coming up with questions and solutions that no one person could have thought of. I keep thinking about the Apostle Paul's comment about "many members ... fitly joined together".
One more thing: CTV is doing a follow-up story, which will air Sunday, April 13. It's the 50th anniversary of the network, and Peter Grainger -- who did the story that mentioned the theft in February, and which led to a major donation to get things back on track ("The Lord always has a ram in the bush," as Kenny Black put it) -- was asked to do a piece on any news items that have made a difference in the community. He thought of The Lord's Rain and we did an interview. It was a pleasure to be able to point out how the story helped give us a much-needed boost, and led to further confirmation that the Lord has His hand firmly on this project, and when He does that, nothing can get in His way.
******
*This is not to be confused with the notice, purportedly placed in a Hong Kong hotel room, stating "Customers will be assured that all drinking water has been personally passed by Management."
The Showers Saga - 16: Closer still ... (originally posted Mar. 23/08)
Barry and Brodie have completed installing the cast iron and pressure-testing the plumbing: now it’s up to the folks from Hillcrest Plumbing to do the finishing touches and for the City inspector to come around and give it the final seal of approval. We’re expecting that to happen this week – Hallelujah!
The next big job is the walling-in of the shower units, but before that can happen, we need to clean out the building waste and other accumulated junk (anyone want a kitchen range – many ranges have cooktops, ovens, grill, rotisserie, and are self-cleaning … but do you know any that come complete with baby rats? I think NOT!).
This past Saturday, we were blessed to meet some young people from a Mennonite church in Abbotsford (through all the introductions, I never caught the name of their church). Susan and Shawna (sp?), Jason and Jason (that’s right: “Hi … I’m Larry … this is my brother, Jason, and this is my other brother, Jason”) came to help at Gospel Mission’s Easter Saturday dinner, bringing lots of ham and other good stuff and helping serve. They’ve also expressed interest in helping out with the Lord’s Rain, so you may well meet them on the 29th. This is all in preparation for another work blitz from the Oasis in Duncan, tentatively set for the following Saturday, April 5.
One of the key points about the story of The Lord's Rain is that it’s not really about giving people a chance to clean up. It's turned out to be a vehicle for breakthrough on a number of levels. Many people who have come in to help have been seeing breakthroughs of their own, and have found a new perspective from helping with this. The symbolism of providing a basic human need – like Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples, or the “cup of cold water”, as one of the Jasons put it yesterday (Matt. 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”(KJV)) – is a tangible, long-lasting service to others that says “I care” and “you are not forgotten or written-off”. And being involved with the myriad aspects to make this project work helps the helper as much as the helped. Providing funding has been one thing, but people have also stepped forward to offer their gifts – sometimes skills and labor, sometimes ideas, sometimes saying, “I want to be part of this: what can I do?”.
The next big job is the walling-in of the shower units, but before that can happen, we need to clean out the building waste and other accumulated junk (anyone want a kitchen range – many ranges have cooktops, ovens, grill, rotisserie, and are self-cleaning … but do you know any that come complete with baby rats? I think NOT!).
This past Saturday, we were blessed to meet some young people from a Mennonite church in Abbotsford (through all the introductions, I never caught the name of their church). Susan and Shawna (sp?), Jason and Jason (that’s right: “Hi … I’m Larry … this is my brother, Jason, and this is my other brother, Jason”) came to help at Gospel Mission’s Easter Saturday dinner, bringing lots of ham and other good stuff and helping serve. They’ve also expressed interest in helping out with the Lord’s Rain, so you may well meet them on the 29th. This is all in preparation for another work blitz from the Oasis in Duncan, tentatively set for the following Saturday, April 5.
One of the key points about the story of The Lord's Rain is that it’s not really about giving people a chance to clean up. It's turned out to be a vehicle for breakthrough on a number of levels. Many people who have come in to help have been seeing breakthroughs of their own, and have found a new perspective from helping with this. The symbolism of providing a basic human need – like Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples, or the “cup of cold water”, as one of the Jasons put it yesterday (Matt. 10:42 “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward”(KJV)) – is a tangible, long-lasting service to others that says “I care” and “you are not forgotten or written-off”. And being involved with the myriad aspects to make this project work helps the helper as much as the helped. Providing funding has been one thing, but people have also stepped forward to offer their gifts – sometimes skills and labor, sometimes ideas, sometimes saying, “I want to be part of this: what can I do?”.
The Showers Saga - 15: So close ... (orig. posted Mar. 21/08)
Hard to believe I haven't entered anything here since Feb 29 ... I don't know if we were actually behind schedule -- partly since there really wasn't a schedule to begin with -- but things are on the move again. Brodie and Barry have been installing the cast iron pipes themselves, with Hillcrest Plumbing doing the finishing touches and pressure-testing. Barry has called the City for inspection, so Lord willing, we'll be ready to finish the stalls by the end of the coming week.
That's still a bit iffy, so we've asked The Oasis Church to set April 5 as the date for their next invasion -- pardon me: work blitz. That's where they'll push the showers into place and wall in the area. In the mean time, next Saturday -- March 29 -- will be our cleaning and paint-priming day. After the showers are set in place (Apr. 5), there'll be one more day to finish off the decorating (chairs, tables, coffee station, etc.) and then we should be ready to open -- looks like Opening Day will be April 15: two months later than I thought we'd open when I so gushingly announced the project on Wilf Ray's show back in December, but the key here is, it's been all in God's timing, which is never behind schedule.
I had a chance to make a presentation on the project to the Annual General Meeting of the Gospel Mission Society, which runs Carrall Street Church. Only two of the people at the meeting -- secretary Stan Powers and treasurer Erwin Paetkau -- were not "regulars" at the church to begin with, but it was a good chance to review and celebrate how the project has come to pass. Kind of like Moses, singing his song on the banks of the Red Sea after the Israelites had crossed over from Egypt.
Something Amelia pointed out, though, which I'd neglected to mention, bears repeating here. That this project has long since shown itself to be about more than just building showers for street people. In truth, that's become a sidebar in many ways to the other things this project has meant to various individuals taking part. Without naming names, we've seen:
That's still a bit iffy, so we've asked The Oasis Church to set April 5 as the date for their next invasion -- pardon me: work blitz. That's where they'll push the showers into place and wall in the area. In the mean time, next Saturday -- March 29 -- will be our cleaning and paint-priming day. After the showers are set in place (Apr. 5), there'll be one more day to finish off the decorating (chairs, tables, coffee station, etc.) and then we should be ready to open -- looks like Opening Day will be April 15: two months later than I thought we'd open when I so gushingly announced the project on Wilf Ray's show back in December, but the key here is, it's been all in God's timing, which is never behind schedule.
I had a chance to make a presentation on the project to the Annual General Meeting of the Gospel Mission Society, which runs Carrall Street Church. Only two of the people at the meeting -- secretary Stan Powers and treasurer Erwin Paetkau -- were not "regulars" at the church to begin with, but it was a good chance to review and celebrate how the project has come to pass. Kind of like Moses, singing his song on the banks of the Red Sea after the Israelites had crossed over from Egypt.
Something Amelia pointed out, though, which I'd neglected to mention, bears repeating here. That this project has long since shown itself to be about more than just building showers for street people. In truth, that's become a sidebar in many ways to the other things this project has meant to various individuals taking part. Without naming names, we've seen:
- a woman, going through a tough time with loneliness and -- with her children grown up -- questioning her "usefulness", plunging into the project in ways she can
- another woman, also going through some tough times, getting connected with others with the project as a sort-of catalyst
- a man finally connecting with a church and finding some meaning
- a young man finding his "place" in a project God handed to him, bringing a positive spirit and can-do attitude right at a time when we really needed it -- even though he turned out not to do what we thought he was supposed to do, he still fulfilled his role in this
others, too numerous to mention, finding a sense of purpose in this - at least half a dozen reporters and broadcasters, getting a chance to report on the manifestation of God's glory
- the businessman who stepped forward after the theft, sowing seed into a Ministry at a time when his own business had an unexpected problem (we said at the time, that he could well have told God that the money he handed us would be better spent fixing the problem in his own business -- once again, quoting Leroy Thompson, "if you have a need, sow a seed")
- The Oasis has been looking at a new home for its church: Brandon Wall says the deal started coming through the Monday following their first work party in late January
and the people who come to Carrall Street Church -- and those out on the streets, who still don't set foot inside any church -- are aware of the project and see that it's a tangible, caring act: seeing the love of Christ at work - So much more ... so little time, space, or memory ...
When we started fundraising for the project, we contacted one wealthy businessman -- known as a Christian -- for support. We were turned down. Looking back now, that was exactly what God intended -- and I believe that businessman knew it. If he'd underwritten the whole thing, no one else would have had the opportunity to be blessed; if he'd underwritten even part of it, it would have seemed like lukewarm support, and that might have had a negative effect, too.
Truly, if the Lord of hosts hath purposed it, who shall disannul it?
Urban Ministry - going beyond "subsistence"
2009 may or may not be the 80th anniversary of Gospel Mission.
The early history of GM has been largely oral tradition, but we do know that we were established some time in the 1920s. I remember seeing some printed reference to 1929, but do you think I can find it now? Of course not. So, lest the decade run out without actually acknowledging the 80 (plus) years of serving Vancouver, let's say some quiet huzzahs for the oldest existing rescue mission in Vancouver (and possibly Western Canada - again, oral tradition).
In 2008, Gospel Mission started taking some steps towards bringing ministry in the Downtown East Side (you can insert the name of any other similarly afflicted urban area) to a different level. Of course, we didn't know it at the time (how could we, really?), but as we look at things a year later, we can see that God has some definite plans for His people in this area that require something more than what I've come to call "subsistence" ministry. As you read this, you may find yourself considering new ways that you, too, can help.
A couple of things happened recently at Gospel Mission / The Lord's Rain, which may seem unrelated, but in fact have a connection worth contemplating. Just before Christmas, two new friends came into the Mission bearing a welcome and timely financial contribution. As we were chatting, they asked, "what do you need?" I was a little stumped, believe it or not. What do we need?
We talked about supplies of food, and the way the Lord has made sure the Mission has not gone hungry over its 80-plus years. We talked about the need for things like building materials to finish the back wall of The Lord's Rain. We talked about the fact that many people have shown up, seemingly from nowhere, with ideas that we had never thought of ourselves, and that they've proven to be exactly what we needed - exactly when we needed them.
The other event, which (as I say) may seem unconnected at first, came at our monthly prayer meeting at Gospel Mission -- which happened to coincide with New Year's Eve. A young man I'd never seen before looked up timidly when Barry asked if anyone had any special prayer needs. I went over and asked what he'd like. "A job," he said, in a Spanish accent. He told me his name was Jose, so I beckoned to Teresa, whose native language is Spanish, and to Barry, to come over. Teresa prayed intently over Jose in Spanish, then told us that Jose had accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. We prayed over him some more -- and I prayed that the Lord would provide Jose with exactly the people, direction and source of income to supply his needs. Jose sat down, with a look of hope on his face that he believed all would be well.
I know as well as anyone what can happen after the first flush of "accepting Jesus". When I did, at a convention in California 10 years ago this summer, I was convinced that answering the Call and saying The Sinner's Prayer would bring an instantaneous change, and I had nothing more to worry about. When it didn't and my old ways started re-emerging (within about two days, actually), I sank lower, feeling disillusioned and a failure. The main reason for the backsliding was that I had no one to assist with ministry, counsel and guidance in my new Walk. This was partly my fault: I was not connected to a church at the time, and while the people at the convention had someone talk with me and give me phone numbers of people to contact when I got back to the Vancouver area, I never did follow up.
Accepting the Lord is only the beginning of the walk with Christ: the whole thing is a process. Just as in a marriage, where passion and romance eventually give way to the necessity of dealing with the world and one another's faults within the context of the covenant you've made with your spouse, the newcomer to Christ still faces the cares of the world, and has to adapt their thinking and actions to the Covenant they've made with God.
[What Covenant have we made with God? Jesus says, "if you love Me, keep My commandments". Abraham, one of the first to have a Covenant with God, "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness".]
For Jose, or anyone else on the DTES, once they come up off their knees and step back out onto Carrall and Hastings, they are immediately surrounded by constant reminders of their past mistakes and wrong choices. The demands of the natural world may drag them back. In Jose's case, his immigration status or lack of English language skills may prevent him from getting a job legally, and unless his faith is strong enough to keep looking to God as his Provider, he could well wind up obtaining money illegally, feeling he has "no choice". That strength of faith is developed over time ("Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," the Apostle Paul wrote).
Considering that I know quite a few faith-filled, spirit-filled, Bible-believing Christians who themselves don't have that kind of faith, you couldn't expect that from a newcomer. The physical manifestation of spiritual change does not come as a cataclysmic, fairy-godmother transformation. God's promise requires patience: He delivers the goods as we can handle them, "by little and little ... lest the beasts of the field increase ...." (Deut. 7:22).
What's the solution for someone like Jose? "Discipleship" - the personal relationship between a person who has just received Christ and someone more mature in the faith, helping to guide the newcomer, keep them from falling back into their old life and encourage them in the steps forward they take, however small they may be. It wasn't until I had proper discipleship in my life that I started moving forward. I have been blessed to have had Ivor Lewis, Gerry and Marci Wall, Dan and Susan McLean and Cathy Koshman at critical points in my life; even now, Barry, Jon Boyd and Cal Weber are there. Now, others turn to me for discipleship. It's a walk we're not supposed to walk alone.
So if one asks, "what do we need?" ... We need disciples.
We need people who are willing to connect with street people on a more personal level. We need people who can Be There, seeking out people who need prayer and counsel, acting as a sounding board, not to validate their past behaviour, but to nudge them in the right direction; and most importantly, encourage them in their new walk and support them when they make the right decisions.
We come back to the foundational Scripture for The Lord's Rain -- and indeed, for Gospel Mission as a whole:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
"Daily food" can mean actual food; it can also mean the necessities of human life, such as providing a place where for people to get cleaned up. But we can also take it to mean the practical application of being "in peace ... warmed and filled". That is what discipleship provides: it helps show a person what the spiritual condition of being Saved actually looks like.
Maybe you haven't even thought that this might be something you're called to do. Maybe you don't think you're capable. Maybe you know of others who have been looking for a way to serve in new ways.
In any event, I encourage you to consider it: you may find gifts you didn't know you had. If people are going to make an effort to break themselves free from the drugs and poverty, they need a reason. Many of the people on the DTES cannot see a tangible reason to change; so we need to show them an intangible reason. Christ provides that reason. It's called Hope. It doesn't take a Biblical scholar to do it: just someone who Believes, and has a good ear and a heart to match; someone whose friendship and guidance can drown out the noise of the "cares of the world" that Jesus warns us will try to snatch away the joy of receiving the Word. It takes someone who can encourage people in their walk, without either judging or validating when they slip up -- which they inevitably will.
When you save someone at sea, you don't push them out of the boat again. When someone is Saved in Christ, other people need to be nearby to steady them as they find their legs in the boat. Otherwise, they not only fall overboard, this time they have a millstone of guilt, remorse and uselessness around their neck.
***
So what is this "next level"? "Subsistence ministry" -- or "maintenance ministry", to borrow the term from some forms of drug treatment -- has been much of the focus for the past century: feeding, clothing and sheltering people; sadly, that has also come to mean enabling them in their drug habits.
It's apparent, though, that we need to press deeper and actually get people's lives turned around so they move on, move up and move out -- if only to make room for the new arrivals who will inevitably come with the current world financial situation.
When Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma, spoke one of the prophecies that eventually led to The Lord's Rain, he used the image of axe blades. He prophesied that the axe blades I had been using were just bouncing off the tree trunks, but that God would start providing blades that were sharper and stronger and would start cutting through the bark. The Lord's Rain is one of those blades: it is definitely having an impact on the people in the DTES. Now, we need more of these sharper, stronger axe blades.
We also need more mainstream churches from other parts of the region to get involved, with a view towards salvation, discipleship and restoration. One of the reasons why this is important is because the mainstream churches have the expertise and the resources, human and otherwise, to take on some of the things I've outlined above.
If you drill deep enough into the collective psyche on the DTES, you'll find a key factor is a sense of abandonment. The people can't help but think they've been abandoned by society, their own families, and especially God. (Even "progressive" ideas like the "safe" injection site simply reinforce the lie that an addict is basically non-salvageable.) Is it not up to churches, as ambassadors of Christ, to rid them of that sense? As Christians, are we not called to "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27)?
The Lord's Rain is a clear sign of God's desire to move beyond "subsistence ministry": He ordained it, He brought all the necessary pieces together for it, and He has provided what it's needed, when it's needed it, all down the line. It also stands as an example to encourage others who get a similar vision or assignment from God, that, if He puts a project on their hearts, He will bring together the necessary resources.
In Exodus, the Lord gives Moses instructions for the building of the tabernacle. He is directed to use gold, silver and brass, fine linen of all manner of colours, and specific types of wood. Then the Bible tells us they made the things required out of the materials specified. I can't find any verse in which Moses says, "and exactly how we are supposed to get these things?" Even in the wilderness, the materials they needed were provided.
Put another way, when God tells you to do something, He doesn't tell you to afford it.
If He puts an idea on your heart -- as He did with us for The Lord's Rain -- you can be sure He will make it happen as soon as you say, "Yes, Lord".
What I've written here is grist for discussion and action as the Lord leads. The issue of poverty and crime in so many areas of our region and others around North America has been dumbed-down to "homelessness", but we need to consider that a typo. The real problem is "hopelessness", and hope is not always found in a shelter bed or a meal line or any number of social experiments. It's also not bought and sold for money, which means that anyone can contribute. Don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with providing meals and emergency shelters; but the message I'm hearing is that it's time to go further.
Please think on these things. Take them up with your pastors, home groups, friends, co-workers; see where you're led. Some people may be called to support projects financially, but others may be called to something different, and I'm suggesting it's time to find that "something different". It may not just be "something different" for the people receiving it: it will likely be something different for you, too.
The early history of GM has been largely oral tradition, but we do know that we were established some time in the 1920s. I remember seeing some printed reference to 1929, but do you think I can find it now? Of course not. So, lest the decade run out without actually acknowledging the 80 (plus) years of serving Vancouver, let's say some quiet huzzahs for the oldest existing rescue mission in Vancouver (and possibly Western Canada - again, oral tradition).
In 2008, Gospel Mission started taking some steps towards bringing ministry in the Downtown East Side (you can insert the name of any other similarly afflicted urban area) to a different level. Of course, we didn't know it at the time (how could we, really?), but as we look at things a year later, we can see that God has some definite plans for His people in this area that require something more than what I've come to call "subsistence" ministry. As you read this, you may find yourself considering new ways that you, too, can help.
A couple of things happened recently at Gospel Mission / The Lord's Rain, which may seem unrelated, but in fact have a connection worth contemplating. Just before Christmas, two new friends came into the Mission bearing a welcome and timely financial contribution. As we were chatting, they asked, "what do you need?" I was a little stumped, believe it or not. What do we need?
We talked about supplies of food, and the way the Lord has made sure the Mission has not gone hungry over its 80-plus years. We talked about the need for things like building materials to finish the back wall of The Lord's Rain. We talked about the fact that many people have shown up, seemingly from nowhere, with ideas that we had never thought of ourselves, and that they've proven to be exactly what we needed - exactly when we needed them.
The other event, which (as I say) may seem unconnected at first, came at our monthly prayer meeting at Gospel Mission -- which happened to coincide with New Year's Eve. A young man I'd never seen before looked up timidly when Barry asked if anyone had any special prayer needs. I went over and asked what he'd like. "A job," he said, in a Spanish accent. He told me his name was Jose, so I beckoned to Teresa, whose native language is Spanish, and to Barry, to come over. Teresa prayed intently over Jose in Spanish, then told us that Jose had accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. We prayed over him some more -- and I prayed that the Lord would provide Jose with exactly the people, direction and source of income to supply his needs. Jose sat down, with a look of hope on his face that he believed all would be well.
I know as well as anyone what can happen after the first flush of "accepting Jesus". When I did, at a convention in California 10 years ago this summer, I was convinced that answering the Call and saying The Sinner's Prayer would bring an instantaneous change, and I had nothing more to worry about. When it didn't and my old ways started re-emerging (within about two days, actually), I sank lower, feeling disillusioned and a failure. The main reason for the backsliding was that I had no one to assist with ministry, counsel and guidance in my new Walk. This was partly my fault: I was not connected to a church at the time, and while the people at the convention had someone talk with me and give me phone numbers of people to contact when I got back to the Vancouver area, I never did follow up.
Accepting the Lord is only the beginning of the walk with Christ: the whole thing is a process. Just as in a marriage, where passion and romance eventually give way to the necessity of dealing with the world and one another's faults within the context of the covenant you've made with your spouse, the newcomer to Christ still faces the cares of the world, and has to adapt their thinking and actions to the Covenant they've made with God.
[What Covenant have we made with God? Jesus says, "if you love Me, keep My commandments". Abraham, one of the first to have a Covenant with God, "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness".]
For Jose, or anyone else on the DTES, once they come up off their knees and step back out onto Carrall and Hastings, they are immediately surrounded by constant reminders of their past mistakes and wrong choices. The demands of the natural world may drag them back. In Jose's case, his immigration status or lack of English language skills may prevent him from getting a job legally, and unless his faith is strong enough to keep looking to God as his Provider, he could well wind up obtaining money illegally, feeling he has "no choice". That strength of faith is developed over time ("Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," the Apostle Paul wrote).
Considering that I know quite a few faith-filled, spirit-filled, Bible-believing Christians who themselves don't have that kind of faith, you couldn't expect that from a newcomer. The physical manifestation of spiritual change does not come as a cataclysmic, fairy-godmother transformation. God's promise requires patience: He delivers the goods as we can handle them, "by little and little ... lest the beasts of the field increase ...." (Deut. 7:22).
What's the solution for someone like Jose? "Discipleship" - the personal relationship between a person who has just received Christ and someone more mature in the faith, helping to guide the newcomer, keep them from falling back into their old life and encourage them in the steps forward they take, however small they may be. It wasn't until I had proper discipleship in my life that I started moving forward. I have been blessed to have had Ivor Lewis, Gerry and Marci Wall, Dan and Susan McLean and Cathy Koshman at critical points in my life; even now, Barry, Jon Boyd and Cal Weber are there. Now, others turn to me for discipleship. It's a walk we're not supposed to walk alone.
So if one asks, "what do we need?" ... We need disciples.
We need people who are willing to connect with street people on a more personal level. We need people who can Be There, seeking out people who need prayer and counsel, acting as a sounding board, not to validate their past behaviour, but to nudge them in the right direction; and most importantly, encourage them in their new walk and support them when they make the right decisions.
We come back to the foundational Scripture for The Lord's Rain -- and indeed, for Gospel Mission as a whole:
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
-- James 2:14-17
"Daily food" can mean actual food; it can also mean the necessities of human life, such as providing a place where for people to get cleaned up. But we can also take it to mean the practical application of being "in peace ... warmed and filled". That is what discipleship provides: it helps show a person what the spiritual condition of being Saved actually looks like.
Maybe you haven't even thought that this might be something you're called to do. Maybe you don't think you're capable. Maybe you know of others who have been looking for a way to serve in new ways.
In any event, I encourage you to consider it: you may find gifts you didn't know you had. If people are going to make an effort to break themselves free from the drugs and poverty, they need a reason. Many of the people on the DTES cannot see a tangible reason to change; so we need to show them an intangible reason. Christ provides that reason. It's called Hope. It doesn't take a Biblical scholar to do it: just someone who Believes, and has a good ear and a heart to match; someone whose friendship and guidance can drown out the noise of the "cares of the world" that Jesus warns us will try to snatch away the joy of receiving the Word. It takes someone who can encourage people in their walk, without either judging or validating when they slip up -- which they inevitably will.
When you save someone at sea, you don't push them out of the boat again. When someone is Saved in Christ, other people need to be nearby to steady them as they find their legs in the boat. Otherwise, they not only fall overboard, this time they have a millstone of guilt, remorse and uselessness around their neck.
***
So what is this "next level"? "Subsistence ministry" -- or "maintenance ministry", to borrow the term from some forms of drug treatment -- has been much of the focus for the past century: feeding, clothing and sheltering people; sadly, that has also come to mean enabling them in their drug habits.
It's apparent, though, that we need to press deeper and actually get people's lives turned around so they move on, move up and move out -- if only to make room for the new arrivals who will inevitably come with the current world financial situation.
When Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma, spoke one of the prophecies that eventually led to The Lord's Rain, he used the image of axe blades. He prophesied that the axe blades I had been using were just bouncing off the tree trunks, but that God would start providing blades that were sharper and stronger and would start cutting through the bark. The Lord's Rain is one of those blades: it is definitely having an impact on the people in the DTES. Now, we need more of these sharper, stronger axe blades.
We also need more mainstream churches from other parts of the region to get involved, with a view towards salvation, discipleship and restoration. One of the reasons why this is important is because the mainstream churches have the expertise and the resources, human and otherwise, to take on some of the things I've outlined above.
If you drill deep enough into the collective psyche on the DTES, you'll find a key factor is a sense of abandonment. The people can't help but think they've been abandoned by society, their own families, and especially God. (Even "progressive" ideas like the "safe" injection site simply reinforce the lie that an addict is basically non-salvageable.) Is it not up to churches, as ambassadors of Christ, to rid them of that sense? As Christians, are we not called to "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27)?
The Lord's Rain is a clear sign of God's desire to move beyond "subsistence ministry": He ordained it, He brought all the necessary pieces together for it, and He has provided what it's needed, when it's needed it, all down the line. It also stands as an example to encourage others who get a similar vision or assignment from God, that, if He puts a project on their hearts, He will bring together the necessary resources.
In Exodus, the Lord gives Moses instructions for the building of the tabernacle. He is directed to use gold, silver and brass, fine linen of all manner of colours, and specific types of wood. Then the Bible tells us they made the things required out of the materials specified. I can't find any verse in which Moses says, "and exactly how we are supposed to get these things?" Even in the wilderness, the materials they needed were provided.
Put another way, when God tells you to do something, He doesn't tell you to afford it.
If He puts an idea on your heart -- as He did with us for The Lord's Rain -- you can be sure He will make it happen as soon as you say, "Yes, Lord".
What I've written here is grist for discussion and action as the Lord leads. The issue of poverty and crime in so many areas of our region and others around North America has been dumbed-down to "homelessness", but we need to consider that a typo. The real problem is "hopelessness", and hope is not always found in a shelter bed or a meal line or any number of social experiments. It's also not bought and sold for money, which means that anyone can contribute. Don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with providing meals and emergency shelters; but the message I'm hearing is that it's time to go further.
Please think on these things. Take them up with your pastors, home groups, friends, co-workers; see where you're led. Some people may be called to support projects financially, but others may be called to something different, and I'm suggesting it's time to find that "something different". It may not just be "something different" for the people receiving it: it will likely be something different for you, too.
The Showers Saga - 14: God's Grandstand Play (first posted Feb. 29/08)
It's not the first time He's done it in this project, and chances are, it won't be the last. It's another of God's "grandstand plays", showing anyone who doubted it that He is fully in control of this project, and that it's His perfect will for it to succeed.
Grandstand play? Oh, yes: this one is one for the highlight reels. It's Michael Jordan carrying the Bulls on his back. It's Bo Jackson crushing a homer to right field in the Kingdome (1990) that was still rising when it hit the back wall, leaving a buzz that continued into the next inning. It's Bobby Baun scoring in OT in Game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup while playing with a broken ankle, or Bobby Allison going horizontal to make a rally-killing catch in the '65 World Series. It's that guy on the Giants, catching the ball with his helmet to keep that 4th quarter drive going in the '08 Super Bowl.
Saga entry #13 described the theft from The Lord's Rain. At first, I didn't want to say anything, but the next morning, the Lord started giving me the words -- and the motivation. After all, we needed to be up-front with the people who've supported us so far. So I put together a release, making it clear that the project was going ahead. It went to the mailing list for "Friends of The Lord's Rain", a group list for the media, and the ACOP churches. Janet Dirks called from CTV -- well, she emailed, actually. Then she got called off the story, and Peter Grainger came in her place.
We did an extended interview, and the resulting story was more about the project itself and the need for it, with the mention about the theft tacked on almost as an afterthought. That's the way I wanted it, really -- Peter shows a remarkable sensitivity for the story, as does Janet -- I didn't want to be wringing my hands and wailing about what a terrible thing was being done to us ... but yes, we did have a theft and -- in answer to the question -- yes, it would be nice if we could get some help with that. Actually, Peter said it in his voice-over, and Pam Martin and Bill Good chatted about it, too. That was on Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, the phone rang as I was getting ready for work. It was a fellow who had seen the story, called CTV to get my contact info, and wanted to contribute towards the replacement of the tools. I met him at his place of business in North Vancouver. Turns out, he's a Born Again Christian, too, and as soon as he heard the story, the Lord tapped him on the shoulder. But he didn't want any publicity for himself or his business: he was doing it out of obedience. And with that -- accompanied by a well-deserved flourish -- he plunked a wad of bills on the desk that would choke a medium-sized horse. 100s and 50s. $8000.00.
There's no question this was obedience, too: his own business was doing remediation work after a burst water pipe caused a flood. He could very easily have argued with the Lord, saying that money would have been better spent fixing his own business. But if he did, the argument still went the Lord's way. By day's end, two plumbers had stepped up with offers to donate tools. So Kevin will get his tools replaced, and our costs will continue to be met. Apostle Kenny Black at Rivers of Living Water in Brooklyn summed it up when I told him: "God always has a ram in the bush".
And God is also leaving absolutely no doubt that this is His project. Just like Gideon, facing the Midianites, when God made him reduce his numbers so much that he was forced to rely on Him. Just in case we get too proud and cocky about the showers project -- which is easy to do, with so many people saying, "That's such a wonderful thing you're doing!" -- He's reminding us that it's His project, we're just the ones He's called to make it happen, and ultimately He's the one who's providing what it needs. Leroy Thompson often says, "If you have a need, sow a seed". Oral Roberts has a habit, whenever he feels sickness coming on, of sending money to another ministry or sowing something, someplace, and his recovery either is hastened or the sickness goes away.
There's something to be said about that. Let's pray for our benefactors to have whatever difficulties they face resolved by Divine intervention -- especially our $8000 donor for his flood reparations. I prayed for that with him on the spot -- although he insists he's not doing it for that reason. But it's written that as we give, it's given back to us in full measure -- THEN shaken together, pressed down and running over -- whether that was our "intention" or not.
And in all the confusion, I almost forgot this angle: on Monday, heading home after hearing the news and talking with Brodie and the police, I stopped at Safeway to pick up a couple of things. There was an elderly man standing on the corner with his cap out. As I finished the shopping, the Lord said, "Give him that $20". So I did -- not in the cap, but right into his hand -- and he lit up: not because of the money, but because someone cared to stop and talk, and the spirit that comes with not just dumping "spare change" into his cap is a Godly spirit. (I keep reminding myself that Drew Snider the man has 1001 excuses not to help people -- but "Christ in me" is the X-factor that motivates such things. It's the same with anyone, really.) So he told how he still has faith in God and loves Jesus and loves to pray for people and bless others when he can ... and there was light behind those eyes. But I did pray over that seed before giving it to him -- that it would multiply to meet his needs, but also be blessed with a resolution to the situation at the showers project. And God heard ... and heard the prayers of all the people who read the release, read this blog, saw the news items ... responded.
=======
MORE MEDIA
The Lord's Rain brings showers to Vancouver poor Cowichan News Leader And Pictorial - Feb. 27
Most of us take for granted our daily baths and showers, but for the down-and-outers on Vancouver's notorious Downtown East Side, that can often be a tough thing to do. But it's about to get better thanks in part to the efforts of some Cowichan locals.
The Lord's Rain is a project launched by Carrall St. Church that will provide showers for Downtown East Side residents three mornings a week. A short while ago, a team of about 20 well-skilled trades people put on a one-day building blitz at the church to construct the platform and frames needed for four showers, three regular sized and one larger shower for people with mobility problems.
The group included about a dozen members of The Oasis Church in Duncan, led by Pastors Gerry and Brandon Wall, as well as other local volunteers. "This is a great way to impact a lot people," said Pastor Gerry. "One of the things we do as a church is to support others' visions when we sense it's a good thing and when we heard about the Lord's Rain it really registered with us."
Wall said one of the first thing many of the homeless who visit the Carrall St. Church in the heart of Canada's most notorious communities is to head for the basins to clean up as best they can. "Knowing a little bit of background on some of the guys I've met in my lifetime, I would suspect they would rather be clean," he said. While beauty may only be skin deep, cleanliness can have a deeper impact on those who call the streets home.
"It can give a rocket ride to someone's self-esteem," said Drew Snider, spokesman for the project. "You see the people who come around and, yeah, they're perpetually dirty, but you can tell they'd rather not be." Snider said it's sometimes easy to write off the homeless people on the East Side as a bunch of crack heads and prostitutes. "Harder hearts say these are people who brought this on themselves, but we all make mistakes, we all slip up," he said. And while the street people can usually find food and clothing, the simple act of bathing be tougher to do, but it's something that can stay with them through the day, said Snider. "That softens their hearts and they'll notice people around them haven't written them off all together," he said. "The people around them haven't found another reason to ignore them and someone does actually do want to see them lifted up to a higher level."
Pastor Gerry said he didn't have a whole lot of contact with the people he was helping build the showers for, but the ones he did talk to appreciated the effort. "The ones who did respond said they thought it was a great idea and they were looking forward to the showers," he said. "It's not a major investment, but maybe it will make someone's life a little better." The church is just waiting for building inspectors to give the construction a passing grade before the showers will officially be turned on, sometime in the next couple of weeks, said Snider.
Grandstand play? Oh, yes: this one is one for the highlight reels. It's Michael Jordan carrying the Bulls on his back. It's Bo Jackson crushing a homer to right field in the Kingdome (1990) that was still rising when it hit the back wall, leaving a buzz that continued into the next inning. It's Bobby Baun scoring in OT in Game 6 of the 1964 Stanley Cup while playing with a broken ankle, or Bobby Allison going horizontal to make a rally-killing catch in the '65 World Series. It's that guy on the Giants, catching the ball with his helmet to keep that 4th quarter drive going in the '08 Super Bowl.
Saga entry #13 described the theft from The Lord's Rain. At first, I didn't want to say anything, but the next morning, the Lord started giving me the words -- and the motivation. After all, we needed to be up-front with the people who've supported us so far. So I put together a release, making it clear that the project was going ahead. It went to the mailing list for "Friends of The Lord's Rain", a group list for the media, and the ACOP churches. Janet Dirks called from CTV -- well, she emailed, actually. Then she got called off the story, and Peter Grainger came in her place.
We did an extended interview, and the resulting story was more about the project itself and the need for it, with the mention about the theft tacked on almost as an afterthought. That's the way I wanted it, really -- Peter shows a remarkable sensitivity for the story, as does Janet -- I didn't want to be wringing my hands and wailing about what a terrible thing was being done to us ... but yes, we did have a theft and -- in answer to the question -- yes, it would be nice if we could get some help with that. Actually, Peter said it in his voice-over, and Pam Martin and Bill Good chatted about it, too. That was on Tuesday.
Wednesday morning, the phone rang as I was getting ready for work. It was a fellow who had seen the story, called CTV to get my contact info, and wanted to contribute towards the replacement of the tools. I met him at his place of business in North Vancouver. Turns out, he's a Born Again Christian, too, and as soon as he heard the story, the Lord tapped him on the shoulder. But he didn't want any publicity for himself or his business: he was doing it out of obedience. And with that -- accompanied by a well-deserved flourish -- he plunked a wad of bills on the desk that would choke a medium-sized horse. 100s and 50s. $8000.00.
There's no question this was obedience, too: his own business was doing remediation work after a burst water pipe caused a flood. He could very easily have argued with the Lord, saying that money would have been better spent fixing his own business. But if he did, the argument still went the Lord's way. By day's end, two plumbers had stepped up with offers to donate tools. So Kevin will get his tools replaced, and our costs will continue to be met. Apostle Kenny Black at Rivers of Living Water in Brooklyn summed it up when I told him: "God always has a ram in the bush".
And God is also leaving absolutely no doubt that this is His project. Just like Gideon, facing the Midianites, when God made him reduce his numbers so much that he was forced to rely on Him. Just in case we get too proud and cocky about the showers project -- which is easy to do, with so many people saying, "That's such a wonderful thing you're doing!" -- He's reminding us that it's His project, we're just the ones He's called to make it happen, and ultimately He's the one who's providing what it needs. Leroy Thompson often says, "If you have a need, sow a seed". Oral Roberts has a habit, whenever he feels sickness coming on, of sending money to another ministry or sowing something, someplace, and his recovery either is hastened or the sickness goes away.
There's something to be said about that. Let's pray for our benefactors to have whatever difficulties they face resolved by Divine intervention -- especially our $8000 donor for his flood reparations. I prayed for that with him on the spot -- although he insists he's not doing it for that reason. But it's written that as we give, it's given back to us in full measure -- THEN shaken together, pressed down and running over -- whether that was our "intention" or not.
And in all the confusion, I almost forgot this angle: on Monday, heading home after hearing the news and talking with Brodie and the police, I stopped at Safeway to pick up a couple of things. There was an elderly man standing on the corner with his cap out. As I finished the shopping, the Lord said, "Give him that $20". So I did -- not in the cap, but right into his hand -- and he lit up: not because of the money, but because someone cared to stop and talk, and the spirit that comes with not just dumping "spare change" into his cap is a Godly spirit. (I keep reminding myself that Drew Snider the man has 1001 excuses not to help people -- but "Christ in me" is the X-factor that motivates such things. It's the same with anyone, really.) So he told how he still has faith in God and loves Jesus and loves to pray for people and bless others when he can ... and there was light behind those eyes. But I did pray over that seed before giving it to him -- that it would multiply to meet his needs, but also be blessed with a resolution to the situation at the showers project. And God heard ... and heard the prayers of all the people who read the release, read this blog, saw the news items ... responded.
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MORE MEDIA
The Lord's Rain brings showers to Vancouver poor Cowichan News Leader And Pictorial - Feb. 27
Most of us take for granted our daily baths and showers, but for the down-and-outers on Vancouver's notorious Downtown East Side, that can often be a tough thing to do. But it's about to get better thanks in part to the efforts of some Cowichan locals.
The Lord's Rain is a project launched by Carrall St. Church that will provide showers for Downtown East Side residents three mornings a week. A short while ago, a team of about 20 well-skilled trades people put on a one-day building blitz at the church to construct the platform and frames needed for four showers, three regular sized and one larger shower for people with mobility problems.
The group included about a dozen members of The Oasis Church in Duncan, led by Pastors Gerry and Brandon Wall, as well as other local volunteers. "This is a great way to impact a lot people," said Pastor Gerry. "One of the things we do as a church is to support others' visions when we sense it's a good thing and when we heard about the Lord's Rain it really registered with us."
Wall said one of the first thing many of the homeless who visit the Carrall St. Church in the heart of Canada's most notorious communities is to head for the basins to clean up as best they can. "Knowing a little bit of background on some of the guys I've met in my lifetime, I would suspect they would rather be clean," he said. While beauty may only be skin deep, cleanliness can have a deeper impact on those who call the streets home.
"It can give a rocket ride to someone's self-esteem," said Drew Snider, spokesman for the project. "You see the people who come around and, yeah, they're perpetually dirty, but you can tell they'd rather not be." Snider said it's sometimes easy to write off the homeless people on the East Side as a bunch of crack heads and prostitutes. "Harder hearts say these are people who brought this on themselves, but we all make mistakes, we all slip up," he said. And while the street people can usually find food and clothing, the simple act of bathing be tougher to do, but it's something that can stay with them through the day, said Snider. "That softens their hearts and they'll notice people around them haven't written them off all together," he said. "The people around them haven't found another reason to ignore them and someone does actually do want to see them lifted up to a higher level."
Pastor Gerry said he didn't have a whole lot of contact with the people he was helping build the showers for, but the ones he did talk to appreciated the effort. "The ones who did respond said they thought it was a great idea and they were looking forward to the showers," he said. "It's not a major investment, but maybe it will make someone's life a little better." The church is just waiting for building inspectors to give the construction a passing grade before the showers will officially be turned on, sometime in the next couple of weeks, said Snider.
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