Train Wreck. It’s the only way I can describe last Wednesday.
It was 10:30 in the morning, when Bro. Alfredo Ballesta and I were to meet a couple considering a move to Beaumont to plant a church. Because He was an experienced pastor, recommended by a trusted colleague, I had anticipated this visit for a week. Perhaps he would be our re-plant pastor for a church that had closed months ago.
From the moment they arrived to the office, our visit went exceedingly well. By all appearances the Lord was knitting our hearts together. The next step was showing them the church and community.
This is when the train wreck began.
As I opened the door to the church, water flowed. Wading through the hallway, I quickly surveyed the situation. I discovered the building had been broken into, offices ransacked, water left running, and the air conditioner taken.
Looking toward my potential partners, I sought to salvage the moment. As Alfredo showed them what he could of the church, I called the police and began the process of identifying damage and filing the report.
My guests, meanwhile, picked up mops and started cleaning. I called out, “Oh, no. You’re our guests. Let me get things settled and we can move along.” But they continued to mop water and tidy up the church.
Finally, when my assistant Lizz arrived to relive me at the church, Alfredo and I took our guests to lunch, then to the office, where we prayed before sending them on their way home.
This was my train wreck. And at that moment I couldn’t imagine this couple having any interest in serving with us, in this broken down building, in this crime infested neighborhood.
But…
While nothing is certain, this couple continues to pray about coming to Beaumont. They believe the Lord is leading them here, so much so they are taking their next steps in preparation and I’ve not even finished assessing the damage. Apparently the Lord used my train wreck to cement their sense of call. To them, what church needs help more, what community needs it’s witness reopened more, than one where these things would happen?
In all things, God is at work. He is at work to birth a new church in the Avenues of Beaumont, and he is at work in your train wrecks too.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim