Here is a
summary of the main bad points of my working week last week.
1. Threatened to be killed by a
knife wielding homeless guy.
2. Had my brand new phone stolen.
3. Had my wallet with cards in
stolen.
4. Filled three different police
statements in.
5. Been confronted by a doctrine
freak who wanted to challenge the Salvation Army doctrines.
It was a
hectic week and one that I need to forget, but won't in a hurry.
So right
now after a two-hour meeting with a police officer, talking through profoundly
important justice issues that we are involved in, I am just thinking last week
through.
In the
silence of my office.
In the
presence of the King of Kings.
The first
thing that drops into my head is how aware I am of how much ministry costs.
Every
Thursday afternoon St Johns college do a mission lecture for second year
ministry students in our building.
It was
the day the knife incident was happening.
The guy
who does the lectures said, it was a fantastic lesson for these guys who maybe
had visions of ministry being all pomp and ceremony and nice people.
They
spent most of the lesson praying for us.
Yeah,
Ministry costs.
It's
definitely not all nice cosy meetings, with everyone behaving correctly, with
people who are respectfully dressed in nice clothes.
Definitely
not!
And this
week nearly cost me my ministry.
Because I
felt like I had been pummeled into the ground with a mallet.
The
thought crossed my mind, wouldn't it be nice not to be a Salvation Army
Officer?
At the
end of the week though, on Sunday morning to be exact, we had our weekly
gathering.
Our
Sunday morning gathering at S21 is a sight to behold.
Our
congregation has a lot of people who can't even get in to some churches because
of the way they look or the way they act, mixed in with students, and people
who are called to our church community to help, along with people who just
wander in off the street mid service.
As Susie,
one of students, an incredibly gifted worship leader, led worship last week I
just stood back and watched people. Homeless guys with hands in the air,
people, who in some cases, have been unloved in almost every other situation
other than ours, were kneeling, some with arms out, some with hands pointing to
the skies. Drug addicts kneeling with arms around each other. Alcoholics
sitting at the back slouched on the couches worse the wear for drink.
It was
awe inspiring.
It takes
my breath away.
We ain't
a nice cosy Christian love-pod that's for sure.
Then when
I get up to preach?
There is
no chance of delusions of grandeur there.
As soon
as I start speaking, I get interrupted with people wanting to interject..
They are
Holy interjections!
It's so
life giving to have people feel they want to speak too.
But this
last Sunday, the last day of a really difficult week.
God steps
in.
Forcefully.
Not with
a still small voice on this occasion.
No, he
came into the messy week with a bang, not that he hadn't been there in all of
that mess of course because he definitely was, but on Sunday morning he gave me
a glimpse of the reason why I have to minister into the constant mess of life.
He showed
me, in the eyes and actions of people whose lives are broken and chaotic, just
how powerful he is. Young drug addicts being prayed with. A young couple
feeling called to be soldiers in the Salvation Army without any prompting or
even information from us. A lady coming in from the shops and just crying as
she witnessed the moving scene she was looking at. Police officers sitting on
the stairs in tears, as the Spirit of God moved like a hurricane.
Ministry
may cost something.
But if we
stick with it?
There is
treasure to be seen, power to be felt, transformations to be witnessed.
So if
anyone out there is struggling with your ministry, whether that be full time or
doing your thing, God says stick with it baby.
Hang in.
God needs
an Army standing strong.
There are
big battles ahead.
Lets run
towards them not away from them.
When we
get knocked down? Get up again.
When its
hard?
Cling to
the rock.
It'll be
worth it.
