This event was like many others in that we met people that thought we were using a “bait and switch” tactic to try to raise money or that there was a “catch” to the give away. Some tried to donate, but we refused any type of offer. As the morning progressed, we began to see people riding bikes or running. So we changed our approach and we began handing out water bottles by running alongside, as well. Members of the Outreach Team also boarded the public busses that went by to give out coffee.
Given the changing demographics of the community, we saw people that were from all walks of life. There was young, old, big, small, black, white, Hispanic, some with lots of resources and those without. People that had all their faculties and some that didn’t. All in all, it was a good day. Somewhat challenging at times, but it seemed to be fruitful just the same. But late in the morning, God revealed his purpose in putting our team there in front of our church.
One member of the team approached a young couple who appeared to be in their late teens to early twenties. The young lady was dressed in tight fitting blue jeans and a low cut shirt that was equally as snug. The young man was wearing the oversized hoody, punk rapper concert T-shirt, saggy jeans four times the size of his waist, and the black hat turned to the side. Both had the look of disdain on their faces. As they passed, the offer of coffee, a doughnut, and water was conveyed to them. They scoffed at the team member as they continued on their way.
As the couple walked away, the team member that approached them noticed a man on the other side of the street running as fast as he could in the same direction as the couple. This man was in his mid-thirties and pretty well built, dressed in shorts and a white tank top. What was peculiar about him was that he was running as hard as he could with a lit cigarette in his mouth. He didn’t appear to be the typical jogger. Just as the team member turned and spoke to the rest of the team about him, the would-be jogger crossed the street still running at full speed directly toward the young couple that had just past the coffee stand.
As the running man caught up to the couple, he leaped into the air, spinning 180 degrees and throwing a punch at the face of the young man. The punch having just missed, he shoved the young man in the chest and began yelling obscenities and threats at him. The young woman engaged the aggressor, shoving him, yelling back and obviously protecting the young man. The young man used this interference to turn and begin his retreat.
As this was taking place, some of the team members began to move toward the commotion to diffuse it. As the young man approached the same team member that he had just moments before scoffed, the team member stopped him from retreating and began questioning what was happening. The young man explained that the older man was the ex-boyfriend and he was the new boyfriend. The aggressor was set on entering into an altercation. The team member asked the young man if he deserved to be beaten and he said he had done nothing wrong. He had never met the aggressor. The young woman was single when he met her. The team member, who luckily was a male and bigger than the aggressor, then instructed the young man to stand his ground and the team would stand by him while the situation played out. The team member explained to the young man that if he were to run from the situation now, he would run from every confrontation in his life. So, the young man chose to stay.
The team member then turned to the aggressor, who had gotten past the young woman and was coming down the walk toward the team. As the originating team member intercepted the older gentleman, another team member joined him and they began to work together gathering information, standing between the two groups and limiting eye contact between the two men. Four other team members’ surrounded the young couple at the doorway of the church doing the same. There were many close calls when the aggressor would gain some ground in getting closer to the couple but God gave the team strength, patience and intestinal fortitude in dealing with all of them.
Through some information gathering, we found that the young man’s name was Josh, the young lady’s name was Tara, and the aggressor was Pedro. Tara had dumped Pedro, who lived in Cleveland, just weeks prior to this. He had tracked Tara down to Lakewood, since she moved there after the break up without informing Pedro of her new address. Pedro had been an addict and abuser most of their relationship and she had been the main income that supported his habits. Losing her angered him greatly and although Josh didn’t deserve to be beaten, Pedro wanted to hurt anyone that might bring happiness to Tara. He was not even willing to consider that the threat of jail time would be in his future. He had three children that he hadn’t seen in some time. His mother and grandmother had not entered his thoughts in ages.
Tara was trying to make a new start. She moved to Lakewood to get away from Pedro, meet someone new, and change the patterns of old. She had her own place now and wasn’t under any obligations. She had recently met Josh and they were taking a walk that morning to the nearby grocery to pick up toilet paper. Unfortunately, Josh was just getting caught in the mess.
The amount of time it took to diffuse the volatile atmosphere was well over an hour. The team members working with Tara and Josh made many attempts to witness to them and get them to go into the church for prayer, but they refused. Then the recommendation was made to go into the church to merely remove them from eye contact and hearing range of Pedro. They agreed, which resulted in lowering Pedro’s anger level. This would be the turning point for the entire situation.
Once inside the church, the couple was surprised to see that the team members and building was not as they had thought. The team members that continued to work with Tara and Josh showed the couple that they would not be judged. The team members stressed that they, themselves, were sinners as well and that church was not a place of exposure where everyone was to know all your issues. Within a half-hour, both Tara and Josh would approach the altar and kneel in prayer with team members.
Meanwhile, outside the church, Pedro calmed down enough for the two working with him to make repeated invitations for prayer, counseling and witnessing. All of this seemed to fall on deaf ears. We felt some degree of success as Pedro left the area without a confrontation. Within minutes of Pedro’s departure, Josh and Tara emerged from the building contrite and at ease. The Holy Spirit was at work nurturing the seed that had been planted. Tara and Josh hugged every team member, even those who were not directly involved, and expressed their gratitude for what had taken place. A team member gave them a ride to the grocery where they completed their shopping and then dropped them at Josh’s apartment.
Twenty minutes after Josh and Tara left the church, Pedro returned. He was walking this time, but again on the opposite side of the street. We jokingly admonished him for trying to avoid us; he crossed back over to our side of the street and talked with us. He was visibly less angry, he apologized to the woman on the team for the language that he had been using and when prodded, he accepted the invitation to go inside and be prayed over. Five men laid their hands on him as they prayed at the altar. During the prayer, Pedro began to shake and twice asked us to stop. But as the Lord would have it, Pedro stayed kneeling at the altar as God softened that hardened heart. The last image we had of Pedro was of a man leaving our church, with his head down, shoulders slumped and holding a New Testament Bible in his left hand.
The seed is being planted. The soil is being prepped. God is at work. AMEN !!!
Michael Brandt is a member of Pilgrim St. Paul Board of Outreach
Mike was one of the big men, who placed himself in harms way in the altercation. He has an even bigger heart for missions.