Several years ago I worked for Beth Shalom House of Peace, a non-profit housing ministry that reached out to single mothers and children. This article, published in the Beth Shalom newsletter, reflects the change in my philosophy of ministry that happened while I worked there.
I wonder often what it means to truly “meet†a person. We all long to be “met†by others—to have others hear our stories, to allow their hearts to connect with ours, to let us know that they value the life journey we have traveled, and to agree with us that our dreams for life are beautiful. At the very core of who we are is a deep, deep desire to be known by others and to have others tell us that we are okay.
At BSHP, we are realizing more and more that the gift of “meeting†a woman and a child is the most valuable gift we can give. Employment goals, counseling, faith development, and life skills are all important, but they rest on the shoulders of our statement to each resident that we choose to see her as unique, as special, and that we choose to cherish her for who she is.
The challenge in truly “meeting†people lies in putting aside our personal agendas and ministry goals for a person’s life. So often, ministry to hurting people takes on the form of assessing their life situations, then formulating plans for how we will assist them in moving beyond their identified areas of struggle. So easily, we can fail to slow down, listen, and let the wounded heart speak.
At BSHP, our staff has learned how to accurately assess what a woman needs, but we are learning that we will rarely make much progress in helping her move forward until our hearts have connected with her heart—and until she has come to a place of believing that we are truly for her and not against her. Then she can begin to tell the truth about who is she, where she’s been, and where she hopes to go. It’s not until we put aside our agendas for her development that we have ears to hear her heart speak.
It was Jesus’ ability to read people’s hearts and to look beyond the fluff of religiosity that made Him masterful at ministry. Because He chose to see the truth about people, He had the wisdom to vindicate the adulterous woman about to be stoned, to find fellowship among tax collectors, and to heal on the Sabbath. Without question, Jesus knew what people needed, but beyond simply giving them what they needed, He connected with their hearts. In doing so, He gave them worth, dignity, and a sense of significance. He gave them license to begin believing the truth about who they were made to be, rather than remaining victims of the lies planted in their hearts through painful life experiences.
At BSHP, it is the truest desire of the program staff to “meet†each woman and child, heart to heart. It is our belief that as the love of Christ pours through us, the chains of the past can be broken, and women will be empowered to move toward not only their dreams for life, but also toward Christ Himself.
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