Yesterday I wrote about the miracle of the feeding of more than 5,000 by Jesus. I had an experience last night consistent with the spirit of that miracle. Rather than go to the next passage, I’d like to tell you about it as a point of encouragement.
I went to downtown Portland for an effort called “Night Strike.” Liberty Street Church, at the western foot of the Burnside Bridge, has developed Night Strike as a weekly ministry to Portland’s homeless, inviting any who will to join in. I went with 4 other Catalyst folks to do what we could. Here are my impressions:
First, it was a huge effort. Between three and four hundred people came to participate. Second, they were YOUNG! I was the oldest person there by at least 20 years, and the number of people that close to my age could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Most were in their late teens and early 20’s. Third, they were eager and ready to do whatever called upon to do. Some went out to set up under the Burnside bridge, some cut hair, some washed feet, some cooked and served, some passed out clothing and toiletry needs, some cleaned up, some simply sat at tables and talked to the homeless, while others formed roving groups in the streets of that area, searching for homeless who wouldn’t go to the main event, but still needed food and clean socks.
As I roved with such a group and had conversations with homeless men and women, I was struck by with the awareness that the men I talked with were much like me. They too wanted a stable life, a loving family, a job to go to, and a warm home. Each was articulate. They appreciated being looked in the eye and asked about their life and story. None of them had planned to be homeless. Given different circumstances, I could have been in their place. I enjoyed the night and I enjoyed my conversations with them.
As we walked the streets of that area we saw five large centers for ministry to the homeless. One of the men, new to Portland, was struck by the amount of food and shelter available. He’d never seen such concern for the homeless in San Francisco, his home town.
Why tell you about this? Simply because of my conviction that feeding the hungry is a legitimate ministry for God’s people. Food brings people together. Food shared with love is powerful, feeding both body and soul. The institutional church has so much tied up in buildings and staff salaries they have a difficult time supporting long-term ministries such as Night Strike, needing instead to use their resources for programs that will bring people to gatherings that can eventually support the church.
I was so impressed with the young people. Even those in charge were in their 20’s, affirming that young people with a mission can do powerful things without the need for college degrees or lots of training simply by using the gifts that God gives so freely and abundantly to the church. Their passion and conviction, shared with all the volunteers, literally made a multi-block area of urban Portland a Christian enclave. To them, faith is a verb, and church is ministry. Would that all Christendom could unite under such a simple banner.