We met our neighbor a week and a half ago. I was with a group of Sojourner’s and we were walking down the ally behind his house. We were hoping that God would open up a door for us to meet a need and share his gospel. God is faithful and we met a man that day who lives on Mary Street, just blocks from Sojourn. Perhaps he heard all the ferocious dogs barking behind his house or maybe he saw us through his camera that keeps track of all the activity in the alley.
When he was asked about his most pressing concern, he mentioned the multiple break-ins in the neighborhood and how the police were’nt able to catch the perpetrators. He also mentioned all the trash and downed trees that currently block the alley; no firetruck would be able to get through there if there were an emergency.We also discussed his need for a ramp for his ailing wife who is wheel-chair bound. She has cancer. We offered to pray for him and he allowed us.
Lucky wants out of the neighborhood. He can tell you where all the old businesses were, who owns the liquor store and the fact that she is a teetotaler, the accidents that have happened in front of his house and the conflicts with neighbors. He is very personable and people on the street greet him by name and he appears to be a very important person in the neighborhood.
He and his family had a run-in with the police which have resulted in previous incarceration for him and his children. He feels God has given up on his children and the church has not been there for him in the past when his parents and in-laws were sick and dying.
He packs a gun, has high blood-pressure and by his own admission a short fuse, but you would be hard pressed to find a more personable person. By his own admission he ran the Crips out of the neighborhood several years ago. He doesn’t hesitate to make a stand.
After serving the government for over 20 years as a mail carrier, he doesn’t feel like the government is there for him. His rebate check is currently in question because the IRS says he worked and earned $700 in 2007. He has been denied disability benefits.
He wants to sell his house for $40,000 and move to Florida or out of the country. But, he sadly admits that he is too old to enjoy the beach. He is realizing that his dreams will not come to pass.
His wife lives in the house and he lives in the back yard in a tent. He said his wife would enjoy the benefits of visits. He knows where Sojourn is, having walked back to the Church with us. He said the 5pm service would fit him best. We assured him he would be welcomed and that we would be available.
It was an exciting meeting! Expectantly waiting to see how Sojourn and God moves on his life. – Sue Huff
If you are interested in meeting and serving the residents in our neighborhood, join us on a seed project or contact Nathan Ivey at nivey@sojournchurch.com.
Today, I met a 70 year old woman who has been without electricity for the past three months. That’s right. A 70 year old widow has been without power during the three hottest months of the summer. It turns out that her latest roommate failed to pay the bills and LG&E shut their service off; not an uncommon thing here in Germantown.
Trent DeLoach, who leads Seed’s local international efforts, was recently congratulated along with Jessica Fields and her community group for sponsoring Tun Ye Aye and his family. The Aye family spent years under persecution and was relocated to Louisville, KY with the hope of a better future.
Today I received a thank you letter from the planning committee for the Smoketown/Shelby Park Back to School Jam 2008. This is really a thank you letter to all the 26 Sojourn volunteers who gave their time and resources to see this ministry a success. The following letter is addressed to all our volunteers:
