Under the Bridges

"While ministering alongside Mother Teresa, he noticed her deformed feet and was told, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them."

Ministry to the Poor

The great tragedy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor (less than 2% spend time with them). It is a beautiful thing when folks in poverty are no longer just a missions project but become genuine friends and family with whom we laugh, cry, dream, and struggle.

Charity wins awards and applause, but joining the poor gets you killed. People are crucified for living out a love that disrupts the social order, that calls forth a new world.

Jesus was not simply a missionary to the poor. He was poor.

Jesus said, “The poor will always be with you.” Jesus is pointing the church to her true identity – she is to live close to those who suffer.

Ghandi said, “Ask the poor. They will tell you who the Christians are.”

True generosity is measured not by how much we give away but by how much we have left. The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away.

Tonight, our church decided to get out of the four walls (WAIT....we don't even have real walls.....so our COMFORT ZONES) and we hit the streets of Downtown Knoxville. I met a lady who I gave most of my sweaters, coat, gloves, etc. to, and after I walked away I began to really ask the Lord to birth in my Spirit an understanding, patience, and a God-Like love for HIS CHILDREN. Not only for my brothers and sisters in Christ that I am getting to know at church, but also for those folks the rest of the world have truly forgotten.