A day in the life of an urban missionary
by Michelle Chase
Thursdays are my busiest and best days! As I drifted off to sleep this past Thursday night, I thanked God for the life He has given me. To be honest, when John and I answered the call to move to Baltimore, I had no idea this is what it would be like, but I wouldn't change it for anything.
Around here we call Thursdays, Thankful Thursdays. It is our weekly food giveaway day, but there is so much more to it!
My day usually begins with picking up a friend from the community at 7:45 am to meet a few other volunteers and our partners from Let's Eat, Inc at Sprouts Market. This past week my friend is in deep grief at the unexpected and sudden loss of her 9 year old son's father. He died in his sleep just two days prior and the cause is most likely an overdose or heart failure. So she was not up to coming with me to do the pick up.
The food pick up entails sorting and loading about two vans full of food from Sprouts Market and Giant Food. I always love connecting with Catherine, who is the director of Let's Eat, Inc. We have been partnering for the last three years and have watched the Lord build and grow each other's ministries. We have laughed our heads off, held each other and wept, lifted each other up in prayer, and encouraged each other to not grow weary. I am THANKFUL for her.
When we leave Sprouts, we head to the BE Transformed home to meet three more volunteers (all moms of BE Transformed kids) to unload the food into the house, sort it, and get cold and frozen foods in the fridge and freezer. This time is always full of laughter and deep relationship building. It is not unusual to stop what we are doing to lift each other up in prayer. Two of these ladies commit their Thursdays to helping me with whatever tasks need to be done at the house, which is usually washing, sorting, and putting away clothes. I have never heard them complain and they always work with complete joy. I am THANKFUL for all of these morning volunteers.
I will usually have to break away from this morning joy to take my friend (the one I pick up in the morning) to the methadone clinic. (Methadone is a medication-assisted treatment for heroin addiction.) This past Thursday, because of her grief, I was able to console and counsel her in our car ride there and back. I have a strong love for her and it honestly breaks my heart to take her to the clinic, because I know the corruption involved in it. But, I also know that if I didn't take her she would find another not so safe way to get there. My heart is also breaking for her in her grief. My counsel and prayer is that she would meet Jesus in a very personal way in this season. I am THANKFUL for her and her family and that God decided to love them through me.
Some Thursdays I have time to run home for a bit in between morning tasks at the BE Transformed Home and the 4:00 pm giveaway. This past week I took the opportunity to go home to work on plans for our big community Easter event coming up next weekend.
I head back to BE Transformed around 3:15 to connect with our afternoon team and get set up. I am greeted by one of my dearest friends in the community who affectionately calls me "best friend". He is there to share with me how overwhelmed he is by God's goodness and provision. He shared how he had started to sway away from the church and his walk with God and found himself in a really bad place, especially financially. He didn't know how he was going to make ends meet. He made the decision to get on his knees every morning and pray. After doing this he began to see all of his needs met above and beyond what he could imagine. He was in tears as he repented and turned back to the One who always comes running with open arms to embrace us. It was beautiful to see. He asked me to help him find a way to read the Bible more so I brought him some devotionals to get him started. I am so THANKFUL for this friendship and opportunity to see him continue to grow in his walk with Jesus.
As I walk into the home I see my friend who is in deep grief being held and loved on by two of our team members as she wept. I am greeted with healing hugs from my friends and again overwhelmed by my love for this ministry and the people God has given to serve alongside of. I am able to sit with my young friend who lost his father and help him understand what happened to his dad and why it is hard for his mom to stop crying. I love this little guy with a big love. I am THANKFUL for the love that fills this home.
We begin to set up tables for the food outside and Jay* is excited to tell me about how he only has one week left of his forklift training class and how they will help him get a job. This is the first time I have ever seen Jay so proud of himself and hopeful for what's next. Ms. Renee* tells me how she is finally getting around good and feeling great since her knee surgeries. Ms. Pearl* greets me with a big hug, we haven't seen her for a few weeks so I am happy to see she is doing OK and back with us. Mr. Rick*, who has liver cancer and is waiting on a transplant, asks me if I know of any resources for rent help. Since getting sick, he hasn't been able to work and he and his wife are facing eviction. I share with him the resources I am aware of through the city, but am afraid they will not be able to help with the amount they owe. David* comes by and he is grieving the loss of his friend (same person my other friend is grieving). I have no words but held him and prayed over him as this usually "tough" guy cried on my shoulder. The afternoon is mixed with joy and sorrow and I am THANKFUL for building the trust of these now friends in the community to rejoice and cry with.
The day is unseasonably warm and after cleaning up, a few of my team members, friends, and I sit on the front porch and chat as a few kids toss the football in our front lawn. Off to side one of our team members, who is also a teacher at the school across the street, counsels a mama and her son who just happened to be walking by. My heart is overwhelmed by joy as I look around at what the Lord has done. BE Transformed has become a beacon of light in this community, a safe place, and a place where all who come feel the extravagant love of Jesus no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they do.
I am THANKFUL.
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Michelle Chase is the Director of BE Transformed in partnership with Church of the Resurrection, Lutherville, MD.