I have worked as a church secretary for 18-1/2 years. Naturally, I have received many phone calls from people looking for help. Help with food, with rent money, with money for travel, money for gas, etc. Many of the ones calling for help say they are members of a "Church of Christ" in Arkansas, or Texas, or some other state in the mid-west. After a while, you can't help but become a little skeptical - especially when they say they are a member of a Church of Christ and yet ask to speak to the pastor. I'm sure many of the people have legitimate needs, and maybe some of them are church people, but a lot are not.
So, when I received a call yesterday from a young man who said he was getting out of prison the next day, but didn't have any clothes and asked if we had clothes ... I wasn't sure. He said he was a member of the church in Arkansas. Did I know of Harding (yes, a Church of Christ University)...in Searcy? (yes) ... Anyway, I told him we didn't have a clothes closet ministry - but I could give him the number of an organization, 'The Blessing Center,' which provides clothes, and food, etc. He wanted to know if there was a C of C in Colton... Yes, but they are a very small congregation, and I'm not sure what provisions they have but I would give him the number. We chatted a bit more ... he said he was embarrassed about his being in jail, that he had a plane ticket home ... just needed clothes. I wished him good luck and ended the call...
A few minutes later, the phone rang again. It was the same young man. He said, "I just called to thank you. I called The Blessing Center and they are delivering clothes to me when I get out tomorrow." I thanked him for calling, told him I was glad they had been able to help and wished him well. I hung up the phone - glad that I had taken the time to talk to him, glad he was able to get help, and that I was a part of it... you just never know. It is Christmas time, you know...
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