I saw the church tonight and I don’t mean the building at 1619 N. Lee Street. 

The women started gathering at about 6:30.  Some were carrying gift bags, some were carrying boxes, some were carrying laundry baskets loaded with essentials…..all for the housewarming tonight.  This is usually Bible Study night, but we decided to forego the regular routine in order to present our new friend and “family member” some gifts for her new home. 

It was just last Wednesday that Shante shared with us that her drug rehabilitation was going really well.  We had been praying for months that she would be able to remain clean and also that somehow, God would provide a place for her and her two daughters to live.  Shante shared that God had answered that prayer in an amazing way.  Because she was doing so well in her program, she was eligible to move into a special apartment complex for people in rehab programs.  It was a three bedroom apartment and she would be moving in with her two children in just a few days.  It was a special gated community that she would be able to remain in for the next twelve months as long as she meets the conditions set forth by her counselor.

And just to think, not three months ago, Shante was looking at possibly facing prison time.  Somehow, in her darkest hour, Shante was able to finally turn from the darkness that had engulfed her life for so long and was able to see The Light.  She is a completely different person.  It’s amazing how God does that.  He accepts us, just as we are….but He never leaves us that way.

So we celebrated with Shante tonight as she opened towels, mixers, knives, measuring spoons, soap powder, candles, pillows and pictures.  Tears began to stream down her face as she read card after card and opened gift after gift.  There was so much love in the room, you could reach out and touch it.  Shante opened the last gift and said she wanted us to know that she had never felt as loved as she had tonight.

Shante had a curfew of 8:00 PM, so each of the ladies grabbed a box or bag and helped to load up her gifts and make sure she got home on time. 

That’s the church.  It’s about trying to make a difference.  It’s about caring for others more than yourself.  It’s about seeing a need and trying to fill it. 

It’s loving people where they are….but never leaving them there.