“Hey, white boys! Why you in my hood?” Did she really just yell that across the street?

My feet started moving to cross the street. I had no idea why, but they were. It was an impulsive thing that drove me closer to this woman that seemed to be quite scary. In fact, I didn’t realize that she was a woman, until she got closer. She was carrying a bag with some form of alcoholic beverage and it was obvious that she was not completely into the entire conversation.

Switching between praising Jesus and cussing me for being white and in her neighborhood, I quickly realized that this was just one person that I would encounter in the night. Was she the only one that would be like this? Would things actually get serious?

“How long you staying out here with food?” she asked. I told her that we would be feeding people until we ran out of food or they stopped coming for food. She immediately responded, “You better not stay past dark, because black people bring out their guns at night!” How does someone even respond to a statement like that?

Interestingly enough, I wasn’t afraid. I was careful throughout the night, but never afraid. For one thing, I didn’t take her that seriously. She was obviously just talking for attention and I didn’t care, because I wanted to show her love.

She came across the street to where my sister and brother-in-law were standing with my 3-year-old nephew. They were there to join in the event and my sister was getting ready to put flowers into the vases for table center pieces. She had two bouquets of flowers and my new friend kept commenting on the beauty of the flowers.

“Hey, give me one of those,” my friend said. Diligently my sister insisted that the flowers were for the table center pieces and that she could take them home after the event. That didn’t seem to slow the persistence of my new friend, because she kept saying, “I’ve never had someone give me flowers before.”

Why would it matter, if we gave up one bouquet? We still had another to split among the tables. Wouldn’t it be better to let her have the flowers? Isn’t that what we’re all about – giving?

I wrestle with questions like these as we serve the community of Southeast Fresno. How can we truly be Christ-followers when there is SO much that we hold back?

When do I have to return the Bible?

As he was getting his food, a young boy approached the table with free Bibles. “May I have one?” he asked, not knowing that they were free for anyone to take.

“Yes, absolutely.”

“When do I have to return it? Do I have to bring it back after I’m done eating?” Astonishingly, the boy hadn’t considered that the Word of God is free for anyone who would receive it.

To this question, the worker sitting at the table responded, “No, you don’t have to bring it back. It’s yours to keep and it’s free.” The boy walked away from the table with a smile that beamed from ear to ear, knowing that he had something new and that it was all his.

When asked about this project, people are sometimes surprised that a group of people would want to freely give of their time and money to help the community around them. We live in a city (or rather a country) that has been raised to believe that there is no such thing as a free lunch. And, while that’s true, the counter to that is free salvation.

Why do we do what we do? We do this, because people are worth it. If I left it at that, most people would say, “OK, that’s cool. Do whatever you want, if that makes you feel better about yourself.” However, the reality is that we have been given a mission from God. He isn’t content with us just saying, “We do this, because people are worth it.” Rather, He is more concerned with the way in which we bring Him glory through this action.

If this entire summer project was for the sole purpose of putting a Bible in the hands of a smiling young boy, then it was worth it!

The parable of the Great Banquet is resounding in my head. The Master’s words, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in,” seem to continually echo through my thoughts. On the smallest scale, I think that I’m beginning to understand what the Lord must feel as He waits to see who will choose to enter into His Great Banquet. My banquet is not nearly to scale, and yet there is fear that none will show.

Sure, the volunteers will be there, but will the guests? Will we find ourselves going out to find others to come and feast with us? Or, conversely, will there be too many and we won’t be able to feed them all?

Upon reflection, I’m not sure that either question really matters. I don’t remember the Master saying, “Only invite them, if you’re sure that they will come.” He just sent the servant out. And, similarly, He is sending our team out. Numbers don’t matter anymore. Only faithfulness will be accepted. To that purpose, we go.

I’m not sure how God is calling you to faithful service. I’m only sure that He is. So what will your response be?

God’s blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

I often wonder about the nature of His glory. We sing of it on Sunday mornings, but to we live every moment of life as if we believe in it? Part of the purpose for this project is to motivate and inspire others to join in the service of our God – to show our King that we can praise Him outside of the church as well. Will you join us in this project? If this is also your inspiration, I encourage you to volunteer to help this summer!

God’s blessings,

Bryan

A Social Mission, from Kristen Base

From your neighbor living next door, to the woman on the streets in Africa, God’s children are all loved equally. Sometimes, we find it a nobler deed to reach out to the person in Africa, while those living in our very neighborhoods are ignored. Those struggling to make ends meet in Southeast Fresno matter, and we should be doing something to help. This is something I have felt God trying to teach me for a while, but I could not pinpoint it. I felt a growing compassion in my soul, but I did not know for what purpose. In response, I switched my major over to Social Work with an Intercultural Studies minor in order to gain practical skills to serve the poor in other countries. “Where do you want me to go, Lord? I’ll go! But how can I when I am going to school?” I felt like I needed to be doing something now, but did not see how that was possible in the university bubble.

The reality is, it does not take much to extend hands full of grace. Surrounding us are people who are hungry for physical and spiritual food. We can satisfy both of those needs very easily. Food is tangible. It shows that we care about their well-being. As we share meals and conversation, it also opens the opportunity to talk about God’s love. We can pray for people from far away and throw fliers at them inviting them to church, but what really opens up a person’s heart is sitting down next to them and sharing their burdens. In that way, we can provide for their physical needs and show them where to fill their souls.

Just as Jesus went out to the poorest of the poor, so should we. Jesus did not sit inside a house and wait for people to come figure out that He was their Savior – He went out and showed them! As followers of Christ, we should be doing the same. We should not sit inside our churches and wait for people to realize who Christ is. We cannot sit in our houses and hope people will come ask us why we care. They will not know that Jesus, and His church, wants to satisfy their needs unless we show them. “Feed Our Streets” is a way for the body of Christ to do exactly that – feed the needs of the hungry.

Why I Want to Feed the Streets, from Kelsey Ryska

I feel very convicted about how and what I give to those who are less fortunate than I.  When close friends or family members find themselves in a tough situation, the first thing I think of as a way to help is food.  I make them a meal that could feed an army or buy them nutritious, healthy groceries to power them through the week. But when I give to those who are less fortunate, what do I do?  I give less money than I would spend on groceries or donate food that I wouldn’t eat.  Something is terribly wrong here.

Think about the ministry of a food pantry.  We go to the store, buy foods we love for ourselves and buy whatever is on sale for them. This isn’t a slam on food pantries – they are a great ministry – this is shame on me.  We are called to treat the least of these as we would Jesus himself.  If Jesus came to my home for dinner, we would have steak!  I would buy the best of the best for him. Why?  Because he is worth it.  And so are they.

Obviously we’re supposed to treat the “least of these” well, but I want to do more than just give food. When I see the ministry of Jesus, I see Him delivering spiritual and physical food. I think both are important, which begs the question, “How can I use my gifts to minister like Jesus did?” If I can crunch numbers, then that’s what I’ll do. If I can give my time, energy, and money, then I will. But most of all, I just want to care for the needs of Southeast Fresno. And, that’s why I want to feed these streets.

I had spent a long time ignoring God’s command to get out into my world and make disciples. Finally, about 3 months ago, God started to get serious. I mean, He had been serious the whole time, I think I just started taking Him a little more seriously. I had already received a vision of what He was calling me to do, but I wasn’t moving. I couldn’t move. I was scared – terrified, even – and He was still saying, “Go!”

When things started to get serious, God continually impressed upon me the idea that people were worth it. I couldn’t stand around and do nothing. People were dying and going to hell, and I was comfortable with that.

So, my small group began a study of David Platt’s book Radical. As Platt’s words began challenging us, we realized that this message was already in the Bible, but we were ignoring it. What could we do? How could we reach our community? What was stopping us? Some said that it was fear. Others said that it was a lack of motivation. I felt that it was a lack of love. We were just missing God’s command to truly love others.

We began praying that God will reveal to us opportunities to serve. And, wouldn’t you know it – He did! He had been revealing an opportunity for a long time. I wasn’t listening.

Things started to fall into place, when I sat in on the Ministry Forum at Fresno Pacific University. Francis Chan was speaking, and for weeks people had been talking about him. I didn’t know why, only that he had written some book about love; and, apparently this book was revolutionary.

I didn’t find his message to be that revolutionary. Again, similar to Platt’s message, this stuff was already written in the Bible. I just wasn’t applying it. As I sat there, God continued to impress upon me the motivation to move – to just start loving on people, because they were worth it.

So, this project is dedicated to God’s call. There are people doing this very same thing. In fact, they’ve been doing it a lot longer that I have. But, God is calling me to join in. And, I want you to join in as well. It’s fun! It’s crazy! It’s beyond me and beyond you! For those reasons, I believe that people will see God working. I look forward to sharing in ministry.

I see tables that line the streets. They’re decorated, pretty, and just convey the message of “block party” to everyone that looks down the street. I see shocked, but excited faces as they begin to smell the barbeque and catch the vision of what’s going on. I see laughter and conversation between people that have never spoken to each other. I see Christ’s love visibly pouring into people as they come together for a common meal.

The workers will be in bright t-shirts so that they will be highly visible and can’t escape the questions. Why are you here? What are you doing? What could possibly possess you to do this? Why should I eat your food? And, there will only be one answer: Because you are worth it!

A banner will be raised high to tell the entire neighborhood that we’re there. As if they couldn’t miss the beautiful smell of barbeque or the bright colored t-shirts, we will absolutely be in their faces (in a good way)! And we will sit with them, enjoying conversation and finding out what makes them excited; finding out what makes them tick.

This will be happening at several locations over the course of the entire summer. We will start in May and have these parties all over SE Fresno for the next several months. It’ll be warm, but there will be iced tea and lemonade. It’ll be awkward, but there will be the Holy Spirit to guide us. It’ll be fun, and we’ll just laugh and possibly cry from the joy that is pouring out of our hearts.

And, the Lord will be blessed! Community groups will come together to serve. Organizations from throughout the city will partner to see God’s love given out to those in need. And, we will be loved in return.