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.