"The Church Came to Me"

Ariel was ill. And so, Marcela, Chelsea, and I went out as a group of three--towards 13th & 14th, my old stomping grounds in my first missionary year. There is much change on the streets: people change camps, move out of town, move inside. And while I didn’t expect too many old friends still living at their old spots, I wanted to hope.

When you’re clinging on to this hope of seeing a specific person, that’s when God is able to blindside you with exactly who He wants you meet instead. Farther north along 14th Ave, walking up and hollering—over the dull roar of traffic on I-405—if they would like any coffee, I received frantic yelling from a tall man with impressive dreadlocks. I thought that this would be a quick interaction. But after braving my way down the muddy slope to their tent, a kind-eyed lion of a man said he was telling me not to come down because he didn’t want me to slip and fall.

Robert and Adrienne emerged and opened up to us—in that order—very quickly. Our first exchange of words were ones of care. He didn’t want me to fall in the mud. Robert has an immense humility and compassion. He knows who he is, what he’s done, and how hard it will be for him to have a “regular” life again. All of his care and energy is put towards Adrienne, hoping and praying that she can a better life, so much so that he wants her get inside somewhere, to some program, even if he has to stay out here. Something you don’t often hear from couples out on the street.

Adrienne had been raised Greek Orthodox, and still practiced her faith well into her 20s. She told a story of a snowstorm that happened at some point in the mid 2010s. She was living in North Portland at the time, and her and some friends still wanted to go to mass. So they made the trek to the nearest church. However, the priest had cancelled mass that day. Instead of leaving, they decided to stay. Praying and playing in the snow in the parking lot of the church. Eventually, the priest capitulated. Inviting them inside, they had mass, and visited with the pastor for a time.

But, in the midst of an abusive relationship, physical and mental disabilities, and becoming homeless, she lost the opportunity to attend mass. One time, during these hard moments, she wanted to go to mass again, but she couldn’t make it past the entryway. It wasn’t that she thought God wouldn’t want her in there, but she didn’t want to enter God’s house dirty.

From the backwards sleep schedules, constant aggression and threats of theft from others, wetness and cold weather, loss of time and date, and drug and substance abuse, it can be close to impossible for a person living outside to make it to mass. Add on to that a deep shame and sin, and you are looking at the very people Christ came to earth to meet.

“I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” Mark 2:17.

Those same people are the ones he has called us to meet. It is daunting to think of what to say to someone such as Adrienne. But, thankfully, I don’t have to say much.  She couldn’t get past her shame to enter the church for Mass, so Jesus sent His church to her!

Thanking Jesus for all his love, asking Him for His presence and peace, and praising His name, we prayed with Robert and Adrienne. As all five of us held hands, with tears, she thanked us for bring the church out to them. For bringing God out to them. For showing them His love.

When we’re too ashamed to bring our muddy feet into God’s house, He will bring his own feet to us. Maybe by making my actual shoes a little muddy in the process. This is the mission He has called us to. And what a gift.

by Samuel Stucki