What would it look like for you to show up in your community for those who feel forgotten? God is BEYOND our doubts and mustard-seed faith. He is the literal King of Kings. He is the God of Peace and Security. His safety protects us from our enemies and is even with us in the middle of our sickness. He remembers us when we don’t even remember ourselves. He shows up. Will you?

Living life together in the Tenderloin enables me to see and understand my neighbors at a much deeper level. We share the unique experience of the Tenderloin together. The most common meeting places are on the streets, at the park or the farmer’s market, a grocery store or a community event/party. 

Someone once said, “If you want to love your neighbor sometimes you have to start with loving your neighborhood.” To love your neighborhood you have to go out and get involved in the things that the neighbors are concerned about. For me, one of the places where I get to know the problems and the peoples of my neighborhood is my monthly police-community meeting.

Sarah knocked on our door and gave us a hammer she found – she thought we would need it as we were going to start renovations for our bathrooms.  I have so many stories similar to this of our friends and neighbors who are in great need but still want to give and express kindness.

One of the things I love most is getting to cut hair for people. I love seeing the confidence people have after they get a good haircut. This does so much more than just help them feel clean; It recognizes their dignity.

I started praying for him under my breath and Juan responded in Spanish as I was praying for him. I understood what he was praying and afterward asked him if he had ever accepted Jesus into his life. He said no, but that he would like to tonight.

I came here expecting to see a change in myself, our friends on the street, and the teams that we would be leading each week. What I didn’t expect, though, was how much this time would contribute to shaping the hearts of the people that I already had in my life.

On a Friday in June, our team took bags of snacks into the Tenderloin in hopes of finding someone who could be blessed by lunch and a good conversation. Near the local laundromat, I met Katie, who when asked if I could eat lunch with her, didn't respond in the way I was expecting. She remained silent and simply pulled out a small plastic crate. It was set out for me right in front of a similar one that she was sitting on.

I was terrified, I was devastated, I felt inadequate to be leading, and I doubted that God knew what He was doing. Throughout this feeling of not being enough, I went to other staff members and they simply repeated to me that God does not call the equipped, but He equips the called. God is able to watch over me and in the struggle God is continuously equipping me. 

Our focus is not trying to avoid what’s wrong, our focus is now fixed on our Father and because we love Him we don’t want anything else! That Spirit we receive lets us know our true identity as His Children.