Thank you for praying as six of us went out on Saturday afternoon to visit one of the poorest neighborhoods in Lubbock.
First, let me make it clear. Visiting did not mean we drove through the neighborhood and saw how things looked from the window at 30 mph. Visiting meant parking the van, walking up to doors and knocking.
“Who is it?”
Imagine standing in front of a door in an obscure, run-down, half-vacated neighborhood with broken windows, boards over some but not all. Abandoned cars with broken windows… trash everywhere. You knock on the door of what appears to be a place that someone might possibly live, and you hear a yell from inside…. “Who is it?”
Well, we had an answer. An answer that got the door opened. Not that we had a great plan, it just seemed like the right thing to say. We would yell back, “It’s the Church.” So, the door would open and we would visit.
Were we told to leave? Were we threatened? Did someone pull a gun on us? No. At least not that we were aware of.
So, what did happen?
Thankfully,in this neighborhood, the word “church” is not a negative word. We told people who we were and why we were there. Those with children were especially glad that we came by. People are hurting and in desperate need to hear the good news about God’s love and grace that can be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some rejected us but most opened the door and talked. They were glad we cared.
Thank you for your prayer and support. I believe God is opening doors to share the good news of Jesus Christ with children and families in this neighborhood.