What can I do.

Today I was eaves dropping on a ladies conversation with what I believed to be her daughter.  From my experience and her wordage I think she was in some sort of rehab center for drugs or alchohal.  My heart went out to her and her family.   You see I know alot of people in this situation.  They are trying to help themselves with some sort of issue, drugs, alcohol, sex addiction, joblessness, and other issues.  I find myself in a weird situation.  I talk to these people alot.  You see for some reason it seems strangers talk to me alot about weird things like there past, drugs there trying to get off of or other things I know are very personal but for some strange reason it seems they share these things with me.  Every once in a while I will talk to someone in a public place and find myself standing next to them in a supermarket or home depot with them balling there eyes out telling me about there problems.  What am I supposed to do with that?  Usually I would invite them to church and they would come and enjoy themselves and then get eaten up and rejected out the revolving door of judgementalism.  Left with me trying to explain the church does not equal God. (even though it should or at least be a better representation of Him)  Now I am in a situation were I don't attend a "church".  I meet as regulary as I can with friends and run a Youth Church in my basement that is basically filled with students who have been rejected by society or church or both.  But My question is what do I do with these people I meet?  Do I invite them to UNDERGROUND (my basement student Church)?  Do I just ignore them?  what am i supposed to do?  There are people in my life who, I know, feel the same way and we have pooled are resources together and actually helped people in need.  (the way church should be)  But here I sit and wonder what can I do with all the hurt in the world I come across?  I know its not my job to fix everyone but I do feel its my job to do what I can and I guess I struggle with the question How much can I do? 
Another example is a younger guy I saw at walmart today.  He was my check out guy and I recognized him from the guy across the streets house.  I asked him how he is doing and suprizingly he said not real good.  He started to tell me he moved to California and got involved with alot of drugs and alcohol had to come back and wasn't allowed to move back to house he was in so he is now living with his grandma in wonder lake.  (he hates it by the way)  I asked him if he still went to my neighbors.  He said no they all get high there and hes tryin to stay away from that.  Thats were I start to think about what can I offer this person to help him.  I was once in his situation maybe not exact but I needed help and people stepped up now how do I step up for him.  What r ur thoughts?  How do we live life aware of those around us as Jesus did and still accomplish all the things we need to do like provide for our family, spend time with friends and family and do all the other stuff we need to do? How do we live our lives so were not just keeping our head down hoping no one recognizes us?  How can we change the world? well thanks for listening.  Sorry its so long.

Later,
MIKE

Comments

[kolleen]

Mike, my heart goes out to you. i feel stuck in that situation a lot too...i feel like there are a lot of times where people are crying over something and i feel like a good church family is what they need...but i dont know where they could find one. thank you for being a good example so i at least know that it can exist.

[Karil]

I am sorry you are put in these positions, because it is hard not to have a church to bring them into. But I am happy that people feel so drawn to you that way. I think the "regular churches" out there know that to really help these people it takes a lot of work and a non judgmental, unconditional, loving attitude to include them, and they are not willing to do truly do that. That is why there are so many "truly" lost people out there searching. I wish I knew what to do, and I wish I had the means, and ways to do it. I would love to help. thanks for all you do, love you!

[oliviaaaaaa]

mike. i love reading ur blogs! i totally understand what ur talkin about...and it does seem like what they need is some kind of a family away from their real one....underground gave that to me and the other students and it doesnt seem like there is really a church in the world that does things the way they should be done...so i say BRING EM TO EFFING UNDERGROUND!
=]
haha
hellz chyeah!