Vandelia Hot Dog Fest 2006 on 65th Drive

This afternoon we held a hotdog grilling festival on 65th Drive. We had the recently-released-from-county-lock-up daughter of Eleanor, Samantha, go with us and round up folks from down the street. She brought a young, white, mother of several, TF –and her kids ranging in age from about 7 to 11. I was amazed that TF sends all her children to Vandelia on Wednesday nights, and she gushed and gushed about how wonderful Vandelia Church is. I don’t mean just a little either; I mean a LOT.

She told about when she came herself. She said that she was amazed that Vandelia Church prays for other churches. She said she went back to her church to tell the pastor. She was shocked by it and had never seen a church do that before. She also told about how when the communion tray was passed around, neither she nor the kids knew what to do with it. But “a nice elderly man sitting nearby leaned over to explain it to [her] and encouraged [them] to take part in it.” Apparently she was really touched by that kindness.

I was amazed by her words. I love Vandelia, but I gotta say, I never hear of street people bragging on their church experience. And I especially never heard of such people bragging on a Church of Christ that way. I was so pleased by our reputation down in the hood. She went on to tell me about her church, though she never identified it, and how they gathered around her for an hour and a half after services trying to coax her to speak in tongues. She said that her kids all did it, but she just was not moved to do it. Apparently they made her feel second class because of this, but Vandelia had made her feel very welcome and did not pressure her like that in anyway.

We fed passers by as well, many of whom asked, “How much?” To which we replied, “Nuttin’. It’s a Jesus thang.” Word began to spread. Hotdogs were a hit. Every single child who came said they had not eaten anything all day. I should take care to say that none looked like they were starving, but meals are not had with any regularity down on 65th. Vandelia was there to minister to that need today. I love Vandelia!

We did not initiate a prayer service or any kind of religiousities at the Hot Dog Fest. However, we did tell people, as I said above, “It’s a Jesus thang.” I should tell that some of the language among the participants was a little rough at points (not something that offends me, but notable all the same). However, in the midst of our sharing, one of the children asked if we could pray. I said, “Yes. Who wants to lead it?” All the children became highly animated shouting, “I do! I do!” I picked the young lady who asked if we could pray and told her to start it. She did. When she ran out of nice things to say, she said, “I don’t know what else to say.” I coaxed the next girl to add to it and she did. Then when she said “amen,” all the children joined in with their “amens.”

I met an evangelist from the Potter’s House, Anthony, down there too. He tried to evangelize me until I explained myself. I blessed him and his group and encouraged them to keep up the good work. I said, “Of all the places in town that need Jesus, 65th has got to be one of the most desperate.” He thanked me, but I have heard through the grapevine that Potter’s House tends to be fairly non-cooperative among the denominations. His brevity with me seemed to suggest that is likely true. I hope not, but it may well be. If it is true, that is one of the saddest and most despicable things modern churches do in the name of Jesus. The Church of Christ has too long been guilty of just that kind of crap. Both Potter’s House and Churches of Christ have too much to offer to a world that too desperately needs it to botch it with that kind of godless garbage.

I am asking you to pray for the Potter’s House and the Church of Christ to learn to cooperate in ministry to 65th Drive in Lubbock, Texas as you read this. May we find our nets overloaded to the breaking point in our unity in Jesus. That would be a wonderful prayer. May God grant us just that kind of blessing.