Archie. He was not famous enough to make into your local news paper, he didn’t even make our front page. He was not rich enough to make the national news or the talk shows.
Archie died. He wasn’t mourned by family. He wasn’t mourned by fans or the paparazzi.
Archie jumped off a bridge into the icy waters of a Wisconsin river. His note said there wasn’t any hope for him. None of you probably new Archie, and I must confess, I didn’t know him either. Not personally. You see Archie was homeless, jobless, and hopeless. He funeral was attended by those he did know other homeless men and some of the members of our local men’s homeless shelter.
This week, those homeless men and that shelter are using our church facility as a home. I can’t help but wonder if Archie’s life would have turned out different if I had taken the time to get to know him, to tell him there is always hope.
As I contemplate God’s Word I am constantly confronted with Jesus intentional intervention. He locked eyes with the likes of Mary the prostitute, Zaccheus the tax collector, Judas the traitor, and the thief on the cross. If he was so willing to live and die for these individuals, shouldn’t I be willing to at the very least know a man like Archie in my own town? You see every time Jesus looked at an individual, no matter there past, present, or even their future he saw and individual worth giving his life for. In fact, Jesus defined love by his death. Check it out in 1 John 3:16-18 you won’t be disappointed.
So here is your chance to get to know the Archie in your town before the opportunity is swept away.
Community Question:
What are you doing to fight homelessness in your own community?
But I can’t help but wonder,
s through giving. I am part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, a denomination that has long been concerned with global issues. They will be collecting funds to help support the relief efforts that are ongoing in Haiti. All the funds collected will be sent to the relief arm of their denomination Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA). In a recent statement CAMA director Phil Skellie stated, “CAMA is gearing up to assist survivors of the 7.0 earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, on January 12. According to a CNN report, the death toll may top 100,000. The hospitals are gone, and medical supplies are desperately needed. About 3 million people—one-third of Haiti’s population—were impacted by the quake. In partnership with sister organizations already on the ground, CAMA will provide immediate assistance—including clean water, emergency shelter, medical aid, and other necessities—as well as long-term help in rebuilding efforts, integrating Jesus’ message of redemption with practical acts of compassion. A compassionate response during a disaster tangibly expresses Christ’s love.” Join us by allowing CAMA to be your hands to a hurting world. Together, we can help support our brothers and sisters whose lives have been disrupted by this earth shattering disaster.
