Turning Our Mess Into His Message

By:  David Coggin, Executive Director/Community Minister

Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." and "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34, 35). There are people all around us!  It is easy to see that some are hurting, and not so easy with others. 

Most weeks here at the Barnabas Vision we hear stories of hurt and brokenness on the inside.  Often times people wear a mask that covers their hurt and brokenness. Everyone has a story!   Relationships are messy and God knew that.  Jesus knew that.  God sent his son down because of the mess.  He sent his son down to die for our sins.  Because of him we can turn our mess into His message.  He gives us one another so we can encourage each other.

How do we encourage?  How do we show love to others and why should we?  First, we are commanded to love, for love comes from God. Second, when we care we are resembling the ministry of Jesus.  Jesus' whole ministry was based upon caring.  When you read the four Gospels, there are multiple examples of Jesus ministering and caring for people before he took care of their spiritual needs.  We read about how he healed the sick, made the lame to walk, and how friends brought a man to Jesus by cutting a hole in the roof.  People were healed and believed in him. 

What about the people who came to Jesus? Jesus ministered to multitudes.  Some believed and some didn’t.  Jesus still cares for them.  Even on the cross as he died for our sins, he cared!  Even as he uttered the words "Lord forgive them they do not know what they do", he cared. 

We need to be caring for people because people matter to God.   We need to see them through His eyes and be willing to respond.  Thanks for making a difference.  Below are examples of how you can get involved, as well as seeing how our volunteers, staff, community partners and donors work together to help people in our community.        

Seeing Improvement

By:  Laura Minchey, L.I.F.E. Coordinator
 

The L.I.F.E. program is growing and I'm seeing improvement in the lives of some of our clients.  Recently I met with a 65 year-old woman who is interested in furthering her education so that she can continue working. She said she never wants to stop learning.  Another client has finally instilled the necessary boundaries in her life.  This has been difficult for her, but she knew she needed to do it.  She is at peace with her decision and is trusting God will work in this situation.  A third client has peace about relocating next year to East Tennessee to be closer to her children's family who appear to be more supportive than her own in another state.  Lives are being changed!  

Homelessness Does Not Discriminate

By:  Lisa Burdette, Light Coordinator
 

Fall is here and The Homelessness Prevention (LIGHT) Program is busy serving our neighbors in need.  One neighbor stands out this month in my mind to share. It is really a great example of how homelessness, poverty, and hard times do not discriminate.  This neighbor had a well-paying job and was living a comfortable life. Unfortunately, this neighbor was injured in an automobile accident and was unable to return to work for quite some time and incurred a large amount of debt related to the many medical procedures that were needed. 

This neighbor stated that it was shocking to her that she could have her life so interrupted so quickly. She had been in a high-ranking position at a large corporation, had worked and received her MBA, was financially stable, and felt nothing could slow her down. In what she described as a blink of an eye everything she had worked so hard to achieve was in jeopardy.  This neighbor was let go from her job and has lived on unemployment and her savings for quite some time. She has now reached a point where those resources have run out. This neighbor spoke of how her faith has remained strong throughout this time and that she is thankful for the opportunity it has given her to reflect on her life and prioritize what matters most. She has decided to change careers and is about to start a new job that she is so excited to begin. 

This is such a great example of how, regardless of your education, socioeconomic status,  or preparation for hard times, life happens. It happens to all of us. There will be good times and there will be not so good times. The important thing to remember is that we are never alone when we have Christ in our hearts and that God doesn’t allow His children to suffer without a greater purpose.