“Out of everything that’s going on in your life right now, if one thing could get better, what would it be?” The question comes only after hours of listening. When there are no more tears, the quiet comes with the deep inhale and exhale of surrender.
Only now can the present be considered. Only now can a sliver of hope be remotely pondered. A drink of water, a cracker, a tissue. Heavy sigh. Only now can we think about taking a next step.
For almost 20 years this is the way we’ve loved our neighbors, whether in a clinic, in an ER, in church or office, an apartment, in an alley or on the sidewalk. Isaiah 58, In His Service, Inc. exists to be here with the least of these, “those people,” the poor. Isaiah 58, In His Service, Inc. exists to be here with the middle class and wealthy too. When tragedy strikes, when being overwhelmed is imminent, when someone is over their head in loss, when the problem is a hot mess, when no one else will help, when someone needs to talk, when advice is needed, when resources can’t be found anywhere else - Isaiah 58, In His Service, Inc. is here. Yes, bosses, peers, coworkers, pastors, CEO’s, landlords, executives, churchgoers – even you - have 918-260-1933 in your contacts, and you’ve used it for yourself or someone else.
Isaiah 58, In His Service or “Isaiah’s” as we’re known on the street has been tucked away in a strip mall on Admiral Place for the last six years come December. I used to drive by 3734 E. Admiral Place many times a day as I did home visits and delivered groceries or picked someone up to take them to an appointment. It was empty for a long time. I finally mustered the courage to pull up and look inside. The Social Worker mind went to work. I could see us making a difference and placing steppingstones for people in the direction of who they were meant to be.
We had no money, but we moved in on faith. I asked God to let us serve on Admiral place for just one year. A Board member’s husband loaded up the pews from what used to be Immanuel Baptist Church and turned them into shelves. We moved just in time for our Holiday Helping Hands Project.
We are relocating!
Isaiah’s doesn’t pick and choose a population to help. We are an equal opportunity helping ministry. For the last couple of years more and more of our neighbors are without a place to live. They are constantly being expelled even from areas that used to be secure and off the beaten path. They look for safe havens. Somewhere welcoming where they can get a bite to eat, something to drink and to restock their belongings which are repeatedly being destroyed. We are one of those safe havens.
We have always been a gap filler ministry. Paying the deposit for someone to move into their apartment, buying car parts, paying for classes, paying fees and fines, wiping out a debt, paying a Pike Pass ticket, writing and paying for an obituary, spontaneous surprises of love. If we have the funds and Jesus gives us a nudge, we step into the hard and work together on getting our neighbor out and up. We do the different.
Gap filler means we’re the family many of our neighbors have never had. We take people to doctor’s appointments, pay their co-pays and medications, we type up med lists and fill med planners. We celebrate birthdays with homemade cake and candles with singing and gifts. We go to funerals when a daughter, wife, or husband dies and sit close to hold a hand. Sometimes we round up the Senior Support Squad and go eat in a restaurant. It’s a time of fellowship, a time for our neighbors to eat a good meal and it gives us something to look forward to – being together. Isolation has harmed so many of our neighbors - gathering in Isaiah’s has saved lives.
As Christ followers we try to emulate Jesus in our efforts to care for the hurting, lonely, poor, ill, excluded, unique, desperate. When Jesus was told someone needed His help, He didn't send Peter or James or John to first gather documentation or a statement of necessity; He didn't tell those in need He would review their request and get back with them after the Board voted on it. He immediately stopped what He was doing, and He gave the outcast, woman who had an abortion, LGBTQ person, prostitute, veteran, refugee, beggar, lost and lonely His undivided attention and met their need. He gave to the glory of the Father. This is the heart of Isaiah's. We are not called to judge someone worthy or determine if they are taking advantage. If Jesus brings them to Isaiah's, then we give and serve and what they do with what is given is between them and God. We provide the tangible in order to build relationships and introduce people to Jesus.
Hundreds of people depend on us. We will not leave them behind. We are committed to our 18th Annual Holiday Helping Hands Project. We are committed to LOVE GOES faith based social services conference. We are committed to providing Bible study and church for our neighbors.
In the 10th chapter of Joshua in the Bible there were a group of people in Gibeon who decided to be good neighbors with Israel. However, there were five kings who didn’t like that, so they decided to band together and attack Gibeon. The folks in Gibeon sent an SOS to Joshua, “Come here quickly! Save us! Help us! All the Amorite kings who live up in the hills have ganged up on us.” (Joshua 10:6 MSG)
So Joshua and his warriors of good guys headed towards Gibeon. They marched all night and took the Kings by surprise. The Israel neighbors chased the bad guys along a ridge all while God pitched hailstones on the bad guys. “More died from the hailstones than the people of Israel killed with the sword.” (Joshua 10:11)
Before this battle was fought, Joshua spoke to God while everyone listened. He asked God to stop the sun and halt the moon. “The sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day. There’s never been a day like that before or since; God heeded the voice of a man.” Joshua 10: 14
God provided the time needed for the victory to take place! We are asking God to heed the voice of a woman and rally the troops and make the sun stand still! We need to find some buildings to move into, empty our 3,154 square foot current location, continue ministering to our neighbors, sit with them as they grieve the loss of our move all while being the people God redeemed us to be.
We have a realtor and are actively looking for a place to relocate. We want to be our own landlord and care for those Jesus brings to us in a sheltered space. We do not want to interrupt fellowship and services with our neighbors. If you can connect us with someone who has an available location, please let me know.
Isaiah’s is a safe haven for life change, forgiveness, healing and transformation. We are a ministry for the poor. The poor in spirit, the poor in material goods, the poor in mind, the poor in addiction, the poor in understanding, the poor in listening, the poor in compassion, the poor in judgment.
“People do not get crucified for charity. People are crucified for living out a love that disrupts the social order, that calls forth a new world. People are not crucified for helping poor people. People are crucified for joining them.” Shane Claiborne
“We don’t have any money, but we’re moving in faith. “
We can do more. We can do better. Together.
Be the Exception.
No. More. Excuses.
Believing to move in 30 days.
