A young man showed up at the Coffee House during Spoken Word/Open Mic night. He had gone down the street to attend the Bible Study of a new, growing congregation. He had come from Las Vegas to meet the musician from that church who, according to the story he told the few people at the Coffee House, may have influenced him to go on living. The Bible Study was cancelled and the church closed, but a neighbor told him that we were a ministry and might be able to get him in contact with them. We did. He found out that someone would be there the next day. The young man stayed and shared his story of horrendous loss, incarceration and lost hope. He told us about how inspired he was by the music of the church musician down the street, and gave him credit for saving his life. The four people sitting with him shared their words of understanding, wisdom and hope. His eyes welled up and he expressed gratitude. When the four who were present at the Coffee House asked him where he would stay overnight, he said that he would sleep in the bus station. We contacted friends who own a B&B, but they were full. The small fellowship of four people provided him with a room at $120, which would also provide him with a hot breakfast the next day.
The next day, he met the pastor and had some pictures taken with him. The musician he had hoped to meet and thank was not available to him, but he left him a note at the church. He was thrilled to be able to do that. He texted the pastor at the Coffee House to thank the folk there the night before and let him know that he did make it to the church. He asked if there was an agency that could help him get back home. He was estranged from family over some horrific events that brought him to the despair that the church's musician had eased. He was not sure he could count on anyone in his life to help him. The Pastor suggested that he ask the leaders of the church he came to visit. He assured him that they would help - that helping him would be a blessing to them and they would surely do it. An hour or so later, the young man came to the Coffee House and said that he finally found someone in his family to wire him some money for the trip home. He waited at the Coffee House for the money to come through and then left, thanking the pastor for all the small fellowship had done for him.
Two weeks later, the small fellowship that meets in the Coffee House is having their last worship together, because so few people attend, and those who do actually have other churches they attend and support. The large, young, growing congregation down the street is still growing in membership.
James 2:14-17
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