Why I HATE Skipping Homeless Ministry

Many people are under the impression that serving homeless people is hard work for me.

This simply isn’t true. My paradigm of homeless outreach has changed over the years.. In fact, I hate missing homeless outreach in a given week.

As a quick personal testimony, I am generally a joyful person. This was not the case years before and I would do anything to obtain any joy I can find and fulfill that void in my life. Nothing worked… and my relationship with God was very spotty. I was a Christian and yet my Christian walk felt limited.

Now, I did not read this verse until after I began serving the homeless. Jesus: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:9-11, ESV)

What is God’s commandments? -> Love God and love His people

I’ve noticed my life transforming and my relationship with God growing stronger daily. This verse explained to me the phenomenon I was experiencing in my life. Believe me, my joy was not contingent upon my circumstances either at the time…

There is joy in serving.. I’m not going to pretend that I am working hard. Every time I leave that city hall park, I feel fulfilled.

*If you feel compelled to keep reading

Have you heard of the team that went to North Korea and got captured? This missionary team was captured for spreading the gospel and was tortured. At the end, the captors let them know that all of them were going to be killed one by one. By the grace of God, they were rescued. Months after when they were interviewed, they said something that really sparked my curiosity.

They said, for some reason, even though they were being tortured and circumstances were miserable, they had this peace upon them and a fulfillment that they couldn’t replicate back at home. They tried! Team members sought that sensation almost like druggies, fasting for weeks, praying and worshiping fervently, going to high mountains in isolation to meditate.. just to get that feeling back when they were jailed and tortured.

And you know what they were trying to do only months after? GO BACK. To the very place where they were only hours away from painful deaths.

… hm

God asks us to do things that are so counter-intuitive, yet it brings results – Joy

Thanks for reading!

Peter