Taking It To The Streets in 2012

You don’t know me but I’m your brother
I was raised here in this living hell
You don’t know my kind in your world

Michael McDonald
“Takin’ It to the Streets”

Lyrics from an old Doobie Brothers tune seem a fitting introduction to this quarterly summary of our work. Disciple making and equipping are broadening in scope as we “take it to the streets.”

By pairing thirty trained mentors and mentees over the past three months, Timothy Network is impacting men who have landed in jail. The same principles of relational disciple making are also making a difference as we continue involvement with the homeless.

Men we have discipled are discipling others. Here are glimpses of God’s power through life-on-life, one-on-one relationships.

“Slim” (left) with his discipler / mentor, John Gardner

Slim (Ronald) grew up on the streets of Chicago. A self-styled ladies’ man who loved carousing and getting high, he left in his wake broken relationships and hurting family members. At sixty-two, Slim ended up in Tennessee, broke and homeless. I met him in 2010 at the Greenhouse discipleship group we host. After a few talks and studies, Slim disappeared and was back on the streets. I saw him again in April, but this time at the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center where he had been behind bars for six months. Slim is now a dedicated member of our newly launched “Project Braveheart,” a program matching mentors with offenders. Recently Slim wrote, “I have cried out from the joy of feeling the power of the living God. This is how I want to live…I want the Holy Spirit to always guide and protect me…I am ready to start a new chapter in my life.” John Gardner – an elder at Stones River church and former Timothy Network board member – responded as Slim’s mentor and friend. John has continued to pour love into Slim, who is progressively growing as a disciple of Jesus. Thanks, John, for your ministry to Slim.

Chris (left) with his discipler / mentor, Ben Bohannon

Chris is twenty-three. His life was sidetracked by bad company and drugs. He was finishing his fourth trip to jail in five years when we met at the Correctional Work Center. Chris was quiet, visibly despondent, and non-responsive in our Braveheart sessions, causing Bruce (my teaching partner) and me to wonder if he’d stick. Finally he showed interest and was paired with Timothy Network discipling leader, Ben Bohannon. Ben and Chris have continued their friendship since Chris’s release from jail. A new man is emerging. In a letter to Ben, Chris wrote, “Thanks for everything you have helped me with. You’re a good friend for a man like myself to have, because most of the time I would give up. I still have God on my side to help me get the life I need.”

Killian, member of our Wellspring Study
at the Greenhouse

Killian, a former drug addict and dealer, arrived here in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He wanted to turn his life around and is trying to do that one day at a time through relationships that help him stay on track. Killian is remorseful and wants to change. He’s now a regular at our weekly discipleship meetings at Greenhouse Ministries. He is also attending the North Boulevard church.

Slim, Chris, and Killian have something in common with all of us: they’ve been allured by the world. Sadly, getting out of the quagmire can seem hopeless and discouraging when you hit bottom. It’s easy to become despondent and fearful. Other bad choices often pile on as we alone attempt to “fix” things. We need unconditional love and support from others.

Giving love and support to broken and hurting people can be draining. People don’t change overnight. Helping them takes a love that is “patient, not self-seeking, doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, always hopes, always protects, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13). Jesus enters the mess and muck of life to rehabilitate with this uncommon kind of love. He expresses it through the members of his body. We are to be the loving arms and hands that help mend broken lives.

Back to that Doobies song… They sing of a character “raised in a living hell,” someone trapped in “poverty and despair.” That person is not sure anyone cares for or understands him. A lot of people currently living on the fringes of society identify. They feel invisible. They doubt our genuine concern. The question, then, for disciples of Christ becomes this: “Are we willing to meet broken people in their messy circumstances and show them the love of Christ?”

Timothy Network is trying to take the transforming power of Jesus to all kinds of people. Thanks for sticking with us.