I need you to see something:
Do you see it? How about here:
Do you see now? How about here:
It looks like hope, doesn’t it? It looks a lot like hospitality, welcoming and embracing the stranger with the welcoming embrace of Christ. If you look hard enough you can see friendship, even love, as God’s people followed Jesus into their suffering and joined them there. Now together they’re following Him to wholeness; to peace.
The houses they live in, the new relationships they’re forming, the hope they’re feeling, the healing they’re experiencing, all are tangible signs of the the reign of God breaking into their lives. And it’s beautiful to witness, isn’t it?
But they aren’t the only ones being changed. Look here:
And here:
Please know this isn’t simply about 3e Restoration.
It’s about gracious hospitality. It’s about God’s people extending His welcome to others living in the margins underneath bridges, in tents, or crammed in 13′ x 25′ hotel rooms with six children, and bearing witness to the presence of the risen Christ among us.
You could say it’s about remembering that if God has proven anything in the person of Jesus it’s that no one should be abandoned, even if it’s of their own making. Because while we were still sinners God refused to abandoned us.
People living in homelessness or poverty aren’t “problems” to be solved or projects to be “fixed;” they are people to be joined with. May we refuse to abandon them and choose to see them, and extend the same welcoming embrace we receive from God in Christ.
They aren’t lost on Him. Don’t let them be lost on us.
Like this:
Like Loading...
About Fred
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Long Way Here 
please extend your ministry to Africa, Many souls will be saved.
Thank you
LikeLike
I am delighted to read this message you posted sometimes”
“People living in homelessness or poverty aren’t “problems” to be solved or projects to be “fixed;” they are people to be joined with. May we refuse to abandon them and choose to see them, and extend the same welcoming embrace we receive from God in Christ.
They aren’t lost on Him. Don’t let them be lost on us.
God bless,
LikeLike