“Christians Taking Seriously What Jesus Took Seriously”
On Saturday evening over 200 people gathered at Wellington Mobile Home Park to listen to the stories of and show support for the residents there who face losing their homes in the impending sale of the land their mobile homes are on. Residents diverse in age, ethnicity and life experience shared the hardships that their family would face if the land is rezoned for high density development and sold to Middleburg developers. They called for Commissioners to deny the rezoning that would result in the sale of this property and leave 35 of the 47 families facing homelessness. Local TV crews (Channel 17 coverage), the News and Observer (article by Tammy Grubb) and the Wake Weekly (article by Amber Revels-Stocks) all covered the event that Mother Sarah gave the opening prayer at and fifty St. John’s members attended along with other congregations in Wake Forest who have joined ONE Wake’s efforts to walk alongside the residents of Wellington Park. These news outlets amplified the voices of the residents and the land owner, but as you look at the pictures from that night and read the stories of the residents be sure not to miss the other big story: at least eight Wake Forest churches were there to support the residents, listen to the cries of the poor and powerless, and pray with those who are hurting. The only suitable headline that I can imagine if I was covering this story is, “Christians Taking Seriously What Jesus Took Seriously!” When I see what happened on Saturday night and what has happened every Tuesday night since June when dozens of church members from all backgrounds show up to listen, learn, advocate, feed the hungry and connect residents to those in power I see the Spirit moving Christians, I see ordinary churchgoers following the example of Jesus and I see God at work on earth. When Christians take seriously what Jesus took seriously, that is “Good News!”
