God Does His Greatest Work in Frightening Costly Places

Ken was one of my closest high school friends.  We played ball together, played brass music together and generally enjoyed life’s journey together.  Ken grew up in the Salvation Army Church.  Soon after high school graduation, Ken entered training to become a Salvation Army Officer, a minister in that church.  He served for about fifteen years before a sudden illness struck him and ended his life at a young age.  When I spoke to Ken’s family, I learned what he had been doing with his life.  Ken served in the inner city, where gangs ruled the streets, drugs were rampant, and many young men were gunned down or went to prison before having a chance to live their lives.  Ken made it his ministry to save some of these young men.  He knocked on doors, went to meetings and asked people of means in that city to give money to get young men in decent schools and give them a chance to succeed.  Ken marched into the offices of Ross Perot, boldly asked for support and got it. 

          When Ken died, most of his pall bearers were young men he had rescued from the streets.  Two of them were playing in the NFL; one, Kenyon Martin, in the NBA.  Martin told Ken’s family, “I feel as though I’ve lost my own father.” Margot Perot, Ross’s wife, attended the service to honor this very stubborn beggar.  Ken spent his brief but beautiful life doing what Jesus did-- in his Jerusalem.  The journey was frightening.  The work was costly.  But there, my friend saw God do amazing things.

Jesus is still leading His people to Jerusalem, the places where service is frightening and costly, but where God does His greatest work.