There is a daytime curfew for children. If they are out walking with no excuse from school they are taken in and booked as unruly children.
Honest, after pastoring churches for 29 years, its hard to sit and do church. There is something burning in my soul to engage people on a level that really matters to them, hopefully for today and eternity. This community stirred my heart.
So I asked the Lord for guidance. I saw a quick picture in my mind, of me on my knees on the sidewalk in that neighborhood. Great...I have to kneel in public in a neighborhood I have never been to and where people are getting shot. What chance does a white guy have there! (Lord I have issues with you, who else would treat me like this?:)
So I picked up the GPS and set the cross streets where the paper said the trouble was and off I went. And right on the corner of 13th Street and Route 57 (Broadway) was a church! Ok!
Getting out of the car was a little embarassing but the desire to please the Lord and follow him was greater. Just as I knelt, a car with a young black man was coming down the alley. Great I thought, he is going to see everything! And he did; making the corner 20 feet away from me, with his eyes glued to the idiot praying with classic folded hands (like the Lord showed me) on the sidewalk.
He just stared.
I got up feeling really good from doing what was right. The church was closed so I went into the neightorhood. I got long looks from gals on their porches and angry stares from "members" who were not happy at my white Tundra pick-up driving on "their" streets. I parked and got out to talk to one of the policeman doing extra duty there. After introducing my self I asked him "Why is it so violent here?" He said "I don't know, but its really bad." After that he appologised for the quick departure and went to help someone who was being robbed.
That evening I returned to find a community of faith to serve in. The first church was 97% Hispanic and 3 % black. And they made it clear there was no room for one white person. I thought we were on the same team...sad. Next I entered a white church caught in times gone by. Inbred and religious they tried the best handshakes and smiles they could muster, but the actions were so far from their hearts. I felt sad for them like one feels sad while watching news story and knowing that it will be the same always, locked in time. They really tried hard. And I will see them again for that...they tried!
Right now I am thinking that going to doors and offering prayer and Jesus love will be a great start! Where is that person of peace? I'm going to find them, I just know it! God loves those people big!
