Love for the Lost

Here, I know a woman. She grew up in Western New York, and attended a small High School. Her guidance counselor told her she would never be accepted to go to the State University, but she was. She and her best friend attended the University of Buffalo, where she majored in Management and Finance. She is intelligent and talented. She enjoys accounting and drawing. Her sketches are vivid and lifelike. She told me she doesn't know anything about poetry, or about composing music, but she writes beautiful songs. She is funny, and loves to laugh. She is friendly, giving, and works well with others - especially children. She volunteers at Rising Hope, and has been a member there for over three years...

This woman has been cut off from a relationship with her mom. She is far from home. She suffered an accident - was run over by a car - and went through surgery. She lost her short term memory. She lives in a homeless shelter, because she has been waiting on disability, which at this rate she is unsure will ever be approved for her. She is addicted to alcohol. When she abuses it, she is uncontrollable - even by herself. She has been picked up countless times by the police. She has a felony, for stealing (alcohol). She has countless Drunk In Public fines. Next week, she has a court date for charges of harassment and trespassing while she was completely wasted.

She is my friend.

Here, I know another woman. She has been a member of the church since 1998. She regularly attends prayer and church services...

She has been kicked out of her apartment by the police because of drug-dealing/use going on there. She is addicted to crack-cocaine. Today, she decided was her last day. Today she decided she is going to Detox. Today she wants to give her life to Jesus, not to drugs. She spoke of how grateful she is for Rising Hope, its people, and how it has been/still is there for her in her constant battle with her addiction. She said when she brings people to the sanctuary she tells them, "welcome to our living room." Rising Hope is her home.

She is my family.

Today I led the noon-day prayer service. I was a vessel... I'm not completely sure of exactly what I shared, but after I spoke, the Rising Hope family opened up. Stories were shared, prayer concerns lifted, support given, and then in one spirit we prayed for one another and those we encounter in our lives, within and especially outside of the church. We read from Galatians 5 and 6 - focusing on 5:24: Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. We then listened to the song "Let Me Sing" by Andrew Peterson, "let me sing for the love, let me love for the lost, let me lose all I have, for what I've found on the cross..."

Rising Hope's family is made up of many people who have had taken from them all they owned and all they were, but they are holding tightly to the Cross...
Regardless of their backgrounds, cultures, pasts, lifestyles, addictions, Jesus is showing me how to love them... and together with them, we (Rising Hope) are loving those who are still lost.