On Saturday, Cherle and I returned for a second study with the young women. Unfortunately, when we arrived, they had just gone to the mall, believing that we were to meet at 11:00 instead of 1:00.
There were two young people present, a brother and sister to the others. So we asked them if they would like to study. They said yes, and then pulled Tiffany out of a back bedroom. Tiffany had been present at the first study as well.
I had been praying about what to study as a follow up to Deut. 6:4-9. I did not take time to research this from other’s suggestions, so I decided on the story of the woman at the well.
We went through the “thanks” and “needs” first. Tiffany mentioned her need for a job again, and I was able to get her the number for Hopeworks, who provides job skills training. The young man mentioned needing a ride home, which I was able to give him after the study. He also menti0ned recently getting out of jail for the second time, which made me a little nervous about giving a ride, and also requested money for getting an i.d. to get a job. This is the second request for money from this group that Cherle and I have met. We want to make sure that giving them money does not become a hindrance.
After reading the woman at the well, the group latched onto the point that the woman did not immediately give Jesus water because she was worried about their racial differences. It was not a point that I would have brought up, but in believing that the Spirit is working, I let them ponder that application.
We finished the “I will” statements, had a prayer, and then talked a little before leaving. We waved to the “missing” women as we were leaving. They were across the street after returning to the mall.
At these apartments, you can sense the need for God’s work. There also seems to be a willingness to study out of people’s realization that they need help. Cherle and I have discussed trying to bring these people to church against the idea of trying to start a church at their apartment. I think the latter is the better option, but it is foreign to our way of thinking about evangelism.
