|
Dear Terry,
The first time I met Jonah — two years ago — could have been the last. He was rude and surly, a young and thin 20-year-old leaning against a rock wall and reading a book. I approached him and asked what he was reading. He sized me up and replied, "You wouldn't like it." I saw from the book’s title it was about Nazi persecution of homosexuals. Jonah had written me off as a religious conservative and irrelevant to his life.
I didn't truly reach him that day, but Street Youth Ministry began to try -- to make sure he knew we loved him, accepted him, and wanted the best for him. We brought him sandwiches and helped him find art supplies once we learned of his talent. Eventually, he warmed to talking with us. We invited him to indoor events, saying, "You'll always be welcome. Come anytime!" He tried out our Bible study and liked it. He knew his Bible, but he said he had been treated poorly by some congregations. We apologized and showed him it could be different. We encouraged Jonah to explore who he was, what he wanted to do, and who he wanted to be. Soon, at our suggestion, he took some classes at ACC.
Jonah left the street last fall. We rarely saw him until this spring, when he began coming in for canned food from our panty. We asked how we could be praying for him. "I have trouble affording supplies to keep the apartment clean,” he replied. “You could pray for that." We did, and it gave us an idea: start collecting supplies and set up a closet for our housed clients. When we offered some to Jonah, he was surprised and appreciative. He opened up by saying, "I've come to realize that recovery from street poverty is not just getting a place to live. It's not a quick process." He shared some frustrations: "It's hard to deal with roommates all the time. The deadlines and responsibilities give me anxiety. Most of all, I miss my street community." It has been gratifying to see Jonah come in more often. He recently spent over an hour with one of our volunteers sharing his hopes and dreams, and even how he is working out his faith.
Street Youth Ministry is not really about housing the poor or feeding the hungry. We do those things, of course, but we are about building long-term relationships that change the lives of young people on the street. It can take months, even years, but our data indicate this positive result: Clients who spend lots of time with us delving into their concerns, dreams, dilemmas and hopes begin to change! They start to achieve stability, sobriety, a reconnection with God and a faith home.
This is the healing we pray for every one of them, including Jonah. Thank you for helping us encourage all the Jonahs on the street!
Terry
|
No comments:
Post a Comment