GlocalNet

For me, the only normal thing about Thanksgiving last week was getting up, having my personal worship and running. After that, it all changed. Nikki, Ben, Jill, Ti and I decided this year to spend Thanksgiving working at a church in the inner-city of Haltom City and then coming home and eating a late lunch around 3:00pm, with just our family. Normally, people from all over the world, or seminary students, are in our home. We wanted it to be just us so we could work and not make anyone feel obligated.

We headed down to the center and, as we arrived, people were already lined up outside the doors and in the parking lot--it was only 10:15am. As I got closer, I realized they were the workers--not people waiting to be fed. Those waiting to be fed were on the other side--some dressed up as nice as they could--with their families. I got inside and found the guy in charge. He was overwhelmed with all the NorthWood people there to help. At first he said, “Everyone is going to have their own individual server this year!” A few minutes later, he was telling me there are way too many. People were still arriving--some seeing the long line of workers were turned away at the door--they couldn’t even get in to volunteer.

All the volunteers were brought in and I told them, “No pastor could be more grateful to be the pastor of a church than I am today. You guys are just incredible.” We called several other shelters to send our people but they were all full with workers, as well. We wound up sending a few hundred people home. It led us to thinking two things. First, we could probably man several homeless centers and places. Second, we need to continue to develop our work in the inner-city to a point that we can lay a model over every domain of the inner-city.

Yesterday, I got to brag on you guys even more. Keep it up. As I was leaving the shelter one guy told me, “You know, maybe Thanksgiving is changing--maybe it’s more than just turkey and football!” Let’s pray it is.