For a few months we’ve been picking up some guys from Wheeler Men’s Mission in Indianapolis and bringing them to church on Saturday nights. Everyone seems to have a good time. The guys like coming to the “big church” in Noblesville. A team of people prepares meals and eats with the Wheeler men after the first service hour. We even build time in for a smoke break (because it wouldn’t be a pleasant night if we didn’t allow this!) before we head back to Wheeler.

If you come to Wheeler, you may be surprised how good they are at dominoes and chess. Most of our time spent with the guys is on Sunday afternoons downtown.

This past weekend marked a special moment for the guys who come to church with us. Anyone who is new at Grace can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer mass of humanity at our big church. It’s easy to feel anonymous and even lonely if you’re not connected. Everyone wants to have someone who knows them.

This Saturday night, the guys arrived early to service and were sitting with Susie and a few other Outreach groupies, when Maeven and Nick walked into the auditorium. The guys’ faces lit up when they saw their friends who hang out with them at Wheeler on Sunday nights. Unfortunately, Nick and Maeven didn’t see the Wheeler guys and sat on the opposite side of the room.

It's easy to feel anonymous when this room is full of people.

The Wheeler men would not let Maeven and Nick stay unaware of their presence at Grace. They all motioned and waved their hands for a few minutes until Maeven and Nick saw them. Not only were the guys thrilled to see someone they knew at Grace, but Nick and Maeven were equally thrilled to see their Wheeler friends! They met up afterwards and ate together. It was a great night for everyone involved.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to know and be known…that is, to have deep and authentic relationships with other people. This rule doesn’t just apply to homeless men, but to all people. Maeven and Nick’s lives are just as enriched (if not more) by their relationships with the men from Wheeler as the guys from Wheeler value their relationships with Maeven and Nick. To borrow from Greg Paul, we all need each other. It’s a basic human need.

As we talk about seeking out and nurturing authentic relationships at Grace, take stock of your relationships. I want relationships in my life like the ones our Wheeler friends have with Nick and Maeven. I think we all do.

Walter grew up in New Orleans, where he raised a family while working on the docks, loading and unloading ships as they came into port. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Walter’s home was completely destroyed. The government helped him move to Indianapolis, but he left behind a son in New Orleans and a daughter in Texas. Shortly after relocating, he got connected with Grace as part of our effort to reach out to the refugees. Walter was able to find transitional housing, and began looking for work. He was able to get a few temporary jobs, but despite diligent searching was unable to find a steady job.

In February, Walter’s housing aid ran out, and without a solid job, he found himself homeless. He made his way to Wheeler Men’s Mission, where he entered their residential program. A few days later, another volunteer and I made a run for the Wheeler Shuttle, where volunteers from Grace pick up men from Wheeler and bring them to Grace for a meal and a chance to attend Saturday night service. On the ride to Grace, Walter shared with us how thankful he was that the Lord had continued to provide for him in the midst of his circumstances. I couldn’t believe the conviction he had that God was truly in control and was working these events for good in his life. It was a great honor to worship with my brother in Christ that evening.

A few weeks later, we saw Walter at CHIP’s annual Indy Homeless Connect event. He was excited about the possibility of making some job connections. A week later, I ran into Walter again, but this time in a context I did not expect.

I arrived at Shepherd Community Center to serve at Saturdays at Shepherd, a weekly outreach opportunity where Grace volunteers make and serve breakfast to the community, while a group of doctors and nurses volunteer their time to host a free medical clinic. I knew several of the people who had signed up to volunteer that weekend, since they were all from the same Grace Group, but when I walked in, I was surprised to see Walter. I asked him if he’d heard about the medical clinic and come to check it out, but he said, “No, I’ve come to give something back.” He was not there to receive care, but to help us serve breakfast!

Walter serving breakfast with the team at Saturdays at Shepherd

I found out that he’d gotten connected with the small group while at Grace, and he’d kept in touch with them since then. When he found out they were serving at Shepherd, he decided to come because he knew that whatever his circumstances, Jesus calls him to a life of service. I was again humbled as I realized that although Walter has had so much taken from him, he still views giving of himself as central to his walk with Christ. We often reflect on how Matthew 25 talks about seeing Christ in those with great need, and I have little doubt that I was flipping pancakes beside Jesus that morning.

If you’d like more information about serving at Wheeler or Saturday’s at Shepherd, please visit our website.