Visitors No More

….the conclusion to The Visitors and More Than Just Visitors

As the pastor gave his sermon that Sunday morning, he could pick out each of the board members by their actions.  Each seemed anxious, always fidgeting, just not able to sit still that morning during the service. And as he watched each, he knew how they felt.  Since the meeting on Friday night, the Holy Spirit had been in his ear the whole time. Showing him ways to help the family that he otherwise would have never thought of, never would have began to imagine. Ways he could not wait to share with the board in their meeting after the morning service.

As the church board gathered, the pastor remembered the words that had driven them that Friday night, and opened the meeting asking the Lord if He would stand present during each minute of their meeting.  Helping all to know and to follow His will, and showing them with clarity the path He wanted them to follow for this family.

As the meeting started, the pastor could not believe the words he was hearing, as each board member was filled with excitement to share with all about what the Holy Spirit had shown them.  And as each began to speak, the pastor soon realized just how busy the Holy Spirit had been during those past couple of days. As the first board member spoke, he told all that the Holy Spirit had reminded him of recent events that had occured in his life.  An aunt of his has left to him a local house, a house he was intending to sell. As he laid in bed that Friday night, the Holy Spirit directed him to visit that house again. And as he looked at it closely, he realized that before it could be sold, it needed desperately to be updated, both inside and out.  Walking around the house led him to think. Would the father be willing to paint the house inside and out, and help with the landscaping, in exchange for being allowed to stay in the house with his two girls for the next few months?

As the first board member finished telling all about the house, another began to speak.  He owned a landscaping company, that was greatly in need of workers. He had several pending contracts, that could not be filled without those workers.  And if the father was willing to be one of his workers, not only would he receive a larger paycheck each week, but would have medical benefits for his daughters and himself.  And if he did stay at the house the other board member had mentioned, he would be more than willing to allow him to use the tools that would help in making the landscaping easier.

As this board member finished, another began to speak, reminding all that his family owned a clothing consignment shop, where they could get clothing for the girls to wear each day at practically no cost.  Good clothes, that each girl would feel comfortable in wearing, and would help each be proud of having. As he finished, another board member began to speak, letting the board know they would organize sitters from the church.  So when the father worked overtime, someone would always be there for the girls. Another board member followed, reminding the church they owned a food distribution center, and always had plenty of extra food that could be given to help the family eat wholesome and healthy meals each day.  And another board member offered a car they had, one they no longer had any use for. A car, that although far from new, was much more reliable than the one the family now had.

Before the meeting was done that Sunday, the church board amazingly realized how the pieces has fallen into place as soon as they began to entrust this situation in His hands.  Soon coming to realize, that long before this meeting, the Lord already had a plan and a purpose in place. A plan that had led the father and his daughters to the fast food restaurant across the street from their church.  A purpose that had brought this family into the doors of their church that Sunday morning. And a plan, that He already knew before the Lord had even brought each of them on the board to the church so many years ago. And as the Lord worked through them to bless this family, the pastor and the whole church board, suddenly began to realize just how much He was also blessing their church.

As the board told the father the plans the Lord had given them, they watched as the emotions overwhelmed him.  Realizing, that for the first time, in a long time, he could see the image of hope, and a future the Lord was giving him of where each day with that hope could take him.  The father poured himself into all the church had offered him, making sure he never took a single opportunity for granted. Always trying to give as much of himself, as had been given to him. And make the most of it he did!  Within three months, the father had worked so hard for the landscaping company, he was now a crew foreman. And three months later, his hard work had led him to the position of supervisor over three different crews. In six months the father had completely repainted the whole house they were allowed to live in.  And with his newfound landscaping experience, had all but changed the outside layout of the home. No longer was the house an eyesore, but was now the attraction of the local neighborhood. Six months later, as the house was finally about to be put on the market to sell, the father watched in amazement, as he became the buyer.  Able to put away enough for a down payment, and to establish his credit so he could now qualify for a loan. And each day, as several took turns sitting with his kids, everyone in the church began to look at each girl as if they were their very own. Finding themselves caring so much for this once tattered family, that they could no longer imagine their lives without them.

Of all they had seen, one thing that moved the church the most, was what they saw about four months after the Lord had first brought this family to their church doors.  On a rainy Sunday morning, near the end of services, they watched as the father walked forward, and gave his life to Christ. And a few years later, the church would also watch as both daughters each made that same walk.  If the rain had not been falling outside of the church on each of those three Sunday mornings, no one would have ever known the difference. As tears poured like rain from every eye inside the walls of that small church.

A few months after that board meeting, where the church followed the Lord’s plan to help this family, a local reporter came by one morning to visit the pastor.  She had heard the story about this family, and came to the pastor to confirm that the story was true. As the story filled the pages of the local paper, the pastor watched as other churches began to do the same.  Each church realizing, they could not help every family, but they could make a difference in the life of the family the Lord brought to their door. And with each church the Lord brought someone to, the town found itself struggling with the issues of society a little less.  A town that found itself with fewer public funds being needed, as each church fulfilled the call that was being given them. Before long, you could watch many of the local politicians taking credit for the issue. But each time the pastor heard another politician speak, he could not help but laugh just a little inside.  As he had been there from the start, and had seen the One who truly deserved all the credit.

Through the years, the Lord would send several families in need to that small church.  And with the arrival of each, the church did not look to see if they had their checkbook in hand.  But found themselves on their knees, looking first to see where the Lord was leading them. Knowing the plans He would show them, was far greater than the funds could ever amount to in the church’s bank account.  Finding themselves as a church that would one day not only stand in front of our Lord, being seen as a church reaching out with compassion, but one that would also been seen as a good steward of all He had entrusted them with.  A church that had grown to understand the real meaning of of the words Christ spoke. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”(Matthew 25:40).

Many times through the years, the pastor would often chuckle as he heard the famous saying, “Charity begins at home”.  Since that first Sunday morning, when he saw a beat up, old car, pull into a parking spot in front of the church. And as he watched a struggling father and his two daughters walk through the doors of the church.  The pastor knew this statement was just not complete. He now knew charity, by its very nature, can never be forced, that it must be giving freely. He also now knew that charity could not be offered by simply throwing dollars at the problem. Because charity carried a responsibility on the giver to do more than just place a little money in the hand of someone who said they were in need. Charity held the hope and the accountability of seeking a new life for that person tomorrow, not just about making us feel good today. Since that faithful Sunday, the pastor had come to realize, charity ends at home, true charity begins with Christ.

“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.”  Psalm 41:1-2