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Good Soil…. back to the root of the matter

Reed Fleming — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:14:11 +0000

I have been reading quite a bit lately. One book I have been reading is by the planter of a New Monastic Community in Winnipeg. Jamie Arpin-Ricci writes about the Sermon on the Mount and his inner-city community “Little Flower”. I am intrigued to read about this community that seeks to radically follow Jesus and take his teaching seriously. I found much that he has to say very helpful. The most helpful bit, for me, was his explanation of how people, who are leading very messy lives, are a part of the community. I sometimes struggle with this issue. People who still have obvious sinful habits are still seeking God and true spiritual life, and have found their way to Up Town and are currently part of our nascent community ‘Street Hope’. While I have niggling concerns about this I am often asked by ‘mature’ Christians “How can you have ….as a part of your team?” Arpin-Ricci reminds me that our task as a community is to create ‘good soil’ conditions. We are not seed inspectors, after tending soil we look for fruit. It is by their fruit that we will know the validity of our friends’ journey and fruit takes time to produce. So my friends with their obvious struggles are welcome which provides great consolation for me as I bring my less obvious struggles with me. Together we wrestle with what it means for us to radically follow Jesus. I had some friends ask me this week, “Can you be a Christian and still smoke weed?” This was not a theoretical question but one with which they had been painfully wrestling. We spoke about how even asking the question showed that they knew it was not compatible with the radical call of Jesus and I went on to speak about God’s grace and the process of ‘sanctification’. Most former crack addicts consider that they are clean if they only smoke weed and these people were questioning that wisdom. I felt humbled to be in their presence. The soil is good.

I am encouraged about future ministry. This week I had coffee with a friend who leads an inner-city ministry which feeds many people. This ministry is actively seeking a building. My friend offered me a place in it to do any programing in the future. I said I wasn’t really looking for a building. He said that even so “If I wanted a home I would always have one.” Now, I feel a bit kicked around lately and this offer was a balm to my soul. I have also been encouraged by new friends and old, giving financial support. There are a group of recovered addicts who pray for and with me and are ready to stand with me in a new ministry. I went to the ministerial today and was able to tell some friends and peers, there, just how I am doing. I was glad for the response from one particular guy who immediately made a date to meet for coffee.

I am blessed! I am hopeful! I think I’m getting ready to be a radical follower once more.

Hope Calling

Reed Fleming — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:36 +0000

In Romans 1:1-5a, Paul introduces himself, and lays out his vocation. Readers will remember his ‘calling’ from reading acts chapter 9. He sets forth his claim to apostleship, for he knows that for his audience to understand the meaning and the import they must come to grips with the calling that dominates his life.

When I was 13 years old, in accordance with the tradition of my church, I was confirmed, in the faith. This involved me standing before the congregation and before the Bishop, and asserting that the vows which were made on my behalf as a baby were now my own. While for many of my peers this was just a hoop to be jumped through, for me it was serious business. I do not want you to think I am a serious person for humour and indeed deviltry, are much a part of the fabric of my life, but in this instance I was serious indeed. For years I had attended bible classes and recently Confirmation classes and the stories and verses I had heard, stuck in my brain like Velcro. My teachers were astonished at the facility I demonstrated in learning scripture and with the maturity (again in this one area of life) of my theological understanding. When it came time for the Bishop to lay his hands on me and pray that I might be filled and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the Rector (the minister in charge of the congregation) interrupted and asked if the Bishop would say an additional prayer regarding God’s calling on my life for ministry. It seemed my life’s course was set. I was to be a ‘minister’ unto God. With my limited experience of what this might mean, I assumed that I would grow up to be a priest and rector like the mentor who requested that prayer. Many years later I explored this calling but found that it was not for me, in fact the idea of pastoral ministry left me entirely cold! To say the least this was disappointing. I felt a bit like a bride left at the altar! God had both placed a calling on my life and frustrated that calling. In my perplexity I sought out a saintly assistant pastor at our church. He asked me if I had ever considered the Church Army, which has since (gladly) been renamed Threshold Ministries. I asked “What is that?” and he replied “A Society of Evangelists.” I had only a limited experience and understanding of the concept of ‘Evangelist’. The understanding I had was shaped by “Elmer Gantry” and a variety of notorious tele-evangelists, so I did not immediately receive his suggestion with enthusiasm. Noticing this he went on to explain that the ‘evangel’ was the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that an Evangelist was simply one who recommends Jesus to people and people to Jesus. The very simplicity of his explanation drew me like a moth to a flame. I had found my calling. I Reed, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an Evangelist and set apart for the gospel of God….

If I ever wondered about this calling I was reassured at our Threshold National Gathering. In the fellowship of my ‘family of Evangelists’ I was reminded of this special, dare I say ‘sacred’ call. Though life has been a bit disappointing for me, of late, I am encouraged to persevere. I have become convinced that in order to best exercise this calling in my community, that it is time to launch ‘Street Hope Saint John’. In doing so I am humbly walking in the footsteps of other Threshold Evangelists, who have answered the call to bring the Good News of Hope to the marginalized of Canada’s inner-cities.

Readers will know that since mid-April I have been ‘off’ from ministry at Community Chaplaincy. I have been working with the National Office and a variety of friends to begin the work of launching this street level ministry.

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STREET HOPE SAINT JOHN

We believe the Good News of Jesus is the hope for the streets of our inner city.

We believe that God can, and does, transform lives.

We believe that God is calling us to be catalysts in the creation of a ‘community of the transformed’. The purpose of this community is to grow in faith and service together and to be an agent for transformation in the wider community.

Modest Beginnings Big Hopes

Initially Street Hope would not require a building but would meet in various church facilities and people’s homes. The times together would be centred on three themes.

1) Study and worship

We believe there is no higher calling than to worship God. We believe that for Street Hope to be a catalyst in the community we must find ourselves in God’s presence and grow in our knowledge of Him.

Street Hope would gather as a community for worship, study and prayer at least once a day. The original format for this may be “Common Prayer: a Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals” which seeks to have worship rooted in historical Christian patterns while emphasizing missional lives today.

2) Outreach and Maintenance Programs

The emphasis here is to provide venues where people can find freedom in Christ, from a variety of addictions and behaviours. Many of the founding members of the community come from lives ensnared in these addictions, so the program would be of use in maintaining their freedom while reaching out to help others in the wider community to find such freedom. This would involve 12 Step studies, an Overcomers program and a variety of video and guest speakers or ministries. This would be the main way in which people become new members of the community.

3) Serving the Master

The community and its individuals would serve the wider community. This would mainly be done by volunteering with other existing ministries, particularly those that serve the marginalized of our city. Examples would be: Out of the Cold, Out Flow, Hope Mission, Salvation Army Friendship Centre, and mission activities sponsored by local churches.

We believe that as Street Hope grows in love and service that there may come a time when a building may be necessary. We dream of a residential building in which we can be a community in every sense. We believe that there may be opportunities in the future to help support local ‘social enterprises’. These are business initiatives which are intended to provide social good (a double bottom line). We believe these dreams may not be in the immediate future for Street Hope but we intend to follow our vision trusting that in God’s time he will provide all the resources necessary.

We believe that God will meet all of our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

We believe that he does that through people.

Our initial needs are modest for such an ambition. To launch Street Hope will require one salaried position and some limited material expenses. We believe that commitments totalling $4,000/month would see us successfully launch this vision of a transformed community in cooperation with other Christians bringing fresh hope to the streets of our city.

God of Silence and of Revelation

Reed Fleming — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:25:03 +0000

I was chatting with a close friend on the shuttle bus to our recent conference. It turned out that we were on similar journeys. We both said that we were looking very forward to the conference but also dreaded all the questions “How are you?” or “How’s the ministry going?” My friend said that he expected it would be a great conference if we survived. Well we survived! And it was a great conference. People met us with compassion and understanding. I came as a total wreck but left as only half a wreck. The worship experience was of the intense nature that I have only experienced with my Threshold Ministries family. I left feeling quite hopeful.

After the conference we had a bit of time with family and then visited friends in Toronto. I had lunch with a long-time friend who reminded me that our journeys are not linear, by this he meant not to expect that I was ‘over’ my wrecked-ness. He proved prophetic as I felt the waves of despondency crash over me again since, but I hold on with renewed hope. I find myself asking myself, like David, “Why so downcast oh my soul?” Over the last month I have experienced tremendous compassion, forgiveness and blessing but I still am badly bruised and I believe it will take time to heal.

I am writing from Pearson airport in Toronto and heading home. I am looking forward to meeting with my friends again for prayer. Because Community Chaplaincy is so precarious financially and because I do not know if I’ll be able to return, I will be taking time to seek the possibility of pioneering a new ministry in Saint John. Threshold Ministries has a ‘franchise’ ministry “Street Hope which has several expressions across Canada. I am thinking that my Monday – Friday prayer partners and I might begin our own Saint John version. I have been encouraged in many ways including financially (quite unexpectedly and miraculously) to seriously explore this idea. If any readers think they have insight or encouragement about this or would like specific information about this possibility, please let me know.

Linda and I went to an Anglican convent for a communion service this week. Life has become less about doing for me and more about being so this seemed like a tremendous opportunity to be among the contemplative. As it turns out there was quite a crowd as the diocese was holding a discernment process for ordination candidates at the same venue. It was good to communion with these folks who like me are seeking God’s will for their lives. While he may seem silent at times I am reassured that He remains the God of Revelation.

Celebration & Hope

Reed Fleming — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:04:12 +0000

I’d like to tell you the story of last Sunday night but first I think it would be good to introduce you to the cast of characters, at least the main players in the drama. They were: Amy, a seventeen year old girl was being baptized, her grandmother who had given birth to seven children and had given them all up to foster care, two of Amy’s aunts, her dad, A. and J. (two quite simple people with simple faith to match), Byran (who has been away the past several months at University in St. John’s) and his mom and dad who came to lead worship, and me.

It was a glorious, very high energy event. The air fairly crackled with electricity as a much larger than usual crowd gathered for our Up Town Worship Night. Several guys had helped me borrow a baptismal tank from the local Vineyard Church. It was filled with less than lukewarm water. Amy was bouncing with excitement and a bit of fear, full of questions about the process but eager to experience this ancient rite. She had invited many friends and family. Byran and his family heard about the occasion and asked if they might come and lead worship. Byran had been away at Memorial on a music program. Byran is a gentle gentle young man. He loves the folks of Up Town and we have come to love him. This night, perhaps because we hadn’t seen one another much, that love was palpable. There was an anointing on his leadership that night and we were quickly ‘caught up’ in the presence of God. The worship sparked an extraordinary (even for us) sharing time which was at once full of praise and brokenness. I usually teach at the end of the service but I did so at this point that night. I shared from Romans chapter six about being baptized into the death of Jesus. I was very low on energy after a couple of tough weeks and a very busy day but as I began to share about identifying with Christ in His death resulting in an identification with Him in His resurrection, I felt an energy charge me which I know was the Holy Spirit of God. Following this message we all proceeded from the main room to the entrance way of the Hall. I had set up the tank there to facilitate draining it afterwards (which can be a long process). The movement and jostling of everyone to find place in this new location heightened the sense of excitement. The baptism itself was quite simple. I have even learned how to do it so I don’t get too wet. The cheers and applause was stirring as Amy rose from the water. We presented her with a new (to her) Bible and she went off to change. We made our way back to our usual places and began our time of prayer. During this Amy’s grandmother stood, glowing with joy, and thanked God that He was restoring her family all these years after her mistakes and the circumstances which led to her giving them up. We were all so delighted but none more so than Amy. It was a great gift to her. Byran sang a song to her about how Jesus loves Amy. We sang Oh Happy Day and then partied for a while. A couple of ladies asked me about baptism and it looks like we might be repeating the process soon.

I am writing this from our Threshold Ministries National Gathering in Jackson’s Point Ontario. I arrived on Tuesday feeling like an absolute wreck. I dreaded people asking me “How are you?” because I knew I’d just choke up and embarrass myself. Of course this is just what happened time and time again as I met my friends and colleagues, but I have been met with such compassion! I leave here today feeling only half a wreck. In my deepest pity party I felt myself in fellowship with Job, sitting in the ashes; but I am coming to believe that sitting in the ashes is a great place to dream and hope , for any course is a possible course. One of my favourite singers, Wynnona, sings “Rock bottom is good solid ground.” I have hope.

Take care.

He’s Already Answering

Reed Fleming — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:58:15 +0000

I started a new spiritual practise this week. On each week day morning I go to a quiet spot at Stone Church to pray for Saint John’s inner-city and especially for the poor, the addicted, and the marginalized. I told several people I would be doing this and invited them to ‘drop by’ anytime they were free. We have been as many as 11! And there are several folks who have become deeply committed to this. One of the things I wanted to pray about was the idea of a ‘Christian Community’ or Neo-Monastic Community forming in our Up Town. I have a vision of such a community becoming a catalytic presence for transformation. As many will know I am ‘a bit weary’ right now and I am coming (slowly) to the realization that I need to be a part of a symphony rather than a one man band. The very cool part is that as I purposed to pray for this community of the transformed God would already be answering by the people he was drawing to join me! I am sensing, with very real excitement, that God is doing something in us as we pray for our wider community. The plan, such as it is, is to continue to meet and pray. We have all shared visions and ideas of what the future may hold but we are determined to ensure we are following Jesus and not running ahead. Some of the vision includes beginning a new Christ Centred 12 Step group both as maintenance for ourselves and as our vehicle for bringing and discipling others. We shared about; running an ongoing Alpha program, about coming alongside other mission focused ministries to quietly help and support them in their outreach programs, and about one day having a house where we could be a community in every way and could reach out to the homeless who needed a Christ Centred home. Our group is made up almost entirely of former addicts and even a former dealer. They know the path, and can share the path in authentic ways which I can’t.

One of the main issues facing us is finances and even there God has begun to act. A couple, who I have never met, have generously offered to help with a significant regular gift. I believe this is God showing us that we can trust him entirely! This is a valuable lesson for me as I need to trust him for my personal finances in a way I never have before.

A few weeks ago I shared about A.’s decision to follow Jesus. This Sunday we will be celebrating her baptism as she has invited friends and family to Up Town. This afternoon I’m going to borrow the tank from the local Vineyard Church.

I will be at a Threshold Ministries Conference in Jacksons Point Ontario next week and I don’t know if I will have access to the internet so I may not be blogging then. Until then as Red Green would say “Keep your stick on the ice.”

Positive Not Pollyanna

Reed Fleming — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:31:33 +0000

I have been struck/stuck with the idea of ‘pearls in the mud’. This mindset is not Pollyanna but rather biblical. I realize all too well that there is mire. I could hardly forget! But in this battle for my mind I am choosing to look for the ‘pearls’ buried here in the mire and most of all ‘the Pearl of Great Price”.

One such pearl was A. who began coming to Up Town recently. In her own words “… became a Christian tonight (Sunday)” I was not at my energetic best during our time together as Up Town but God was powerfully working. A. made her decision to be a follower of Jesus and an older woman decided to recommit herself and her ways. It was tremendous and tremendously encouraging! I met with A. at a community supper Monday and we had a long chat about things and she asked about baptism. We will probably be arranging something in the weeks ahead. I have to arrange to borrow a tank.

I have been getting a number of calls, visits, and notes from supportive friends and I am reminded how good it is to be a part of the wider community “the Body of Christ.” I continue to do my ‘volunteer work’ with Up Town; this includes the Friday Night Drop In and the Sunday Worship Time. I have decided to venture out Monday nights to a community supper where I meet a lot of my friends from the inner-city. I will also be going to Stone mornings Monday – Friday where I will be praying. I have invited some of my Up Town friends to join me and I expect some will.

I have new sympathy for people who deal daily with government bureaucracy, as I am in the midst of registering for EI. I am sure I am growing in patience but I hope I don’t go broke in the meantime.

Mostly I am reading and rereading scripture. I find myself in the Psalms a lot I am especially struck with Psalm 6 and I invite you to read it and perhaps share your thoughts in the comments section of this blog. My search for wisdom has led me to Proverbs and I particularly enjoy Eugene Peterson’s earthy take on them in ‘The Message.” A friend recommended Henry Drummond’s sermon “The Greatest Thing’ to me and this has led to a weekly revisit to 1 Corinthians 13.

I am doing better, in fact the last two nights I had an uninterrupted night’s sleep for the first time in over a month. I do not want to leave the impression that things are ‘good’ for me right now but I do want to say “God is good!” Please feel free to comment I enjoy hearing from you.

God’s Lap

Reed Fleming — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:23:30 +0000

I always have wondered about Elijah. One moment he is used of God to best the prophets of Baal at Carmel and seemingly the next he is utterly broken and relying on ravens to be fed. How amazingly human he is and how powerful and compassionate is our God!

I have been writing about some of the marvellous things I have been honoured to see God do, in peoples’ lives. At the same time I feel as broken as a North Korean rocket. Paul writes that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. For months now I have been wrestling and I am exhausted. A little over a week ago, as I was in this state of physical and emotional exhaustion, I was physically assaulted by a very angry client. This and the lack of support I felt from others on staff was the straw and I was the camel’s back. Since then I had my doctor’s appointment and was told to be off work until July 25^th for health reasons. My current plan is to continue my volunteer ministries with Up Town and Community 113 while taking time from Community Chaplaincy. I am not sure yet what all this will mean financially and otherwise but I must now concentrate on my health. This means that I will be spending a lot of time (which I now have in abundance) in study and in prayer.

I was reading about an interview with Mother Theresa. The interviewer was asking about her prayer life. “What do you say to God?” to which she replied “Nothing much, mostly I listen.” “And what does God say to you?” “Nothing much, mostly He listens” This makes me think of a little child, perhaps a hurting one, who crawls into dad’s lap for comfort. Neither speaks but so much is communicated as they simply cling to one another. This is the prayer I am engaging in lately. We have all read the poem “Foot Prints” which reminds us that, unknown to us, we were being carried. I want to take this a step further and intentionally and knowingly, let God hold and carry me.

I went and visited a wise older gentleman yesterday. We prayed together and he gave me a book “Plan of God” by Oswald Sanders. He spoke about real health issues he had a few years ago when he nearly died. He said he wouldn’t have missed that experience for the entire world. I was reminded of my struggles after my fall a few years back. The lessons I learned and the love I experienced make me feel the same way. No doubt sometime in future I will feel the same about this, but that is for another day in the mean time I’ll crawl into His lap. If you care to join me, I know there is room for you.

Wading Through the Mire

Reed Fleming — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:53:53 +0000

Last week I wrote about pearls in mud. I concentrated on the pearls and I always want to do that but in an effort to be transparent I must admit to being overwhelmed with mud right now. I have my own paraphrase of Isaiah 43:2 “when you pass through the swamp the mud will not sweep over you.” I also love Isaiah 42:3 “A bruised Reed He will not break.” I do feel extremely bruised this week. A variety of difficulties; some financial, some organizational and an additional incident of violence, have me reeling emotionally. My body is reacting to all this stress in the most distressing ways. I know in my head and believe in my heart that God is in control but my body is slow in coming into line. This means that I have had to take some time off. I have a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday and we will have to decide on my future after that. I so admire folks at Up town for their transparency and so I tell you this as an effort to rise to my friends’ level of vulnerability. I also write inviting your prayers.

I have had a number of phone calls from folks offering support and sharing that they miss me. I see these calls as more pearls.

The group from Community 113 skipped our usual Tuesday night Bible study and visited a charismatic healing meeting at local Roman Catholic Church. The worship was tremendous and we witnessed healings. We will have to have a discussion next week on ‘singing in tongues’ but that is more of an opportunity than a problem.

Last Monday’s Overcomers was another tremendous one. We shared about the power of truth. The idea is that most (almost all) of our struggles are a result of what we believe. If we are influenced by the enemy of our souls who is a liar and the father of all lies, then we are believing a lie. Believing a lie puts us in a kind of bondage. For instance this week I shared with a friend that I felt like nothing ever worked out for me. I was having a little pity party. My friend sternly rebuked me and I saw that I was buying into a lie. The truth is that God has a future and a hope for me. As we get the lie out where we can examine it and see it for what it is then we can seek the truth and simply replace the lie with the truth. Truth after all will set us free! The guys were thrilled with this insight and have chatted with me about the difference this is already making in their lives. Sometimes I feel a bit hypocritical sharing this while I am struggling but the struggle does not deny the truth instead it will, I trust, vindicate the truth. Again I get the opportunity to live what I teach! I guess I should count it all joy.

Please join me and Linda and we anticipate what God has for us as we wade through the mire.

Pearls in the Mud

Reed Fleming — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:19:22 +0000

Yesterday I was engaged in a conversation about heroes. When I talk about heroes, besides Jesus, I know that I am talking about flawed people but I have many folks who both teach and exemplify behaviours and attitudes I wish to emulate. Over the years of blogging I have mentioned some of them. This past week I was reminded of one, Sister Christobel. I was visiting her at the Edmonton Young Offenders Centre. She was leading a Bible Study for a rowdy group of teens. I found it one of the most exasperating hours of my life. After the kids were escorted back to their units I was about to express my frustration when Christobel interrupted my thoughts. “Did you hear that one guy’s question? He was really seeking. Boy he is coming a long way!” I was flabbergasted. Where all I saw was chaos she had eyes to see God at work! Where I was feeling overwhelmed with anger she was flooded with gratitude as she saw God at work. I felt ashamed of myself. She had recognized the ‘pearl of great price’ when all I saw was a muddy field.

I started to reflect on this souvenir from Christobel this week when I was asked how I deal with all the negativity and gossip which assails our chapel every day. I realized that my lesson learned at the Young Offenders Centre that day was bearing fruit in my life. I am developing an eye for the pearl buried in the field of mud and muck.

A friend abruptly left our Over Comers group the other day. I followed him out and we had a brief conversation about how overwhelmed he was feeling and he had a need to get away. From seemingly nowhere came the words to my lips, as he walked away, “I love you …”. He turned around and said “I know.” A couple of days later he shared how much that meant to him. Today marks his 4^th ‘weedless’ day.

A young guy who desperately needs socialization took a risk and asked to meet me for coffee this week. We had a great time and he expressed interest in coming to Up Town Sunday.

A guy most people would be shocked to see in church comes to Up Town regularly. This week he stopped me during our teaching time and asked me a question about last week’s message. He had obviously been deeply thinking about. I wish all of us could follow his example. (Maybe I have a new hero?)

A couple of weeks ago a woman shared at Up Town about how God had saved her from a life of drug and alcohol abuse which was supported by prostitution. She was greeted with hugs and tears and admiration afterward. This week she received an invitation from a vital ministry here in Saint John to talk with young women at risk. She is thrilled.

So you see there are pearls in the muddiest fields if we have eyes to see. I am preaching as much to myself as to any reader because these are discouraging times and I see loads of mud, in fact I feel coated in it, but at the same time God wants to me to cultivate an attitude of gratitude even as He cultivates His pearls. (That sentence is long enough to rival some of St. Paul’s)

Please continue to pray for me and the ministry God has in our inner-city.

Thanks.

Shrinking Hopelesness ll

Reed Fleming — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:39:49 +0000

I had a long conversation with a young woman who suffers from a whole cocktail of mental illnesses and suffers from the treatment she receives from ‘so called’ well people. Her life is so difficult and sometimes she despairs that there is any light at the end of this dark tunnel. I cry with her and encourage her that God can be trusted with our future. My wife shared with her the verse from Jeremiah (the weeping prophet) “ I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” (29:11)
I spent a good deal of time with another young woman who is struggling to get free from crack cocaine and the life it has led her into. She feels trapped; by bad decisions in the past, by the ‘friends’ she is surrounded with, by the neighbourhood she lives in and the guilt and shame which overwhelms her. She is a natural comedienne and we spend a lot of time laughing and I try to share that despite outward appearances there is hope.
I’ve been meeting with a guy who has spent a significant part of his life behind bars. He finds the world, he is about to be released into, daunting. He reminds me of a timid tortoise. He pokes his head out but finds it to frightening and so pops it back in. I am encouraging him to step out of his shell and engage in life. He is afraid he is ‘institutionalised’ and will never fit in but I tell him there is hope.
I often find that after I share a particular principle about walking in faith, that I get an opportunity to live it. In earlier days I would say it is time to “Put up or shut up!” I have been sharing far and wide that we can find hope in God in the darkest moments. God is in control and we have his promise that we will never be left alone.
At a board meeting of Community Chaplaincy it was decided that if finances do not turn around in the next two months we are likely to ‘close our doors’. The prospect of that turn around, in human terms, seems unlikely but we believe God is in control.
The prospect of a closure leaves me in a precarious position but the folks we serve are put in a much more precarious position. I find myself challenged to live in hope both for myself (and my family) and for the friends of Saint John Community Chaplaincy.
Past experience teaches me that things do not always work out the way I would like, but I know that God is in control. This may be a moment when my friends can see that I have not just shared words but I have shared truth. There is a future and a hope! We must hold onto hope! It is in the darkest times we need it most.