Today is my 46th birthday. No, I did not sleep in.
This meditation is coming to you later than normal because I left Maine very early this morning and had limited wifi and tight connections en route home to Colorado. Thankfully, I am home now. This meditation will be longer than normal too, because I have had hours to sit with the Lord and think on my flights since 3:45am MT.
This is my birthday wish, or rather, prayer:
Father in Heaven, pour out your Holy Spirit on every church family that embraces the gospel of Jesus Christ, possesses a building, and opens their doors to the poor and homeless in the name of Jesus like Trinity EFC in Skowhegan, ME. Amen
Backed solely by the promises of God and the bold obedience of less than a hundred people, Trinity EFC has not one, but now, two shelters where hundreds have come to faith in Jesus since they opened the church doors to the destitute. As the gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable, many people left Trinity EFC through those same doors. But those who have stayed have witnessed miracles. Pastor Richard Berry is a modern day George Mueller.
Last night I met the first guy who asked Pastor Berry if he could sleep on the couch in the youth room instead of in his car one cold winter night in 2008. Today, the hurting and homeless and those who call this church “home” enjoy meals together like the early church. They have services daily and hundreds of baptisms annually. They don’t have to create community because all who enter there experience God’s love in Christian community.
Enough of my rambling!
Rather than tell their story, read these lyrics by Tinker, once a lost logger and a depressed drunk and now a godly leader at the men’s shelter. He sums their story aptly in song. Read them to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies, and you will see why I invite you to join me in praying this birthday prayer. Or click to watch Tinker sing the song (I recorded this last night in the front row and Derek Soucy uploaded it).
“The Ballad of Trinity”
Come listen to a story about a pastor named Rick
He ministers a little church a way out in the sticks
He took some people in because they had no place to stay
And that’s when his congregation all moved away
(Left him broke, took their checkbooks that is)
Well the next thing you know, the town’s up in the air
They all screamed and hollered, “We don’t want those people here”
It was 25 degrees the day they said, “You gotta go!”
But Rick said, “I won’t put em out in in the snow”
(Not what Jesus would do, Un-Christian that is)
Well the church isn’t coded and the neighbors live in fear
The Fire Marshall said, “You gotta get ‘em outta here”
Police Chief said he would shut the whole thing down
And then run Pastor Rick straight outta town
(With torches and pitchforks, tarred and feathered that is)
Now the town had a meeting and they got in Pastor’s face
He said, “Cut me just a little slack and I will build a place”
They said, “you make progress and we’ll leave you all alone”
So Pastor Berry went to work to build us all a home
(A new home, “Shelter by Jesus” that is)
Well he got a crazy German to put four stakes in the the ground
Took a picture of it and they sent it to the town
The town said “That’s progress!” And they let the project go
And the seed that was planted really started to grow
(Good fruit, on the vine that is)
Now the good Lord has led us with His power and His grace
His mighty hand and Spirit have raised up this special place
The promise that He made to Rick has almost been fulfilled
To make this little ministry a beacon on the hill
(A light unto the world, for His glory that is)
Well now it’s time to say goodbye to Rick and all his friends
They really praise and thank the Lord for bringing you all in
You’re all invited back any time to this locality
To have a heapin’ helpin’ of our hospitality
(With open arms, Love that is)
Ya’ll praise god now, ya hear!