This week I received the following letter from a friend:
“I met a young (32 year old) black man a couple of years ago at a thrift store that we were opening on the south side of Tallahassee. He was the picture of the quintessential street thug. “Tats”, mouth full of gold plated teeth, saggy pants and, you get the picture.
He was a fixture directly in front of the location in the shopping center where we were going to open our chapel / community center. He sold bootleg CD’s (and reportedly drugs as well).
One hot summer day, as we were remodeling our store, I flipped him one of the cold Gatorade drinks I was bringing to our crew. He said thanks and that began a series of positive interactions between “Tee” and myself over the next couple of years.
I knew we were making progress when one day, as we were about to hold one of our first chapel services, I noticed that he moved his car (his music was always loud and usually vulgar). This was Tee’s way of showing respect.
Sometime later I asked Tee if he would like to help us with our music ministry. His reply, delivered with a look of disbelief, was ‘Do you know what I do?’ My reply was ‘Yes, but I also know that you show up for work early every day, you work long hours no matter what the weather is like, and you have survived for years in a very dangerous business. You are just working for the wrong boss! However, one day, if you will turn your life over to Jesus, you will be able to use all of these talents and efforts for good.’
At that point, he just smiled and went on his way.
A year or so later, after an altercation where guns had been drawn, I tracked him down to finally address his plans for eternity. His response was that ‘It’s all good’ and he showed me the ‘tat’ on his neck “Blessed.” I explained to him that when it came time for judgment it wouldn’t matter what was tattooed on his neck, but rather what (or Who) was in his heart. Again he just smiled and walked away.
Two weeks later I received word that he had been shot three times but would live. This time, when I visited him at the hospital, he (and the mother and his children) had a much more receptive attitude.
Over this last year plus, we had moved out of the shopping center but Tee stayed in touch with me and had connected with our ministry team mates Pastor Stan and his wife.
While he continued to run his “business”, he did move his family out of the area and was attending church, even though sporadically. He even shared some of his life story of survival on the streets from a young age with Brother Stan. At one point he told the pastor that he and Sister Shirley were the “Mom and Pops” he never really had.
Two days later (earlier this month) another wayward soul walked up to Tee and shot him in the face, ending his struggle in this life.
It is my prayer that he did indeed accept Jesus after that first shooting and that he finally got that gig playing praise music for the King.
My point with all this is that to reach someone of a “different culture” is not impossible. You probably couldn’t find two more opposite people than this young man and me.
One raised on the mean streets of survival and the other an old fat white guy raised a redneck from Sanford Florida (from Travon Martin fame).
What were the keys? Start with unconditional love (remember, Jesus died for us ALL when were STILL sinners). Then look for ways to legitimately show respect and opportunities to serve. Now allow for time to “cook” the relationship.
I’m sorry for the life Tee led, however I’m blessed for having known him and I pray we will get to spend eternity together.
RIP little brother.”
Some time back I was downtown Tallahassee visiting a man just re-arrested for shooting at someone, (this after just being let out on bond for killing someone). A friend of mine had asked that I visit him and I was awaiting her arrival when I saw the person who sent me this letter, Glenn Burns, come walking through the lobby. I waved at him and he came over and we exchanged pleasantries. He told me he was down there visiting “his guys”. After we conversed for a few moments he walked up to the metal detector and the person just waved him on through without even bothering to search him. He was such a well-known fixture in that jail and was there so often serving as chaplain that everyone knew him.
My friend and his wife Beth operate two shelters for street people, one for women and one for men. I’ve given them twenty or so whitetail deer and a couple of hogs that we harvested this hunting season to help provide some fresh meat for them and from what He’s told me their guys and gals seem to like it very much.
A little over 2000 years ago Jesus came to save the world. He prayed, preached the Gospel, discipled His followers, and He helped people. His compassion ministry and mercy is what attracted me to Him. Up until I read about Him in the Bible no one had ever told me that they loved me or taken any interest in me whatsoever, (aside from the police who were determined to lock me up and get me off the streets whereby I wouldn’t be a danger to society).
I never had the privilege of meeting someone like my buddy and if I had I would have likely turned to God much more quickly than I did. I learned of the love available from Christ when I read and believed the Bible. In it Jesus told us all that He loved us and that it didn’t matter if someone was a sinful prostitute, thief, someone crazy mean and filled with demons, a tax collector, a half breed Samaritan, leper, lame person, or whatever.
So many will never read the Bible as I did and will make their decisions concerning the Lord (which will determine their ultimate eternal fate) by observing and interacting with those who profess to be Christians. I pray that more folks with a heart like Glenn and Beth Burns will cross their paths.
As my friend so eloquently stated in his letter, Jesus loves us all unconditionally and He demonstrated that love every day that He walked this earth. He didn’t care what the ruling elite, church hierarchy, or anyone thought of Him for taking that stance. He just unashamedly loved one and all.
So you want to see things improve in this country especially with race relations and those filled with hate? Then do what Jesus did – love folks unconditionally. This does not mean you have to love the sin or hateful rhetoric, but it does mean that we must love the sinner. It may help to remember the Bible’s clear teaching that after all we are ALL sinners in need of the grace of the Savior.
My friend is following the example Christ left us. His example of “walking the walk” will go much farther than all of the “talking the talk” and doctrine and theology that can be hurled at someone towards instilling a desire in their heart to follow Jesus too.
From all of us who love You with all of our hearts, Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!
Hebrews 6:10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Hebrews 2:11
Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
December 24, 2014 – Click here to listen