I've only had a few run ins with close-proximity Christian community. Most of these have happened in the past year as a result of Katrina's and my concerted search for a group of brothers and sisters that were collectively listening for the voice of God together.

Over this summer, we were a part of an "Anchor Team" that met together weekly for food and conversation. We dialogued together about how to better hear God's voice calling us into mission together, and each week we spent a good while in silence, just listening for God to interrupt and speak boldly into our hearts. We had a great group. Katrina and I, another young married couple, a single mom and a stylin' grandma-lady named Juanita.

She was the joy of my week! Her positive attitude and child-like faith had been born from a life of hardship and doubt. She was continually coming to our meeting times with bright twinkles in her eyes (behind her Paris sunglasses) telling us about a people group God had laid on her heart to pray for that week. She was looking out for the workings of God in the world.

I'm writing all this to tell you that last night she was killed in a car accident. After saying my goodbye's to her on Sunday (our last worship time at the congregation of which both Juanita and I were members), I never thought that would be the last time I would ever see her. So many of the church knew her well and seeing her gone is almost unreal. Her grandson depended on her for housing, not to mention spiritual stability. I don't have a ministry manual on how to deal with this. I feel fairly inept, even as I know God has placed this family and her grandson in my path for a specific purpose. This is where ministry goes off the radar, and into the trenches. It doesn't get any more organic than this.

Lord, I ask that you receive Juanita into your Spirit. Work mightily in her family and bring glory to your name in the midst of suffering and loss.

The Lord gives and takes away.

Last 5 posts by Mark

• God is Wholly - October 2nd, 2008
• The Great Moderation - September 30th, 2008

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 29th, 2006 at 7:29 pm and is filed under Community, Death, Ministry Report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.