and i'll follow You into the homes of the broken, I'll follow You into the world. I'll meet the needs for the poor and the needy God. I'll follow You into the world. " Leeland
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Luke 5:10b-11
Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed Him.
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Yesterday, Saturday June 12, I went to Camden New Jersey along with about 15 other people from my church. I first heard about this trip the previous Sunday at our College and Career small group (a.k.a: Revolution). Basically I was told what time to meet, and that we would be safe because the main guy, Tommy, in charge knows the people of Camden because he has been ministering to them for over 30 years (I think). WHen Jared first invited me he said that basically they go down, meet up with the other believers from NJ, go into Camden, set up tents/tables at an open lot and give stuff (clothes, food, etc...) to the people. This sounded like a great way to show God's love to others, so I decided I would go. It also resembled a ministry that I sometimes did at college, CampuServe- where we would go out into the community of Lynchburg and serve the people. Throughout the week I was looking forward to Saturday because of the amazing opportunity and the fellowship that I knew would happen on the trip.
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We left Wilkes Bare at 8am and arrived in Camden around 11am (this is including 2 stops- one at the Allentown Service Plaza, and the second stop was at the church). In under 3 hours I was transported into a different world, one of extreme poverty. I knew that the environment would be bad but I was not prepared for what I saw. Run down town houses (some were even destroyed by fire but still standing and I could only imagine the people who lived in these burnt shelters), but these houses had bars not only on the windows but the front porches were surrounded by metal bars. Trash lined the streets. We arrived at a corner lot (on the way home I was told it was probably the worst block in America). We set up a grill for hot dogs. A truck (i think it was once an ice cream truck) provided shade and power for music to be blasted into the streets. I helped to fold clothes that we were giving away. There was also a table of children's books and toys set up for the kids. We weren't even finished setting up for the day when people began to pour in from the streets. My heart broke for these people - especailly the kids. Drugs and violence are destroying this community. We were only there for a few hours but I can not count how many times I saw a police car pass by. When we first arrived we were told to stay at the lot because if we walked on the sidewalk the gangs would think that we are there to buy drugs. I was also surprised to see really expensive cars go down these crummy streets but then I realized that they are probably at the top of the drug chain. But more important than the physical needs of the people that we met by giving them food, water, clothes, cookies, candy, and juice; I realized that they need a personal relationship with Jesus. I know that we aren't guarrenteed tomorrow but in Camden it was reality. A thought that crossed my mind was that on our next trip to Camden, who that we reached out to won't be alive? We handed out tracks and had conversations with the people if they would carry a conversation. The music that first drew the people to our corner lot did not always blast music. Various people either gave their testimony, called people to repent and believe in Jesus, and we had live music and singing. At least people heard the gospel and I can only pray that seeds were planted and that God will grant the increase in their lives.
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On the way back home in the church van some revisted childhood and did "name that tune" by whistling. I was sitting near the front so I talked with the driver (our youth pastor) and passenger. It was then I learned that where we were at may have been the worst neighborhood in the nation. The youth pastor also said that 4 years ago he showed a clip from 20/20 to the youth group about the people and poverty in Camden NJ. He mentioned how it was neat because God brought us full circle from hearing/seeing the news clip to being able to go and minister to the people of Camden. (I'm not sure if this is it- but after going I googled 20/20 and Camden and found this
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2819991&page=1 . It is a story about the children of Camden.) I look forward to future opportunities of going back to Camden and serving. Until then I will be praying for the believers and their ministry to the people of Camden and I will be praying for a harvest of souls.
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p.s- on a side note, my devotional for the day from Come away beloved is below: (i'm probably violating copyright laws here...oops)
The Seeds of the Word - Here am I, Send me. Isaiah 6:8
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"Lo, the message is Mine but I have need of those who will speak it without alteration and without any attempt to please men.
The seeds of the Word have long since dried up and died in many a prayerless life. I need those who will speak it again and send it out afresh in the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. The Word must be spoken through those who are spiritually alive, otherwise it loses its power to produce new life."
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I didn't read the devo until after I got back and I knew that it was no accident that God had planned my trip to Camden to correspond with my devotional reading.
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