poverty.

Last night Southside had the privilege of worshipping with the residents of Sunset Terrace. Sunset Terrace is a government housing complex here in Brownwood. Southside has pretty close ties with them. There is a ministry that makes sack lunches on Saturdays for the residents because most of the kids who live there are on the free lunch program at school and don't get those lunches on Saturdays. Every single Saturday the doers ministry is at the church at 10am making over 200 lunches.

Every Saturday. Rain or shine. Cold or hot. wet or dry. Every Saturday.

I have only helped with that ministry once since I have been at Southside, but I was blessed that one time and I plan on helping again.

Anyway, back to the point. Last night we moved our night service to Sunset Terrace to worship with the people. The band played Christmas music and Danny preached. I had planned on staying in the building, but there were SO many kids there that I decided to go outside and help the girls that were playing with the kids. The kids were different than most kids. There were a few wrestling matches I had to break up, a few curse words I had to hush, and lots of rowdy kids not interested in hearing the Christmas story not involving Santa Claus and presents. It was a time that I needed patience. Patience I did not have. We went inside after Danny was done preaching and I began to see the people's hurting faces. These people aren't like me. They don't have a plush and comfy life I have gotten so used to living. At first that's what made me sad. I was sad that they were poor.

Then as I sat and watched them more intently and actually SAW them I realized a lot of these people are much worse off than not having money. They have no hope. No Peace. No Jesus. That should sadden me more than them not having presents to put under the Christmas tree. I become so selfish sometimes and it disgusts me. I want to see people as Christ sees them, but more times than not I see people as lesser than me. That's not fair to them. I am majoring in Social Work so sometimes I get caught up in seeing these people as "clients" and people I am supposed to help get out of poverty. More importantly, as a Christian I am called to help them out of poverty in a whole other way. Why do I forget that so easily?