When I served as Pastor at Almond Union of Churches, we had a homeless shelter called the Samaritan’s Loft. It was a temporary emergency housing shelter, for one person or family at a time. A guest could stay up to thirty days in this one bedroom apartment while they worked on getting something else arranged.
As the Pastor there, and since the apartment was directly above the Church Office, I had plenty of opportunities to spend a lot of time with the guests, and help them to see God as an integral part of their new beginning. Some were open to that, some weren't. New Beginnings are really what we were about. We gave people an opportunity to start over.
Aren’t New Beginnings what God is all about, too? He gives us opportunities to be born again, born of the Spirit, starting over with a fresh slate. Our past failures are behind us, and we can move on, this time with a loving Savior to guide us.
I used to feel really good when a loft guest moved out and I had the feeling that they were going to be all right. It was very rewarding to know that I helped one more get the new start they so desperately needed. And it can be incredible to know that God used us to help someone in a very important way.
If I felt that good over a loft guest getting their lives together and moving on, no wonder the angels rejoice when a lost soul is found, and one more sinner is born again…
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