July 27th, 2009

Last week, a mission journey team from Kairos returned from Set Free Church on Skid Row in Los Angeles. They worked with Set Free Church members to serve the homeless, addicted, and dejected living on the streets in the area.

Over the next few days, you'll get a first-hand look at what they did, taken from the journal entries of one member, Kelly Barons, who chronicled the entire event.

Day 1: Sunday, July 12, 2009
Los Angeles, Skid Row
It seems like the universe plays a cruel little joke when our 12 passenger conversion van has to pass through the fashion district of L.A. to get to the cross-streets of San Pedro and 7th; the entry way to Skid Row.

From the safety of our "church bus," Skid Row doesn't loom dark and scary like I anticipated. (I suppose I was expecting to have to wade through a knee-high sea of used hypodermic needles to be able to get anywhere.)

The gates to the Set Free church are painted with bright murals and uplifting Scripture promising a better life with Christ. Pastor Ron's congregants are gathered in the fiercely bright Los Angeles sunshine, waiting for the 8:30 a.m. worship service to start.

The faces here are worn, but welcoming. There are obvious regulars who greet each other with hugs and fist pounds (which I still do not approve of...) and others who shuffle inwithout making eye contact.

The sanctuary is lined with mustard yellow chairs straight out of the 70s, and one, large fan attempts to circulate the hot, stagnant air around the room. The sound system is broken and several men are working frantically to repair it before worship.

The service begins with some real, old-fashioned gospel songs and many, many, resounding "Amens!" An older man in white wingtips and a matching fedora pounds on his keyboard with all the resolve and gumption of Whoopie Goldberg in Sister Act 2 (you know, once she was finally all in to being a nun). Almost everyone is on their feet and dancing to the music.

Pastor Ron begins his sermon by reminding us that the battles we face in our lives are not our own but the Lord's. The struggles that find us along the way are designed to be there; they may be a surprise to us, but God knew they were coming.

He continues by saying that even when these dark clouds find us, the only thing we can do is thank God and do all that we can to please and glorify Him. Much easier said than done. In fact, I'm willing to admit that I never do this.

I'm the drum major in my own pity parades—baton in hand, throwing candy to the crowd. Look at me! Things are hard and I'm doing all I can to stay afloat!

It's kind of a repulsive image. Why not use these trials to improve myself and grow stronger in faith and in my understanding of God's plan? The men and women of Set Free have released all their troubles and worries to the Lord and seem to have complete faith that God knows right where their life is going, that He has a plan for each and every moment of our lives.

Does that make me feel liberated or powerless? This is something I had never really considered until today. If God has a plan for my life, what am I doing? 

Some food for thought I suppose.

Day Two: Monday, July 13, 2009
Los Angeles, Skid Row
Proverbs study began this morning at 7:00 a.m. It begins every morning at 7:00 a.m.

I've already had two cups of coffee and a Diet Dr. Pepper, but still manage to fall back to sleep before our church bus reaches Skid Row. When I'm jostled awake by the sliding van doors, I'm silently resentful of the fact that we had to be up so early.

We de-bus, say our "good mornings" and slowly file into the sanctuary. There are a few familiar faces from yesterday; a group of teenagers from a Bishop, California church (you would have never found a willing 16-year-old Kelly Barons sitting in one of those seats).

It smells. Two flies land on my Bible.

I take a seat in the second row in front of Mark.

Mark is shaped like an over-sized Russian doll and sports a Cincinnati Red's baseball cap with a flat brim. He was homeless and addicted to crack.

Mark said one of the things that [made him mad] the most in life was that every time he was "trying to get high there was someone bugging him about Jesus." Someone must have bugged him just enough, because he is leading our Proverbs study today.

The service begins and a short, black man with a graying beard sits down next to me and asks me about the tattoo on my wrist. His name is Joe and we share a Bible together. He is from Arkansas and says he is glad to meet another Southerner. I don't correct him.

To be honest, I don't understand much of what Joe says, but he is smiling. When it is his turn to share his favorite verse, he stands up and proudly explains his two selections. With all the conviction of a seasoned preacher, he addresses the congregation with a passion and excitement that I can only hope one day to share.

One of his selections was Proverbs 13:20: "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."

When Joe sits down he tells me he was nervous, but he knew what he had to say. I think Joe is beautiful and I hope he is smiling still right now.

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