“It’s Not Dark Yet but It’s Getting There”

The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! Romans 13:12a (The Message)

Song to reflect upon:

Eight of our residential men have died in the last 3½ years. Some lived on this campus; others had moved out. Each had a degree of relationship with us, with the Lord and with recovery. Several relapsed, one committed suicide, all died deaths hastened by a long history of abuse and destructive choices. Their deaths brought sadness to our community.

I am hopeful that the reality of their deaths will also bring a sense of urgency to both staff and the residents still living here. Not an urgency springing from desperation but a resolve to put aside anything that would distract us from what’s vital.

Do our residents understand how fragile life is – how it could end at any time? Are our staff members willing to lay aside anything – agenda, theological non-essentials, ego, fear, personal comfort – in their desire to remove relational barriers with the people who live here? Because hope for living and for heaven comes only from God as He works through relationships with Himself and through others.

How easy it is to be diverted from the life-giving capacity of the gospel when its truth is blurred by arguments about non-essentials of the Christian life.
Death is real and should sober us. Bob Dylan’s lyric, ‘it’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there,’ well describes the inevitable death that ends a difficult life. We are all moving toward physical death the timing of which is truly in God’s hands. And it is only the gospel – shared by those who are also dying – that can bring life.

The night is progressing. But the night will give way to the dawn! As Bruce Cockburn sings, ‘joy will find a way.’ May we be fervent and urgent in our love for each other!

“Lord, help me to lay aside my agenda and allow your heart for others to grip me.

-Steve Brubaker, Chief Vision Officer for Water Street Ministries

Reaching for a Promise

At the Lydia Center staff continuously discover creative ways to encounter the Lord and bring those encounters into the ministry. Through the following unexpected experience, Paula, the Kitchen Manager at Lydia Center shares a story of how God’s promises were revealed to her…

After a frustrated moment in my day, I logged off my computer and reached for ‘a promise’. If you knew me well, you would probably jump to the conclusion that this ‘promise’ was a piece of chocolate. Not this time.

In my first year at the Lydia Center I was given a beautifully hand painted wooden box. The artist’s brush filled the top of the box with a bouquet of roses. They are a delight to my eye. But the real treasure lies within the box. Nestled there are strips of paper with verses of scripture printed on them. Each one is a promise for me from my heavenly Father.

Today my promise was from Proverbs 3:5. “Lean not unto thine own understanding but trust in the Lord with all your heart.”

No wonder I was not accomplishing anything to my satisfaction. I had been so busy trying to get things done on my own that I was forgetting to trust God. I went to my knees, asked for forgiveness and said a prayer of thanksgiving. Then I tackled my next task with God at my side.

Who knows. When I finally get my desk cleared off maybe I’ll find some chocolate…….

- Paula Sentgeorge, Kitchen Manager - Lydia Center

The "Us & Them" Paradox (part one)

Life at Water Street often involves living with paradox. Please take the time to read both of the posts below... Aaron Eggers, from our Men's Ministry challenges us to think about the "Us & Them" paradox.

My concern today is about us & them. As a “Gospel” rescue mission one would assume that we, beyond most, would be appalled at any sort of us & them kind of thinking. Whether we are speaking of client/staff us & them or racial us & them or economic us & them or educational level us & them or almost any other kind of us & them, our position of record would most likely be, “We are against it.”

Us & them thinking sneaks in everywhere, even among us whose mission it is to help erase the lines between us & them. You can find us & them thinking here as we align ourselves by gender, department, by our place in the hierarchy of leadership or income level.

Though we say we don’t like the distance that separates us & them, and many of us will even claim that we are really no different than them, still, I think we wouldn’t necessarily want to be one of them. I think that’s the real problem; being one of us makes us feel somehow better than one of them.

We (us) have been talking a lot lately about poverty (them). I wonder what will change because of that. Will any of us make any choice today that will make any difference to any of them?

Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be one of us. I don’t think Jesus was one of us. I think He actually prefers to be counted among them. We prefer us. Something is wrong with that. I wonder what life would be like if we preferred them to us.

Today I asked myself, ‘What have I personally, concretely, recently done to erase the line between us & them?’ I was saddened by the answer.

We have been offered a solution however:

“…with humility of mind regard [them] as more important than [us]” Paul, the Apostle (parentheses mine)

Dare we take the solution?

Imagine.

- Aaron Eggers, Men’s Ministries

The “Us & Them” Paradox (Part two)

Though it has become popular these days to ridicule any sense of us & them distinctions, I wonder how far it will go. My question is, “How far should we go in trying to erase the lines between us & them?” Is there any time where a clear us & them distinction is good and right?

When I go to my auto repair place I think I prefer them distinguishing clearly between those (them) who can repair motors and us who cannot. From this simple example many more spring to mind where a clear distinction separating us & them is important.

Here are a few:
Who treats the sick: them or us?
Who enforces the laws: us or them?
Who flies the planes: them or us?
Who teaches the children: us or them?
Who runs the company: them or us?
Who makes the rockets: us or them?
Who makes nuclear reactors: them or us?

I am sure there are many more examples of us & them categories about which we are very glad that they exist. But it seems to be getting to the point where any notice of any difference of skill or resource level is considered demeaning in some way.

Sometimes even here on campus we are made to feel as though we are supposed to apologize for having something to offer our clients (them). Further, even to believe we have something to offer them is seen as arrogant.

Why is this helping ministry singled out as ‘condescending’ for believing we have what they need? When did us offering a cup of cold water out of our supply to them, who have no water, become a bad thing.

I continue to encounter voices that seem to think that homeless and /or addicted people (them) are the same as us. They are not. If they were we would all be homeless and/or addicted or none of us would be.

We work with a unique population, and working with this population requires as much, or more, skill and training as any other field of life. Let’s stop apologizing for being experts in our field. If I am ever in need of these services again, I want someone working with me who knows what to do to help me.

I don’t see the problem with recognizing the differences between us & them. A clear understanding of these differences is exactly what helps us to help them.

- Aaron Eggers, Men’s Ministries

Stories told through film...& Upcoming Open House photo project preview

As the photographer at Water Street I have the opportunity to tell many wonderful stories through images. Normally this involves telling the powerful testimonies of our clients but today was a bit different. Three very adorable mini-events happened today where I just had to take some photos!














First, the little one’s that are living in Water Street Mission took part in a project we are doing for our Open House on May 3 (you should come by the way!) They were asked to describe what “home” means to them through some words and artwork. Here are a few teasers, but come to the Open House to see the whole thing! We also may have a show up this summer in a local coffee shop!





























Second, baby Landon came in for a visit! Landon is our previous Volunteer Coordinator’s very first son! Believe it or not he’s only about a month old! Love that Mohawk…














Third, Jennie, our Grant Coordinator brought in her mother’s new puppy. He definitely got passed around the office, and even made a visit to the kids in the Mission last week, where he became BFF with Elmo!

Hope to see you at our Open House! - Carrie Keagy, Development Department

Two birthdays (for one girl) at camp

Last weekend at Teen Haven Camp eleven young ladies came to the Lord, six of these ladies had made first-time decisions to accept Christ.

Vinny Mikusow, Teen Haven Camp Director shares the following story of how God’s grace was at work in the midst of this weekend.

“It was Friday night and the young ladies started settling in the cafeteria. As they shuffle in, one young lady stood out dramatically. Her right eye was partially shut and discolored. On her forehead was a huge lump, covered with gauze and tape. As we talked, Talia* informed me that a car hit her on Thursday.

I was taken back when Oddet called me over and shared a note from her mother. I was amazed, as I read the following.

To whom it May Concern:
Talia was hit by a car on Thursday 4/2/09. A doctor at the emergency room saw her and she is fine. The bruise over her right eye is from the accident and it is okay. She does not need any medication for it. She is to keep the bandage clean and dry. If you have any questions feel free to call me.
Thanks

I went back to Talia and asked her to fill me in on the details of the accident. She looked
at me with a smile, squinting, and said, “ I was crossing the street when a car hit me. When it hit me, it made me hit another car with my head.” She then smiled and said, “Today is my birthday.” I wished a happy birthday and off she went.

We kept a close eye on her all weekend. Talia turned out be a spunky and energetic young lady. Sunday morning we presented her with a birthday present and sang Happy Birthday to her.

There was a double blessing as we sang to her. Talia was celebrating two birthdays.
The One that spared her life Thursday presented her with eternal life on Saturday.
Happy Easter Talia!”

-Vinny Mikusow, Teen Haven Camp Director

“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 18:10

*name changed

A "God Box Moment" from the Lydia Center...

On Thursday, March 5th, I went to Sight and Sound and saw “Behold the Lamb." I saw how Jesus took the beatings and whipping and then was hung on the cross.

That night I when I got back to the center I forgave my father for all the abuse that he had done to me in my childhood. I prayed to God and told him, “ I cannot judge him anymore; He’s in your court now.”

Also, through the play I realized that when Jesus was hanging on the cross and His Father rejected Him, He felt alone for that moment of time; sometimes I feel alone and now I know He knows what I am going through in that moment.

- Amanda, Lydia Center resident

Staff are ministered to as well...

Working here at the Water Street has touched me in so many ways. I have been blessed just by being able to help others here. My home life is so much better, at least from my perspective. I have grown immensely in Christ and have become a better person myself.

I believe that Water Street Ministries not only helps the homeless and those who are “down on their luck”, but the ministries here also enable people to help themselves. I have been able to see more of the “big picture”, and understand it is not about what we want. It is all about God and his will.

Being able to talk with a few of the men and women here and develop a bit of a relationship with them, I have been able to see the understanding that others have as well. When they are learning and progressing through the programs it can be hard to see the big picture, but it is so rewarding to hear their stories at graduation and see how far they have come.

God, I just thank you for the awesome opportunity to be able to work in such a blessed place. Thank you for everything you have done, are doing, and everything you have planned. You are all knowing and we trust in you for everything….AMEN

-Michael Redcay, IT Department