some things are black and white.
March will be the final month of my internship at Jefferson Street Baptist Center. The time I've spent in the Hope for Louisville program and as an intern has been many things, but it will primarily be marked as a period of growth. I have learned much about myself, about Jesus, about homelessness, about community, about addiction...about life. I have developed new skills in administration, event planning, web development, graphic design, fundraising, and more. It is certain that I have profited from this experience in countless, immeasurable quantities. My prayer is that I have been able to give some of it back. My prayer is that somehow JSBC has profited from me. My prayer is that the people in my life have profited from this experience -- that you have profited. My prayer is for ripples of change and growth. I pray that what I have gained will impact others, who will impact others…who will impact others. Lord, hear these prayers!
Your support has made the last 1.5 years possible. I am so thankful – amazed – and thankful. I hope you have come to understand and believe in the mission of JSBC and that you will continue to support this ministry as they serve the homeless and hurting. I hope to continue volunteering in an administrative capacity and on a weekly or bi-weekly basis at 733 Relief (formerly The Day Shelter). I won't be sending monthly updates, but I do hope to keep blogging: jcwillyams.blogspot.com
A dear friend and brother passed away at the end of February. Joey was an amazing man. He survived some extremely difficult times over the past several years. We have seen him go from skeletal to healthy, to overweight, to frail, to vibrant, to crazy, to hilarious and everything in-between. Through it all, he found a passion for Christ that overcame depression. My friend Caleb from the Hope team developed a friendship with Joey that was inspiring and touching. I think the love and care Caleb gave him truly helped to change his life. It is sad to remember Joey's laugh and not hear it. It's sad to know he's gone, but I am overcome with Joy. He had deep pain and hardship on earth, physically and emotionally. I am filled with joy as I picture him embracing Christ in a beautiful heavenly body.
Death is so important to life. We often wonder in the face of death, why? But death makes everything so clear. It illuminates the true black and white qualities that are present in the world. You are either dead or alive. You are either saved or unsaved. There are awkward moments of transition, but eventually you will always fall to either one or the other…and of course it makes an incalculable difference. Right now, I have the two most amazing qualities I can fathom: life and salvation. It is embarrassing and pitiful to realize how often I take these for granted. How often do I want more? How often am I unhappy? How often do I allow others to die without salvation to avoid sacrificing my own comfort?
We are told: "...whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44) It is not my priority to serve others. My priority is to serve my own desires. I pray that my heart would begin to change. I don't want to become an errand boy for the people in my life, but I do want to serve people for Jesus. That doesn't mean giving people all the things they want, but it means being compassionate. It means loving and caring for people when they are hurt and broken. It means sharing the gospel so that others may experience life and salvation. I pray that my primary concern each day would be to do these things. I pray that this would overcome my desire for relaxation, my desire for the material, my desire for comfort. Please pray for me.
True story: after a fire destroyed the entirety of a one man's house and possessions he was taught a life changing lesson. In the aftermath of the tragedy friends returned some of the items he had given or lent to them. Do you realize the irony? The only things he had left were the things he had given away. It is written: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20). Joey had little to nothing on this earth. His possessions consisted of a few household basics, a limited assortment of aged clothing, some books, and a few miscellaneous objects. His true treasures were found in interacting with those he loved, in conversations about God, in conversations with God -- his treasures were laid in heaven. Not even death could destroy his treasure. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)
There are amazing people that visit, live, and serve at Jefferson Street Baptist Center. They are children of God. They are our brothers and sisters. The homeless and hurting are often generalized, stereotyped, lumped together, despised and forgotten. I hope you, like I, have come to realize that each of these people have a name. Each of these people have a story. Each of these people have something to give. And we have so much we can give to them. If you, like I, have found that you lay up earthly treasures. If you, like I, have found that you serve yourself more than others. If you, like I, have allowed someone to live one day closer to death without salvation. ...I pray for both of us. I pray that God would light a fire in our hearts. I pray that we would be moved with compassion. May we give sacrificially, may we love deeply, may we live passionately. And may we do it in the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your friendship. You are a treasure.
Live Passionately,
JC Williams
Your support has made the last 1.5 years possible. I am so thankful – amazed – and thankful. I hope you have come to understand and believe in the mission of JSBC and that you will continue to support this ministry as they serve the homeless and hurting. I hope to continue volunteering in an administrative capacity and on a weekly or bi-weekly basis at 733 Relief (formerly The Day Shelter). I won't be sending monthly updates, but I do hope to keep blogging: jcwillyams.blogspot.com
A dear friend and brother passed away at the end of February. Joey was an amazing man. He survived some extremely difficult times over the past several years. We have seen him go from skeletal to healthy, to overweight, to frail, to vibrant, to crazy, to hilarious and everything in-between. Through it all, he found a passion for Christ that overcame depression. My friend Caleb from the Hope team developed a friendship with Joey that was inspiring and touching. I think the love and care Caleb gave him truly helped to change his life. It is sad to remember Joey's laugh and not hear it. It's sad to know he's gone, but I am overcome with Joy. He had deep pain and hardship on earth, physically and emotionally. I am filled with joy as I picture him embracing Christ in a beautiful heavenly body.
Death is so important to life. We often wonder in the face of death, why? But death makes everything so clear. It illuminates the true black and white qualities that are present in the world. You are either dead or alive. You are either saved or unsaved. There are awkward moments of transition, but eventually you will always fall to either one or the other…and of course it makes an incalculable difference. Right now, I have the two most amazing qualities I can fathom: life and salvation. It is embarrassing and pitiful to realize how often I take these for granted. How often do I want more? How often am I unhappy? How often do I allow others to die without salvation to avoid sacrificing my own comfort?
We are told: "...whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44) It is not my priority to serve others. My priority is to serve my own desires. I pray that my heart would begin to change. I don't want to become an errand boy for the people in my life, but I do want to serve people for Jesus. That doesn't mean giving people all the things they want, but it means being compassionate. It means loving and caring for people when they are hurt and broken. It means sharing the gospel so that others may experience life and salvation. I pray that my primary concern each day would be to do these things. I pray that this would overcome my desire for relaxation, my desire for the material, my desire for comfort. Please pray for me.
True story: after a fire destroyed the entirety of a one man's house and possessions he was taught a life changing lesson. In the aftermath of the tragedy friends returned some of the items he had given or lent to them. Do you realize the irony? The only things he had left were the things he had given away. It is written: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20). Joey had little to nothing on this earth. His possessions consisted of a few household basics, a limited assortment of aged clothing, some books, and a few miscellaneous objects. His true treasures were found in interacting with those he loved, in conversations about God, in conversations with God -- his treasures were laid in heaven. Not even death could destroy his treasure. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)
There are amazing people that visit, live, and serve at Jefferson Street Baptist Center. They are children of God. They are our brothers and sisters. The homeless and hurting are often generalized, stereotyped, lumped together, despised and forgotten. I hope you, like I, have come to realize that each of these people have a name. Each of these people have a story. Each of these people have something to give. And we have so much we can give to them. If you, like I, have found that you lay up earthly treasures. If you, like I, have found that you serve yourself more than others. If you, like I, have allowed someone to live one day closer to death without salvation. ...I pray for both of us. I pray that God would light a fire in our hearts. I pray that we would be moved with compassion. May we give sacrificially, may we love deeply, may we live passionately. And may we do it in the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your friendship. You are a treasure.
Live Passionately,
JC Williams
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