a l i v e & a w a k e

Starting a ministry in a small town can be difficult. Most people can be quite aware of what is ‘new’ in town. Some times the facts that are told second hand can be skewed depending on who is telling the story. Switch Yard was not above the ‘rumors’. I think I built most of my resilience and defenses to answer the questions of the community, but I had not fully prepared to have my ‘attacks’ from the church.  Fundraising was not really something I was good at either. Nor was I the best representative for the Switch Yard as an educated, mature ambassador.
 
People seemed to have a lot of time on their hands to come and complain to me. For the first year it was common to have a discussion with a ‘Christian’ who would come along or call and tell me how I was using Satan’s tools to do God’s work. There would be books and articles (most of which I hardly read), given to me to show me the correction in my sinful ways of playing cards, pool tables and ‘demon’ music (which was all Christian music) and a follow up conversation would follow to make sure I would repent and do the ministry ‘right’.
I remember sitting in meetings with leadership of a church and being told “You are not the person to do the ministry with youth.”  My past would come up of course (which was a valid point), and then other things like I wasn’t married, not educated, and I really had not shown myself to be reliable in God’s service (I had worked in Sunday school for one year and youth group two years). Looking back I see good wisdom being used, but I think it soured me because there was no real investment in me apart from criticism. I walked away quite discouraged from a meeting when I was told “We will not invest in your ministry until we see it running for a year than we will give.”--where’s the faith?
As the only paid staff of Switch Yard I can tell you we needed any money and people who would have faith enough to see the need. Many did invest, and I greatly appreciate it more and more now looking back. You can well imagine the reaction of all these ‘Christians’ when I started the bar ministry.
 
I have more written from the “Lessons from the Bar” in other stories, but for now I will explain what happened to my reputation to go to the bars. I found that in an dark dungeon like place of ill repute a brilliant light of hospitality, care, giving and spiritual searching. What was perceived by the church community was much different. I was sat down at meetings and had individuals call me to tell me about how God does not work in places like that and I was causing many to stumble. On top of that they heard that I actually was having a beer every once in awhile with the people there. This truth became rumors and I was supposedly stumbling home drunk and many other things (too many rumors to keep up with).  In the end a church that wasn’t giving much to our ministry stopped totally to make a ‘solid’ point of their disgust.
 
 
It was around this time Ralph turner came in the door of Switch Yard during none drop-in hours. I was cleaning while an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was going on. My first impression of Ralph was that his body posture was proud, stern, and ‘old school’ all the way. He had white hair neatly combed back that spoke of years of hard work, prestige and cutting wisdom. His chiseled face and sunken cheeks complimented the dark rimmed glasses on his face. He looked as though he had just retired from being a judge. He was forming his verdict of Switch Yard right as soon as he walked in. As I walked towards him I thought, “This guy for sure is going to tear a strip out of me.” I smiled and said, “welcome”, and asked if he had ever been to Switch Yard before, and where he was from. There was no smile on his face to return the courtesy. He just looked at me and asked, “What is this place all about?” The tone in his voice made my heart sink as I knew I was going to be awhile.
 
He asked about what started Switch Yard and the type of kids who came in. “Is it for Christian kids?”
“No” I replied.
“Do they do drugs and drink?”
“Not in here.” I said “but they have problems with that sometimes.”
“What do you let them do?”
At this point I gave a short tour of Switch Yard explaining our philosophy of ministry and the games for youth so that we can show them Christ through our actions because words don’t necessarily get received so well.
 
He was quite as he kept looking at the place, never looking at me. Finally he said “God bless You!” He exclaimed, “I like the work you are doing here. I lead a group of seniors called the ‘PM’ fellowship. We have heard of what you are doing and I want you to come and speak and tell of this great work you are doing.”
 
I was stunned as I accepted the invitation and realizing that I had always assumed the older you get the more rigid and critical you became. Ralph and the PM fellowship forever ruined that prejudice.
 
I also realized the genuine heart this group of faithful Christ followers. They really wanted to see Christians making a difference in the small town of Bancroft. They were so open and excited for what I was doing and wanted to form prayer groups for certain youth who I gave the first names for. I spoke on a regular basis and brought up dates on how certain youth were doing. They always took a collection at the end of any money they had on them and Ralph would make a point to come visit me at Switch Yard to announce how they brought in money to support us. (Ralph could have actually given the money to me right after their group met but I think it was excuse to visit me again in the week).
 
At certain times Ralph would come and want to sit and chat about life and he would reveal to me in those times his tender heart. He would break down and cry describing the necessity for our ministry. I could share with him my struggles and he adopted me as a grandson in those days. I would also help him around his home with cutting the lawn and trimming hedges.
Ralph introduced me to Paul Field who became the director of Switch Yard after I left (another story). I look so fondly back at those times as I saw a ‘senior’ and his group embrace such a ‘risky’ ministry. They became some of my strongest advocates to the rest of the church. I can truly say I was blessed by their gifts, prayers and the chances they gave me to share.
 
One PM Fellowship meeting, I came with the great news that Jay Leftstien had become a Christian (another story). A dear elderly woman came up to me with tears streaming down her face and a crumpled paper in her hand. She grasped my one hand and asked “Is that Jay the Jay I am praying for?”
 
She fumbled around with the paper I had written to show me if that was the same Jay. As I looked at the list, I remember writing out her sheet and sure enough it was the same Jay.

“Yes” I replied.
She could hardly get a word out of her mouth. She had been praying for him for half a year everyday wondering if her prayers had any effect. She walked away sobbing out loud but praising God in her heart. I later got to tell Jay about her and that there was no chance in hell he would avoid becoming a Christian because I met his prayer warrior.
 
This to say about the importance of immobilizing ALL of the body of Christ. Too many times I see us -the church embracing the worlds value system and how seniors are treated are no different. We reserve their pew like warriors of old, non-effective in today's age, tolerating their concerns and not utilizing the wisdom and mentoring power they carry. From my experience, they want to share, pass on and invest into the future generations so they can leave a legacy. This is no different then us.
 
There is no judgment or prejudice from them and the ones who are have had many years of practice to get to that stage (look around they’re all ages!).
 
I remember hearing the news that Ralph had passed away. I couldn’t help feel a great loss. Here was a man who broke through his fears about approaching a ‘young guy’ to a ministry that was considered a risk and compromise to God’s work and empowered others to become involved and informed. As I write this (04), I still know of a few remnants from the group today who are still alive and I would like them to know their contribution was more to me than most who supported me in that day.
 
After thought
This is written out of a good place. It has taken me quite a bit of time to heal from these kind of encounters with the church. I remember that it is the church that God wants to build with and has since Christ. I dedicate a lot of my energies to see the success of the church in this day and age. It was also the ‘C’hurch who has been one of my greatest advocates in the ten years of ministry.

-Life Stories 2004, -joe