“During Bridging the Gap, we hope to take you to places you’ve never been before, both in the city of Memphis and in your heart. To sum it up, we cannot know and love our neighbors who live in poverty if we do not know them—if we do not have a clue what they go through. Together we will experience a little piece of what that looks and feels like.” –Planner & CUMC Missions Associate Abbye Pates
Following the inaugural Bridging the Gap weekend last spring, plans are in place for another weekend, Oct. 23-25. For those who participated last spring, the weekend opened their eyes to the poverty around them. Here are a few of their responses:
Define in three sentences what you learned about poverty.
Poverty has many different faces. Some of the most impoverished people are the most blessed in spirit. We are called to love, not judge.
How has your attitude toward/commitment to missions and serving others changed as a result of your experience?
At first, I thought this wouldn’t do much for me; it would be easier to just get involved passively through some sort of local mission. This weekend fired me up to get involved in local missions more directly. I have a better understanding of how I can be more effective while also having a better understanding of the living situations of the poor in our community.
Did this experience draw you closer to Christ?
It opened my eyes to how we have acted and how we have stereotyped the poor and homeless. It personalized their struggles and opened my heart to struggles they face.
Through a homeless, alcoholic druggie, I saw Jesus. In turn, I wanted to be more like him and have his relationship with the Lord. While standing in a room holding hands with the very people I shy away from on the streets and the people I am taught to fear, I felt like I was literally looking into the face of God.