Over the past year and a half, since I started Urban Bicycle
Food Ministry, I have wondered about its future. I have had good feelings about
it all along but I have been blind in regard to its forthcoming. Since I
started I have been thinking and praying about things, trying to discern
something bigger than simply passing out food and supplies to people on the
streets once a week. Naturally, I have some huge ideas. It seems that everybody
does. The ideas are, more or less, fun thoughts than anything else. A year ago
I had an idea to start shopping around for a bigger location, something that
would allow us to reach more people and potentially provide more services. I
let that idea slip out of my hands. I have to admit, I was a bit scared. There
was a fear of getting away from its original location, my home. At that time I
knew the work we were doing was good and I was content with leaving it at that.
However, as we ease into this year, I am finding out that was not God’s plan.
It may have been my plan: staying comfortable, meeting my friends once a week,
and going for a bike ride. But that was not the big picture. God had something
else in mind.
I preach a lot about the challenges of being a Christian.
There is a challenge always waiting for the Christ follower. Whether we choose
to accept the challenge or not, we are loved unconditionally. If we don’t
accept, one of two things will happen. One: another challenge will appear. Two:
we will become restless. We won’t be able to sleep, nothing will feel right,
and it will seem like something is always missing. Have you ever experienced
cabin fever? I’m not talking about the 2002 film by Eli Roth. I’m referring to
the feeling when you want to get out of the house and do something so bad but
you feel trapped? It will feel a lot like that. Not really, but almost. Now, if
we do accept the challenge one of two totally different things will happen.
One: you will feel a sort of spiritual director, especially when you start to
lose confidence. Two: you will face weaknesses. A challenge is an obstacle. Any
athlete will tell you that once you overcome an obstacle you become stronger.
Accepting these challenges and overcoming these obstacles allows the Christian
to become stronger in spirit and ultimately closer to God.
So, I became restless. I lost sleep. I became irritable, yes
I became irritable and yes God made me that way. But we all know that if you
irritate someone long enough they will move. I had no choice; I had to move. I
started to get so many donations I couldn’t walk around my house. I cut a maze
through the boxes of non-perishable food, cases of water, boxes of clothes, and
bicycles just so I could walk out the door. Something had to happen and I was
ready for it. After much prayer and meditation I received an answer. An email came
to me from a large church downtown. They were familiar with UBFM and they
offered for us to use the church kitchen and a supply room. We would be able to
meet there every Wednesday night. I couldn’t believe it. What was the catch, I
wondered. This was way too uncomplicated. As we found out later on the first
night of the meeting, there was a catch: don’t harm the poinsettias in the main
lobby. That’s it. Just because I like to rise above expectations, I sometimes
sit and talk to those plants when the church is empty.
The church is huge. Growing up in a rural small town church,
it is bigger than anything I have worshiped in. It even has an elevator we can
load up to move donations to our supply room. The kitchen is full of stainless
steel equipment. When I went to look at the place, I was in awe. The pastor and
associate showed me around the area we would be working in. I couldn’t believe
it. Next to the church was an old vacant, two-story building. I mentioned it
them while they were showing my girlfriend Ellen, and I around the church. They
immediately asked if we wanted to see it. It turns out the church owns the
building. It is a little run-down bit it has a lot of potential. I think we
were all thinking the same thing. Could this be a potential place for ministry?
Could UBFM use this building for something? A community center? Hospitality
hub? A shelter? It is big enough for all of the above. At that moment I was
already feeling a little overwhelmed. I told them I wanted to think and pray
about this. But for the time being, we would love to use the church.
So there you have it. Finally, I move UBFM out of my house
and I can walk around my dinning room without tripping. But the restlessness
continued. I couldn’t stop thinking about that building and its potential. It’s
located on our Wednesday delivery route. I have stopped many times to visit
people curled up next to the building. There’s something about this. I started
to feel like it is all falling into place. From UBFM, its publicity, and growth
to the church and building. There is something at work here. I know this
building will require money to renovate; it will most certainly be a costly
undertaking but that is not my challenge. As a matter of fact, I feel certain
that God will provide. My element of burden in regard to this project is
commitment. I have a fear of failure that is clouding my commitment to this
project. I prayed. In my prayers I asked for some time to contemplate this
whole idea. I also asked for encouragement. So, I think and wait. I try to be
open to every possible idea that comes to me. One thing I do have is the most
supportive team of people in the world helping me out. Aside from my family, I
receive more encouragement and support from my UBFM group than I do anywhere
else. It is just a big melting pot of people that have huge hearts and giving
spirits. Any time they have a suggestion about something, we try it. This is
just as much theirs as it is mine.
One of my loyal members suggested that we should coordinate
a silent auction as a fundraiser. I thought this a magnificent proposal. I
started to round up all of my resources for the event. At the same time, I
continued to think about the building. If this fundraiser is successful,
perhaps it will jumpstart not only a building budget, but my confidence as
well. As I began organizing this fundraiser, I realized it would cost a bit. I
would have to reserve a place, have it catered, and somehow accumulate some
items to auction. There was a moment I started to back out of it. The same fear
of commitment started to come over me. I prayed. Actually, it was one of those
informal prayers while I was driving down a busy street in Memphis, that went
like this, “Okay, God, I’m just gonna go for it. I’m going to step out on a
limb of faith. You with me? Amen” I guess it was more likely of an affirmation
than it was a prayer. Anyway, it was a conversation with the Creator. I
continued on with my errand running for the day. Within the hour of that
prayer, I got it. I was in line at the super market and decided to check my email,
and there it was: PayPal notifying me I just received a $500 donation from a
random person. I had to bite my tongue. Tears welled up in my eyes. It might
have been from biting my tongue but they were tears of joy, nonetheless. Not
only did this jumpstart our funding for the fundraiser, but it furthered my
confidence. It was what I needed to make the event happen. But it was also what
I needed to shove past the fear of moving forward with the project. It was an
answer from God, immediately. This project fell into my lap for a reason, the
same reason UBFM happened. It is a call to ministry. It is God’s work in the
world.
The following week I received two more PayPal donations
affirming this event will happen. It will take place Saturday, April 12, 2014
at the Overton Park Golf Clubhouse. I am still coordinating and accumulating
items to be auctioned. The money raised during this event will be focused on
this building, God willing. In the meantime, I am doing some research on codes,
grants, materials, and estimates. I strongly believe that if God wants something
to happen, it will happen. From getting to know the people who are part of this
organization, I am certain that anything can be done. I see so much love and
compassion in this group of people I can’t help but to be confident. Thank you
all for giving me this. I am in my first year as an ordained minister. I had no
idea it would be so full of awe. I have been blessed to see God work
meticulously. But, I do not necessarily see it through me, the minister. I see
it through you, God’s people.
Peace
