Aware And Fearless

Review of Journey Church

I really wanted to love this church. For the longe...

I really wanted to love this church. For the longest time, I was drawn to it. I glanced every time I drove by on the interstate.
On Easter, I finally gave it a chance. They were so incredibly welcoming to my son that day. They offered an alternative seating arrangement for his comfort. I was blown away.
We continued to attend every weekend, but oddly I noticed that we were suddenly fading into the background. My son is...different, and I understand that different can be scary. I continued to show up, and positioned ourselves in a place convenient for others to approach us, but nothing.
After reaching out to a few members, and being rejected continuously, I began to feel that this wasnt our home. Today was confirmation...
The church building is located very near the interstate, and on the way there this morning I saw an elderly homeless woman under the interstate overpass. Very much within view of the church. As a matter of fact, you have to pass her to get to church.
I asked one of the church pastors if there was anyone available to speak to her. I was shocked at the answer I received...
"Oh there are drifters that come and go all the time. You'll see them there often."
Wait... I thought the church was a people. I thought that as followers of Christ, we are to love every human being we come across. Here was a woman, positioned perfectly for that opportunity, and this body of people didn't care. My son and I had walked into the 11am service, and the 9am service had just let out, which meant probably 200 people had passed this homeless woman, yet none stopped.
I couldn't let that happen. I walked out, packed my son back into the van, and parked under the overpass.
I learned that this lady was 67 years old, lost her 18 year old son to drug overdose, lost her mother to colon cancer (she died in her arms), and I held her as she broke down in tears. She told me she hasn't heard the words "I love you" in years. I shared with her how much God loves her, and again she broke down.
Many of you might be reading this wondering why she wont just go to a shelter. Clearly you have never been in her shoes. Shelters take everything you own at check-in, and she had her deceased mothers clothes in her backpack. It was all she had from her mom.
This woman turned many heads, but no one stopped. As 11am service let out, people stared.
I hope with all my heart that the church realizes one day that we are a people, not a building.