Loving The Homeless In Wilmington
Brent DeLeo  21-Jan-2010

"My name is Brent DeLeo and I love the homeless!"  This isn't something I could have said 2 years ago.  Sure, I sympathized with them, I prayed for them (generically), I certainly wished "someone" would help them - but I wasn't loving them as Christ's example taught me. Then, I was introduced to the Sunday Breakfast Mission. 

The Sunday Breakfast Mission is a homeless shelter in inner-city Wilmington that strongly believes that you cannot expect to make a real difference if you only meet physical needs and not minister to spiritual needs as well. Many people at Faith Church volunteer at SBM on a regular basis, including a small praise team consisting of me, Dave Booze, Jonathan and Catharine Taylor, and a speaker from Faith that lead a worship service there once a month.  The residents at SBM hear a worship service every night of the week.

In God's providence, before our Nov 5th service, the team decided to involve the people of Faith Church by requesting prayer through the prayer chain.  As it turned out, both Dave and I were running late; and in a rush to load up the equipment, we forgot both our PA speakers, our extension cord, and even Dave's guitar amp.  So, with a floor monitor turned up and used as a speaker and with Dave and I sharing an acoustic amp, we nervously started the service.  On the 2nd song, I broke a string on my guitar.  What else could go wrong?  I was now so stressed that I could barely even concentrate on the service. While I was singing, my mind was certainly not on heavenly things or praise to the Almighty.   Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, things changed!

By the fourth song, the mood in the room was incredibly different. One older gentleman was moved out of praise and stood up and raised his hands, closed his eyes, and sang with us. He spent the rest of the evening on his feet in that position. Another man just a few rows back was sobbing uncontrollably, clearly shaken by the message, the song, or perhaps his situation and need for help. Jeff (Robinson) preached an incredible message: one that was repeated from a Sunday evening Faith sermon, but that found new words, new examples, and new insight that Jeff later admitted weren’t planned, but part of spontaneous straying from his notes. Jeff’s sermon was concluded by a room full of "Amen"s; and we started singing again. It was the loudest singing I have ever heard at SBM, so enthusiastic that we decided to do an acapella chorus which is normally impossible with so few voices. But this time the men were singing with gusto, with hands up, and even with harmonies. It was an incredibly moving, heart-felt praise to God. Hearing God's people in the small SBM homeless shelter in Wilmington, DE proclaim praise to God that night almost brought me to tears as I closed my eyes, sang along, and experienced the power of God in our midst.

God showed us that night that we aren't in control; that our plans are not His plans; that prayer is powerful; and that we need His strength and guidance in all things. While our mistakes seemed to be leading to disaster, our church family was lifting this ministry up in prayer. Jesus took our feeble attempt that night and transformed it, purified it, and presented it to God on our behalf. It turned into one of the most powerful services we've had in two years. What we often fail to realize is that Jesus does this every time we worship, in every situation, with every praise, with every song, and with every spoken word. He reminded us of this that night.

Please pray for the men at SBM and for the new women and children’s shelter that is being built next door.  God is at work in Wilmington and we count ourselves blessed to be part of His plan.


If you are interested in getting involved with the ministry at SBM, please contact Brent DeLeo (for monthly worship services) or Rachel McSwain (for donations and volunteering).

Thanks to Jeff Robinson, Jack Koslowsky, Tom Harr, Jason Sica, and Kevin Koslowsky for their regular participation and for opening God's word with the men at the Sunday Breakfast Mission.
 

Comments:

Anonymous, 24-Jan-2010
Very moving description.  It felt like I was there that night.  God is always amazing! and amazing us with how He works.


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