I honestly don’t know what’s going on with Rhonda. She first started visiting the Outpost last winter. From that first encounter, I’ve never seen or heard her have a coherent conversation with anyone. Some days, she is cordial and polite, says “Good morning” and “Thank you” and appropriate times. Even still, these good days are … Continue reading The Moral of the Story: Praying Together
Mission
Life With Meaning, Life With Conflict
Every story is filled with meaningful conflict. If there’s no conflict, there’s no story. And there’s really no getting around this. The very structure of a story requires that the protagonist(s) experience significant conflict that challenges their character and pushes them to grow. Stories begin with the protagonist in an established, familiar world, the place … Continue reading Life With Meaning, Life With Conflict
Pain and the Peace of Christ
Daniel has had a difficult life. When he was a child he was removed from his parents’ house and placed in a group home, where he was molested by one or more of the employees. He aged out of the foster system and developed serious mental disorders, including chronic depression and paranoid schizophrenia. He receives … Continue reading Pain and the Peace of Christ
The Good News of God’s Faithfulness in My Neighborhood
Something incredible has happened in my neighborhood over the past few years: It has gotten better. I don’t have any statistics to back that up, but I’m here every day and I see it and feel it. The local churches are actively ministering to the poor on a relational level. The city has invested in … Continue reading The Good News of God’s Faithfulness in My Neighborhood
Five Simple Ways to Help the Poor in 2018
I read this passage in the book of James the other day and, naturally, it scared the hell out of me: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will … Continue reading Five Simple Ways to Help the Poor in 2018
An Odd, Yet Hopeful, Prayer Meeting
Matt and I walked to a popular spot on Vincennes street – a stoop that sits in front of an empty lot. An abandoned house once stood on the lot before homeless squatters burned it down. They were trying to stay warm in the winter. Several of our homeless friends still hang out at the … Continue reading An Odd, Yet Hopeful, Prayer Meeting
The Grit of the Kingdom
A couple years ago, after a small church gathering, a volunteer approached me and said, “I’m afraid my wife and I won’t be helping at the gathering anymore.” “Sorry to hear that,” I replied. He continued, “It’s just that so many of those who attend have no reverence for the church. Especially Bill. He’s always … Continue reading The Grit of the Kingdom
Marriage: A Ten-Year Reflection
Friday was mine and Rachel’s ten-year anniversary. I spent the day reflecting on the many adventures we’ve had over the past decade – moving into the ghetto and sharing a house with three other friends, visiting her family in Africa, camping our way across the United States, rescuing a greyhound, buying our first home, starting a … Continue reading Marriage: A Ten-Year Reflection
Why Suffering Matters – Pt. 3
In the last two posts, I’ve been pondering the meaning of suffering in the Christian life – just reflecting on some stories and personal experiences, and allowing scripture to speak into those events. In Part One, I wrote about vicarious trauma and the ways in which Christian workers should engage the inevitable suffering in this … Continue reading Why Suffering Matters – Pt. 3
Loving the Poor – “How Do I Get Started?”
A handful of people have recently asked me how they should approach ministry to the poor. Specifically, they want to know how to get started. I used to tell people, "Pray and do what Jesus tells you." While this is still the best approach, I’ve realized it’s not the most helpful advice. Ministry to the … Continue reading Loving the Poor – “How Do I Get Started?”
Preston Searcy 