Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity
The college students participating in Summer in the City, Here’s Life’s summer outreach program, were staying in a Seattle church. The house right next to the church was an unsavory place, with lots of people hanging out and heavy use of drugs and alcohol. "One day, as one of the students, Susie, and her group were walking by the house, one of the men out front yelled, "Pray for me!" Susie took up the challenge and asked for his name. She said she would pray for him. The next day, the church’s worship band was putting on a concert that was open to the community. Susie and one of the other students went next door to invite the man to come. He wasn’t there, but his sister, Geraldine, and niece, Marie, were. Susie gave Geraldine a gospel booklet (Would You Like to Know God Personally?) and invited them to the church for the concert. Because Marie was so excited, Geraldine agreed to come. When they got to the church, Marie quickly joined the group of teens dancing and singing along with the band, but Geraldine looked miserable. Susie tried to make her feel welcome. As they talked, Susie took the opportunity to go through the gospel booklet with her. At the end, Susie asked Geraldine if it made sense to her and she wanted to receive Christ. Geraldine committed her life to Christ right then and there! Since 1984, Summer in the City has brought thousands of college students into the inner city to assist local ministries. They help run urban day camps, produce outreach events, do door-to-door evangelism, tutor children and teens, serve in food pantries, and minister in jails. The impact is great not only on people like Geraldine, who hear the gospel, but also on the students themselves. Many develop a deep burden for the poor and return to the inner city after graduation as teachers, social workers — and Here’s Life Inner City staff. |
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It seemed like evil smack up next to good.