“The mystery of ministry is that we have been chosen to make our own limited and very conditional love the gateway for the unlimited and unconditional love of God.”
-Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus
This is the story of Mercy Community Church. Ministry is messy - especially when ministering to those on the margins. Our patience is tried, our prejudices challenged, and ultimately the depth of our love is revealed.
Mercy Community Church is unique, although Pastor Chad repeatedly says that it shouldn’t be. Over 95% of its congregation is homeless. Mercy Community Church doesn’t have a homeless ministry; it is a church made up of homeless people.
If I had to choose one word to describe this small, unique church in Atlanta, it would be “community.” Homeless people don’t go to Mercy to receive food or clothing, although they find both there. They go to be part of a close-knit, safe, and thriving community.
That community isn’t always pretty. Just today, a homeless woman who attended Mercy’s morning fellowship, worship and Bible study time was found in critical condition in a back alley near the church. An ambulance was called, and the woman was taken to the hospital for treatment. Many members of the church still struggle with addictions to substances and mental illness. Many days it is hard to see the progress that is being made.
Remember, ministry is messy.
Today I asked Maggie what she saw as the ideal outcome, or “win,” of Mercy Community Church’s work. She retorted, “Why do we need to have that?” After I pressed her further, she made a profound statement: “I love for the sake of loving. I’m not in this for results.”
Needless to say, this has been a challenging week for me. I have much to process, much to pray about. A multitude of questions remain: “Do results matter? What does it mean to serve on the margins of society? What should the church look like? What should we be doing?”
These are answers that we, the local body of Christ in Williamsburg, VA, must answer together in our own context. It will look different in Williamsburg than it does in Atlanta. Regardless, this is a work that we must do together, relying completely on the leading and power of the Holy Spirit.
I part with another quote from Henri Nouwen, which reminds us of the power of community, a fundamental truth we must never forget:
“It is Jesus who heals, not I; Jesus who speaks words of truth, not I; Jesus who is Lord, not I. This is very clearly made visible when we proclaim the redeeming power of God together. Indeed, whenever we minister together it is easier for people to recognize that we do not come in our own name, but in the name of the Lord Jesus who sent us.”
Church family, thank you for sending me to Atlanta - it has been an amazing week. The joyful thing about partnership is that this will not be our last visit to Mercy Community Church…this is only the beginning!
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