(One of the people that gathered for Sunday night’s service. Photo by Shannon Kim)
This is a blog post from Jeff who joined us on the recent Jamestown trip we led with the Bakers Ministry. It was originally shared as one of his e-mail updates. This is his perspective of one of the first nights of ministry.
The Protector
Sunday night, we drove to the edge of town and parked outside a garage behind an average-sized home. Walking in, we discovered a church building with chairs, a stage, instruments, book nook, and signs on the wall proclaiming that God fights for us – and we fight too. A group of ten or so folks trickled in and soon we began our time together. Jim gave an introduction and had us spend some time in prayer asking these questions: What does God see in me that I do not see? What dreams does God have for my life? What lies do I believe that need to be replaced with God’s truth?
Then our team came to the front and Jim said, “these folks will pray and listen to God and see if He has any words of encouragement for you all.” So we prayed, trying to hear God’s voice. This is something I have enormous difficulty doing for whatever reasons.
Two of the girls (Shannon and Jess, if I recall correctly), heard these words for a man there named *John (I paraphrase):
“People have told you recently that you are not enough, but indeed you are enough.” “John, I see you as an enforcer, a protector, one who does what he does from a pure heart.”
John was overwhelmed with these words. A few days later, we found out that he had recently been sent to prison and is now having difficulty finding work. The reason for his imprisonment? He tried to defend a woman who was being assaulted by some relation of hers, punching this man so that he would stop his attack. When the police got involved, she turned on him, lying about John in order to protect this relation of hers – and John was the one to go to jail.
In the midst of this injustice, Jesus says, “I know that you did what you did out of compassion, and I see that. I want you to know that though there is a mark on you from this sentence, you are enough. I have bought you. I love you, infinitely. I will carry you through.”
And Jesus spoke these words, it would seem, through His Body, the Church.
