Church is a Sanctuary For The Broken
It was a perfect storm of good timing, serendipitous geography, and God’s plan. My friend and I were walking home when we met him, Ah Wah. He was down on his knees in the middle of a walkway, head bowed down, hands clutching a tall bottle of alcohol. He looked sad, distraught. I dropped a ten dollar bill in his bowl and started to moved on. My friend however, stopped me in my tracks. “Let’s pray for him,” she said. I was hesitant at first, he didn’t look like he wanted to talk, but went ahead anyways.
“Hello, is it okay if my friend here prays for you?” I asked. But what was meant to be a quick prayer turned into a full blown conversation. Sitting on the concrete floor, we swapped stories of our background and past jobs. I learned his name, that he used to work as a waiter, bartender — whatever job he could get his hands on. I learnt that his family turned his back on him because of a youth dotted with prison stays and falling victim to the allure of drugs one too many times. We asked him if he knows he’s loved by God, and he told us he found God in church in 1993.
‘I know I am a son of God,’ Ah Wah said, ‘but I’m also a sinner. I’m not worthy of church.’
Heart, insert blunt dagger, twist. Hearing his words broke my heart. Churches should serve as a hospital for sinners rather than a museum for the perfect. We’re doing something wrong if the broken and needy don’t feel welcome inside our doors.
Ah Wah spared us the details but something happened in his church that left him reeling with hurt even now, over twenty years later. All I could understand through his incoherent speech is that it had something to do with drugs, police were involved and the pastors left town shortly after. He hasn’t been back to church since. “I’ve done many bad things in my past but you know, when I’m sad, I always go to a corner and pray to God.”
Many mistakenly believe that churches are only for those with picture-perfect lives. They might say, "I need to sort out my life before I can attend church," unaware that even King David, a man deeply loved by God and an ancestor of Jesus, committed serious sins such as adultery and murder. Despite his transgressions, David remained someone who was described as "a man after God's own heart". The book of Psalms offers a window into David's character, as he pours out his innermost thoughts. Through his words, we see that his life comprised of successes and failures, revealing his imperfections. What made David a cut above the rest wasn't perfection, but rather a heart that constantly pointed towards God.
“You know, I believe in 緣分 (fate),” Ah Wah continued. “Fate led us to this moment of meeting. Most people just walk on by, trying to avoid as much contact with me as possible”
Thinking back on my initial hesitation to approach him, guilt nudged at me. But still, I smiled at him. “Well, now that we know each other’s name and stories, I believe we’re now officially friends, Ah Wah. And as your friend, I would like to invite you to my church this Sunday. God loves you so much that he orchestrated our meeting to tell you that He cares about you. You matter to Him.”
My friend prayed for him as I googled the Chinese name and address of our church to write down for him on a piece of paper. In a moving moment, the Holy Spirit bridged language barriers, prompting tears to stream down his face as my friend spoke words of encouragement. Despite our parting promise to meet again, our paths never crossed again. Yet, the memory of that profound encounter lingers in my heart, serving as a poignant reminder to always strive to cultivate a welcoming haven for people like him within the church community.
