I was sitting on a bench with my friend Mike. Mike is homeless and disgruntled. He’s also a little depressed. Several of his friends and family have passed away this year. His emotional pain has led him to drink more heavily than usual. As we sat together he asked the question, “Why do bad people … Continue reading Intrigue

Lee is in his late 70s (I think) and suffers from some form of dementia. He’s been a regular at the Midtown Café for a while, yet we don’t know much about him. It’s hard to get a straight answer. For example, I once asked Lee how old he was and he said, “Um, 15 … Continue reading Lee

Today is the 5th Monday in May, which means it’s time for another installment of Communion with the Saints.  Today’s guest blog comes from Caden Eckert. Caden served at Midtown Ministries as a Student Apprentice a couple years ago.  She has an obvious passion for Jesus and his Kingdom. She and her husband, Nick, attend … Continue reading Communion with the Saints – Episode 2

Chris walked into our café and sat on the couch next to me. Already, this was odd. Chris is one of the most closed-off people I’ve ever met and usually wants to be left alone. He’s even yelled at people for offering him a cigarette. He also suffers from paranoia. We aren’t sure, but we … Continue reading What Do You Think That Means?

Rachel started her own business last fall. She spent a year training to become a massage therapist, then another year gaining some experience. Then she opened up her own place. And God has blessed it. Since opening in October, she has seen around 100 new clients, most of whom re-book and refer their friends. But … Continue reading Pure Presence

My friend Cricket died a couple of weeks ago. Cricket was a homeless man who struggled with alcoholism. He had recently undergone heart surgery but wasn’t taking care of himself. Still, these realities didn’t prepare the neighborhood for his death. For many of our homeless friends, Cricket’s death hit a little too close to home. … Continue reading Funeral

A couple of years ago our ministry held an Easter service in the neighborhood park. We sang hymns, proclaimed the gospel, and ate sausage biscuits together. Maybe 50 people attended. In many ways, that Sunday marked the official end of a hard winter. We had experienced weekly snow storms and dangerously low temperatures. But beyond … Continue reading “You Think You’re God”

“Should I give money to panhandlers/beggars?” This is a question I’m asked often, usually from someone with a generous heart who has had a negative experience with giving. It’s a complicated question. Many of us have interacted with the man or woman who just needs $14.27 to pay for a hotel stay or a bus … Continue reading A Common Question

I have a pastor friend who says the minute we add just one requirement to the gospel of grace, we ruin the message. The requirement could be anything, big or small. For example, if someone says, “To be saved you must believe in Jesus and go to church every Sunday,” the message is no longer … Continue reading Not All Believers are Disciples 

I had the flu a few weeks ago and had to take a couple days off work. When I felt better I went back to the office. But after half a day, I was drained of energy and had to leave work early and get some rest. Our food pantry was just beginning for the … Continue reading Fruit