Target Dayton

One of the last minute, surprise, God-planned things we got to do on our Dayton Adventure was to serve with Target Dayton. Target Dayton is a church located on the corner of Keowee and Xenia whose congregation is made up mainly of homeless individuals. They hold services 6 days a week, which are either followed or begun with a meal. These meals are typically served by volunteers.

I was humbled by the impact of this church, and mostly by the things they are successful at, which would seem to be the things that matter in God’s Kingdom. I was humbled into considering the things I think make us successful as a church of God and whether those things are evidenced by our (my) actions? Or do I say one thing and show with my actions very different priorities?

Am I attempting to reach the lost and serve the least of these, or am I focusing on comfort and reaching the nominal? Am I directing the gospel towards all who need to hear it, or just those that make it convenient for me?

I don’t like wrestling with those questions anymore than you do, and yet, I feel that we must.

I was so proud of our team and how they allowed themselves to be put in uncomfortable situations. They didn’t just put up with being uncomfortable, they thrived and loved those they encountered. This “service opportunity” that I didn’t plan (and was actually leaning towards not doing) turned out to be one of the most impactful and enlightening parts of our trip.

I’m also proud to say we’re going back. I fear there would be mutiny from our team if we did not. But it’s not just us who are going back, we want you to join us.

On Saturday, August 26, we will be meeting at the church at 3:15 to go downtown and worship with our less materially wealthy brothers and sisters and we will then be serving them a much-needed meal. Please join us. See for yourself the need around us that God has put us on this earth to address. Join our amazing, God-fearing, least-of-these-loving students who were willing to say ‘yes’ when asked. The question is now posed to you. Will you be uncomfortable with us?

Dayton VBS

One of our two main activities on the Dayton Trip was to do a VBS for kids of East Dayton hosted by Emmanuel Baptist Church. There were so many good lessons and takeaways that came out of this opportunity, but I prefer stories to telling lessons, so allow me to tell you another good one.

One of the little girls we got to hang out with at VBS was named Pandora. She was a cute, little redhead who loved to sit on our girls’ laps and both show and receive affection. But what started as a cute kid to whom our girls got a chance to show the love of Jesus, quickly became a humbling lesson.

One day our girls were talking with the kids and Marie asked Pandora if she liked bagels. Pandora said they were too big for her mouth, so Marie logically replied that you can cut them with a knife. It was then that Pandora told her that they didn’t have a knife at home because her mom couldn’t afford one.

Later in the week she asked to take her shoes off in gym because she had a blister because her shoes were too small and she couldn’t afford new ones.

Pandora lives right off Wayne Ave. We passed her house all week. I pass her house frequently. And yet her life is vastly different from mine.

We were able to buy her shoes and it felt great to do that for her, but it doesn’t change the fact that her life is drastically different than ours. And yet God is still pursuing her.

Pandora’s story reminds us of the very real reality of poverty all around us, but along with that we are reminded that God is pursuing every single person, whether they share our level of material resources or not. I pray that we can be his agents in the lives of all those around us.