Monday, December 19, 2011

Behind Every Door December Update!

 
  

"I've held two boys in my arms at Village Oaks as they died of gunshot wounds."  Those were the words of a man they call "Sarge" (as in Sergeant) as we talked at the Christmas at Village Oaks party last Friday night. Sarge has been around Village Oaks for 18 years and has seen it all. Later in the evening Sarge would receive a Community Leader Award, and he shared a few powerful words with those gathered...about love and the transformation he has seen happen recently at Village Oaks. Praise the Lord.

A few minutes after I talked with Sarge, I talked with a man named Sherwood.  Sherwood is a larger-than-life legend. He was telling me about how he and Will Dowell had managed to recover his stolen cell phone from a drug dealer earlier in the day in a very peaceful way.  Sherwood went on to tell me two other stories from his day.  He has been coming to our Real Men group and has been "trying on" the principles of Jesus.  At one point he said to me: "This stuff works!"

These stories of an unfolding process of transformation amidst darkness and difficulty seem too good to be true!

There was much to celebrate Friday night.  The first performance of the Kids Club Choir...they sang carols and recited a poem about Jesus.  The awarding of Community Leader Awards to partners and residents.  The opportunity to honor our Kids Club Leaders.  The chance to present the first "Man of the Year" and "Woman of the Year" awards to residents Anthony Harrison and Clanatia Lane.

Because of our friends at Providence Energy Corporation, Two Wins Foundation, and Triumph Savings Bank...93 kids at the Village Oaks and Willow Pond Kids Clubs got to write down what they wanted for Christmas...and get it.

After the party Friday night, the kids waited as their names were called and their gifts were passed to them.  I wish each of you could have seen what I saw from the front row.  One of the gifts was a brand new, really cool bike. I saw the name on the card said "Frederick."  In the front row, about 10 feet away, was a boy...and a couple of times I saw him looking at the bike.  But, not knowing his name, and given the fact that there were tons of kids in the room, I didn't necessarily think it was for him.

It came time for us to give the bike.  I called out "Frederick"...and the boy raised his hand.  When I reached over to hand him the bike....it is not possible to explain to you the look of utter joy on his face.  He couldn't believe it was for him.

It wasn't just the awards or the music or the gifts that made Friday night special.  It was the spirit of the place.  The boisterous applause as we announced the award winners...some recipients even had their names chanted! There was a spirit of unity and of celebration.

Isaiah 61 talks about the bestowing of "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." That pretty well describes the spirit in that Community Center last Friday night.

Jesus. God with us.  It's the story that's too good to be true...but it's true.  We're thankful for the life He brings. He brings beauty from ashes.  He makes us glad.  He is a gift so good we can't believe it's for us...but He is.

Merry Christmas.

-- Behind Every Door Ministries