God is at work in our cities

Mission field: DETROIT

The newspaper headline read, “One of the Biggest Chop Shops in Detroit.” One street over and one block down from our house the police uncovered a large “chop shop” where stolen vehicles were taken, stripped of usable parts, and then crushed into scrap metal. And to think that, just before this, I was planning to go see if they had some parts for our car!

The truth is, we may never fully know what is going on around us, but one thing is certain: There are people all around who need to know the love of God.

As the weather has been getting warmer, my wife Judy and I have enjoyed walking through our neighborhood. On one stroll we meet a neighbor who already knew our names and has been keeping track of what is going on with our home. She mentioned that she had told her friends, “They work together over there.” 

Another time, I went into the local hardware store and the cashier, one I hadn’t seen before, asked how my wife and baby were doing. Who is this woman, and how does she know we have a baby? I was thinking, when she informed me that she was the sister of the neighbor across our street. He had told her about what was going on.

People all around us watch what we are doing, from the neighbors who moved out of their rental next door to the lady across the street who is a Buddhist, because she hasn’t gotten satisfying answers from Christians.

A friend of ours has started a youth group in his neighborhood by walking around and talking to the young people. Over the last two years, they have been building relationships with hurting people and are starting to see the fruit of their labors. One of the young men they have befriended gave his heart and life to Christ just a few weeks ago! I pray that we will be examples of Christ in our neighborhood to every one we meet and even to some we may not meet!

- Urban Missionary to Detroit, Tonweya Sherman