Thorny Ground and Beyond

No matter where you journey, you cannot escape difficult people.  Yes, even in ministry.  Last week I was reading the parable the sower and I specifically noticed the thorny-ground seed.  I realized that those folks are still in the "church."  The worries of life (what other people think) and the desire for gain (personal agenda) make them ineffective (insecure and even detrimental). Wow.  Two things surface:  1) Lord keep me from "sliding" into thorny ground and 2) Give me the strength to deal with those that have.  

Last week, as mentioned before, was "Beyond Shelterwood."  We sent one group of staff and residents to El Paso to serve local families and champion nearby mission/outreach organizations.  This morning in chapel two of the teens shared and I wish I could relay all the stories but suffice it to say they encountered God.  Upon hearing the testimony of a local from El Paso, one of the teens re-committed her life to Christ and both of them chose to be baptized in water.

Back in KC, our groups split in two.  One team worked with Impact Ministries and refurbished a duplex belonging to a missionary to Haiti.  The second team worked with Faith Hope Ministries.  Faith Hope is located downtown and provides food and daytime shelter to the homeless of Kansas City.  Since I worked with Faith Hope I have a few additional details.  We helped them sort a large warehouse of furniture.  When homeless folks are transitioning to independent living they are given furniture from the warehouse.  Kansas City residents have donated to Faith Hope and the warehouse was full of unorganized stacks of donations.  We sorted, moved and tried to provide easy lanes for Faith Hope staff to fill "orders."  We also served hot meals during the day and sorted through bags of donated clothing.  

Next week begins Spring Break for Shelterwood.  Many of the residents will be travelling home to spend time with family and several will stay back, too recent to our program for healthy interaction back at home.  We are now at 29 residents.  15 boys and 14 girls.