Street Corner Ministry June 3, 2023

QTR (Quality Time Remaining)

This past weekend I had the privilege of working with my buddy Ed to help break down the site and put everything back in storage. Ed first stepped into our street corner at least a year ago. His story was one of those that breaks your heart and it reminded me that life is frail and we should make the most of every minute. 

Tim got to our previous location early one morning to set up and found Ed sleeping in a corner of the lot on the ground. Tim mentioned to him what he was doing so Ed asked for a Bible. I remember him telling me his story of how his life looked much like yours or mine not too long before; he had steady work performing manual labor, a wife, daily routines like me. 

One day he tried to cross Freedom Blvd (a very busy multi-lane intersection on the West End) and he was hit and seriously injured. He could no longer perform his job so he lost it, which led to other issues and eventually found himself on the street. 

But this is only the beginning of his story. Throughout the year he came regularly to the SCM to get some food and some encouragement. It didn't take long for a few of us to break through his guards and he began to open up and allow God to impact his life. One night he got beat up and Love In Action was kind enough to give him a room for a couple months so he could get off the street. In that time he saw enough love and had enough hope and reason to live that he rekindled a connection who provided him with a roof over his head, he now has a job making commercial air filters - and he was so excited when he recently got the highest raise the company had given anyone in his position. 

He still comes out to help now and is even finding ways to help his friends who are still on the street. This Saturday he was telling me of an interview he watched with the great guitarist from the band Kiss, Ace Frehley, where Ace said he was living for QTR (Quality Time Remaining), meaning how can he spend every moment in a worthy way? This really struck Ed and he has adopted this philosophy - I'm not sure if he knows Jesus said similar "I come to give them life to the full." Whether he heard it from a guitar god  or God himself, I know mine and others have had their lives enriched by Ed, including the kids that "helped" us Saturday (see picture above). Just as Ace's guitar would shoot fire - your story is a reminder that the love of Jesus can "melt" (pun intended) any heart, anywhere, at any time and turn things around - if only we are receptive to it.   

The SCM doesn't happen without your support - if your group would like to host a weekend or if you know of a business owner who might like to join us to meet their neighbors, contact us and we'll get back to  you ASAP. 

Feeling left out? Don't! Join us at the Street Corner Ministry on June 17th - see you there!