Mr. W

Some more thoughts on SOTH's Listening, Relating and Encouraging ministry of visitation into the community, from SOTH memeber and LRE leader, Jamie Blankenship:

Why do we go visit Mr. W each week?

My first and immediate answer to this is “because he shaved and put on a clean shirt.”

During the weekend training for the evangelism ministry, LRE or as I like to call it, Loving Relating & Encouraging, we met the W’s. They were friendly and receptive to our visits, so we kept visiting. Some background on the W’s. They are older folks. The Mrs. has health issues that require just about constant care, and her care giver is her husband. Outside of doctor visits, they are pretty much home bound.

Now, this information has been gathered over time since last August, and may not be exactly chronological. It would be hard to write about what we have learned from the W’s that way. See, it is almost a year of (on average)15-20 minute visits. It takes time to get know people, it takes time to build relationships.

At first, we didn’t visit every week. But over the course of time, it became weekly, because of their situation. It had been suggested that, perhaps, we shouldn’t go to their house so often or even change the nature of our ministry with them to something more of a “shut-in” ministry. But, I always come back to the mental picture of Mr. W, clean shaven with a fresh shirt and say, no, we need to go.

We have seen the W’s on good days and bad days. Chronic illness can be so hard to deal with, both for the patient and the caregiver. I believe it can take you to places where you question your faith. Times when you asked God, this is how my life is going to be lived out? Long days and nights full of wondering, how much longer will this last? How much more can I endure? We have witnessed this pain and suffering on Mr. W’s face.

There are times when I have felt discouraged and downtrodden over much less significant circumstances, so you can imagine the irony of me, having a bad day, downtrodden, walking up to Mr. W’s door and seeing his amazing hopefulness. More than once, our teams have been encouraged by his faith. He tells us he feels blessed, and he is taking it day by day, the best they can. His faith firmly rooted in the Lord.

We have discovered, over time, that Mr. W. was an Elder in the Baptist Church. He is curious about us, our ministry, our church. We know from the questions he asks during our visits that he has been reading up on Methodism. He even quoted John Wesley one night. He rarely asks us a question that he already doesn’t have the answer too. I believe there have been many team members praying “Help me, Holy Spirit” on his door step, as they search for the right answers for Mr. W!

He has occasionally asked questions about this ministry, of Loving, Relating and Encouraging. What we do, where we go, how many visits, how many people are involved. But last week, he laid out a very pointed “do you believe this ministry you do on Thursday’s is profitable?”

Profitable? Not financially speaking. He asked, “Has anyone ever come to your church or joined the church that you met on a Thursday night?” We answered, “yes” because some have come and some have joined. Before I could get to my full explanation on why we go, he explained it to me. Remember, he always has the answer before he asks the question!

He told us that once, when he was active in ministry, the leadership of his church went out into the community on a Sunday afternoon. He said he reported back to the church that they had determined their community was going to hell. Yes, it didn’t go well and that was the first and last time they tried it. Our tenacity is provokes his curiosity.

He continued to tell us that we were doing an amazing thing. He said the Bible tells us to “go” and he told us not to give up, even though we may never know what profit for the Lord comes from the seeds we plant. He said God would bless the work we do. He told us how much we mean to him personally. He believes God sent us to him.

It is “funny” that he this happened last Thursday. Only two team members came out to visit last week and this visit was the only one we were going to make. Yes, I would say my morale was at an all time low last Thursday and *bam* a fresh a dose of encouragement from the person we are trying to encourage. God bless irony!

The purpose of the Loving, Relating and Encouraging ministry is to “go” and build relationships in the community. To show others the love of Christ, asking nothing in return. It isn’t easy. There may be no tangible result. Sounds crazy, right?

If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Whatever we do it is because Christ’s love controls us.

2 Corinthians 5:13-14

Lives are changing through this ministry for Christ. God is being glorified every single Thursday. And we are all invited and encouraged to be a part of it! Just come to the ranch, Thursday, at 6:30 pm. I can’t wait to see what this Thursday will bring.

Jamie