Can you feel the heart?

A while back my friend had lunch with Pam and John, a couple who are heavily involved in ministry at the Phoenix Rescue Mission. They were surprised to learn that, during the past couple of decades, Rescue Mission clients have changed from almost exclusively derelict males, to include large numbers of women and children,.

The fact that women and children are filling Rescue Missions is the kind of information that has enormous potential to stir passion in the hearts of the average Christian. But, those of us that were formally trained to be pastors were not trained to capitalize on this kind of information. As a result we pastors often miss opportunities to expose their church to ministry experiences which have the potential to stir people’s hearts.

John and Pam participated in a Back to School Day, sponsored by the Phoenix Rescue Mission, by handing out backpacks and school clothes to hundreds of children. Pam’s voice became emotional as she recalled a little girl who came to the Rescue Mission barefoot on a hot August day. The pavement was burning the girl’s feet, so Pam picked her up and held her until they found her a pair of shoes. As Pam felt the little girl’s heart beat next to her heart, she felt a bond of passion, both for the little girl and for the ministry at the Rescue Mission. This is the type of “equipping” experience that we desperately need in our churches.

Earlier that week I talked to a fellow who ministers regularly in a detention center for female delinquents. Tears welled up in his eyes as he told me about some of the young girls that he was getting to know. Then I spoke to Marsha, a lady who ministers in a Hospice, she shared what it felt like to be rubbing a dying lady’s arm as the lady lingered between life and death. It was the most meaningful ministry experiences of her life.