This is a testimony from Brian Scarbrough, about an experience he had in Orlando, last Sabbath. We believe you will find it encouraging, as we did.
“I had an interesting experience yesterday. Some of you know I am in Orlando for simulator training, prepping for a new job. Yes, I’ll be flying again, something I was highly doubtful of after my last night shift back in November.
So I’m training, but yesterday was Sabbath, so I found myself walking through the doors of one of the larger SDA churches in Orlando—the main one in downtown, actually. I often find myself repelled by the larger affluent churches, so I kind of was surprised when I felt prompted to choose this one. Being early, I slipped into the back and sat down to listen to a very robust praise band while they practiced worship, which explained the vibrations I had heard from the parking lot.
With nobody at the door to ask about the program, I decided to just wait and see what happened. Nobody took any notice of me, so I settled into the back corner seat of an auditorium that would probably seat around 350.
A very short time later I was approached by a diminutive, Latino-looking woman who asked if I was a member of this church. I responded that I was not, and returned the question. She replied that she wasn’t either. She asked if I was a Seventh-day Adventist, and after I said yes, again I returned her question. She said that she was raised one, but no longer believed God exists.
So naturally I asked her why she was at church. Seemed reasonable! She said she was just moving to Orlando and was looking for community.
We fell into conversation, which ceased when the service started. During this entire time nobody approached either of us, and we just sat back and observed: concert-level praise band and singers, polished preaching, positive atmosphere marked by a beautiful ethnic and racial diversity of well-dressed, prosperous-looking people.
After the service ended, we again fell into conversation, and I found out she was looking for community because she was struggling with the transition to a new city and job with no family support and limited resources. She felt chagrined at this, because clearly she was a person whose dignity precluded asking for help except in unusual circumstances.
We talked about spirituality and families, and she shared how her ultra-religious upbringing had imposed more darkness into her life than light. She seemed intrigued when I shared that 1 John declares that God is light—in Him is no darkness. I asserted that just because people profess Christ doesn’t mean they are living in His light. She responded positively, musing to herself at this idea.
After probably 45 minutes, the lights in the church were being turned off, whereupon we were approached for the very first time by anyone—the pastor as it turned out—to say how happy he was we had come and hoped we would come again. Clearly it was time to vacate, but he graciously conversed for a couple minutes.
I had noticed during my drive from the hotel that a couple pretty rough looking communities were close nearby, just outside the respectable part of the city where the church was situated. So I decided to be a little impertinent.
I respectfully, but directly, asked the pastor what his church was doing to minister in the yucky/nastier parts of Orlando I had seen while driving there. He responded that right now the church is focusing on being welcoming. He said they are working on improving their facility so they can minister more effectively. I rejoined that from what I have seen ministry to a community doesn’t happen in a church, but rather in the community which is in need.
He agreed wholeheartedly, but clearly the conversation was ending. So my new friend and I retreated out the side door since the main doors were now locked, and proceeded to talk for probably another hour and a half in the parking lot.
When I found out that she had been sleeping in her car until she gets her first paycheck, I immediately felt that this was not ok in a large city like Orlando. She said she had been offered a room if she would offer certain other favors in return, but declined in horror. I was horrified too.
I told her I wasn’t from here, but was going to figure out a way to help. So I got her number and said I would call her in a while. She was somewhat embarrassed…her natural dignity was somewhat uncomfortable in this situation. She asked if God would be offended that she came to church looking for help instead of looking for Him. I smiled at the question since she says she doesn’t believe in Him. Of course I reassured her that actually He had provided for her needs: she came looking for community, and though neither of us found it among the church membership, we had been placed there together. So obviously He wasn’t offended by her motives!
She got a wondrous look on her face and asked if I thought God had arranged this? Of course I declared that He had! I told her of my usual dislike for big affluent churches because of the way they are, and that I had just felt that I was supposed to go there. She grinned and shook her head in amazement.
So I got back to the hotel and called a close friend in the area. After talking about some options, we agreed to find an Air BnB and get it for her to bridge to her first paycheck.
Which I did. We finally got her moved in around 7PM, so she is set for a couple weeks.
So I realize this is pretty long. But for the few readers who made it this far, here are several takeaways I found from the experience:
—Style points in a church do nothing to address a community’s needy people. I love great music, believe me, but beyond the parking lot the exultant throb fades into empty nothingness.
—Sometimes we don’t need facilities or infrastructure. Sometimes people just need someone open enough to hear what the need is and willing to do something about it.
—I came away pretty humbled. The urge to go there was a small, gentle prompting, not a loud command from the skies. What if I had settled for whatever felt more comfortable?
—God loves to surprise people, even people who don’t believe in Him. Whether or not they believe has nothing to do with it—if they have open hearts He will do something to get their attention.
Long story, but cool. It surprised me too. I’m not a great person or excellent missionary. But God did something through me anyway.
I’m amazed.”
Brian Scarbrough