Written By Herb Bailey
It has been ten years since he picked up and used any illegal substance. Ten years. And yesterday, he came through the door, and as usual I greeted him with a smile, calling out his name. He walked over to me, eyes lowered, and quietly asked me if we had some food in our pantry. I quickly adjusted my posture, and began to listen to his heart. This is unusual because he normally comes in and buys massive quantities of breakfast food for himself and his family. We made it downstairs to our pantry, a place that holds food that has been donated but we don’t advertise. We utilize this as part of our relational capital and only with people we have been building relationships with. He filled his two bags and as we headed back upstairs, we stopped just shy of the kitchen. Still out of range of the rest of the café folks, he told me that it had been rough. I attempted to encourage him with words, but what he asked me for was prayer. So we prayed. We prayed and when we were done, he left as quietly as he had come in. This is the relational capital that you, our friends offer through your giving and through your time and through your prayers. This is what we get to do, daily. Along with celebrating life during Open Mic night and Bible Studies and Recovery Services, we simply offer prayer born out of relationships. Jesus loves you, you love us, and we love the community. What a beautiful example of relational capital, what a beautiful example of the kingdom of God.
1 Comment
June
2/7/2018 12:38:54 pm
And that is what the Café is all about--helping without questioning sometimes, but always with prayer, love and care and being Jesus' feet and hands I love it!
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