not your usual CMA church!

Yesterday we went to speak at a church. We were told the service started at 10:45. When we asked what time we should finish, the pastor said "whenever". I was happy to see right away that this was a multi-racial congregation. I soon learned that there were 28 homeless/ex-convicts living in the church building! We sat in the pastor's office waiting to pray before the service; the pastor was busy working out a problem with the audio-visual equipment so Jesse, a homeless drug addict prayed for us before we went out. It was a beautiful prayer from his heart. The 10:45 starting time turned into 11:15. They went through the entire worship set, testimonies, extended time of prayer, expressive dancing during the offertory by one of the homeless women and then Darrell got up to preach after 12:00. After his sermon came communion. The service ended at 1:00 which we were told was earlier than usual! The man who prayed for us before service told us of his conversion and how the pastor had taken him for lunch and never said a word about Jesus. Jesse looked into his eyes and said "what are you doing to me? I've never seen that look of love before in my life, not even from my own mother." The pastor said the love in his eyes was Jesus. Jesse was smitten by that love. He told us that he's had a deep admiration for people that work in "closed" countries because they don't have the ability to freely proclaim the name of Jesus but not to worry because it's the love in our eyes that would draw the people of Long Beach to Jesus; just like the love in the pastor's eyes drew him to Jesus. Powerful words coming from this man who has never known love and has been abandoned to the streets and to prison cells most of his life. It was a refreshing day, worshiping with these brothers and sisters whose only comfort in life is an air mattress on a church floor but who are deeply in love with Jesus and sing and testify to that love. The day left me with lots to think about in my own life! All the comforts I enjoy in life and yet I often forget the One who is the source of everything and to whom my debt of gratitude is enormous. May his love pour out of my eyes and woo people to Jesus, even when I don't say a word!