We have rented space for ministry at the local Uhaul for twenty-something years now… that translates into our church being in the same location for over two decades now. We are an establishes corner-church with no corner….
I have long asked the faithful corner churches one simple question;
“If your church disappeared overnight,
would the neighbors miss it?”
There is a vast difference between being knowing where your church exists and knowing why your church exists…
This past Saturday was a hot and long day downtown. As I was returning our rental van I was talking to the workers and apologizing that I didn’t have any snacks to leave on the seat for them like I do each week…. and they didn’t care but still three gathered around me and asked about the day, and introduced me to the know guy who turned out to be seeking Jesus…
and then as I was giving him my number, the manager whom I’ve known for a very long time came out and was making a smoothie run for his team…
“Bywater, what do you want”
and I started to mumble something about it wasn’t necessary and I caught myself because it is wrong to refuse a gift..and I was honestly hot and thirsty and even thought I had told all the folks downtown to eat and drink I had not…
“How about something tropical?”
“I’ll get you the Mango split!”
Now you need to know that Mango is my all-time favorite thing to eat and it also happens to be called a ‘“happy fruit” for brain chemistry. So while I waited, me and these two guys chatted away while I gossiped about Jesus and a third offered ME cold water so he went into the break fridge and came back out.
The manager was taking awhile (weekend busy) so I went to my truck to start the AC and was about to pull it over towards the check in when he drove up and parked next to me…
“Bywater, I got you”
“Thanks Will. I really appreciate this”
“I’m thankful to be able to do something for you. You are always here working alone and doing for others. It’s nice to be able to take care of you for once”
and he knows why I do what I do… because I have gossiped about Jesus at Uhaul for a very long time… and a month or so ago he said yes and the two of us prayed in the parking lot and there was rejoicing in Heaven….
all because I gossip about Jesus. How about you today? I pray you gossip about the extravagant love that found you, and that it sets hearts free, and that you are loved as extravagantly as a mango smoothie on a hot day…
“Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him.
“If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”
John 8:32 Message Translation