Fellowship Memphis

“Christian joy reveals itself as dissatisfied contentment whenever it perceives human need. It starts to expand in love to fill that need and bring about joy of faith in the heart of the other person. But since there is often a time lapse between our perception of a person’s need and our eventual rejoicing in that person’s restored joy, there is a place for weeping in that interval. The weeping of compassion is the weeping of joy impeded in the extension of itself to another.”
-John Piper, Desiring God p.107

It’s in that weeping interval that I found myself this winter when my daughter’s guitar teacher was without heat for days in her apartment. She was completely alone in one of Memphis’ coldest winters, trying to survive in her home with no heat. With willful determination, she cried out repeatedly that she could “handle it.” She proposed that in a certain number of days, she could save enough money by getting an advance on a couple of her students’ lesson payments, and everything would be resolved.

When the students took a vacation instead of their lessons, she was devastated. She came crying to me, still determined to find a way out of the tangled mess in which she found herself after living several days with no electricity. She was like a person frantically trying to save herself in icy waters while her legs and arms were too numb to move. Saving herself wasn’t an option.

I desperately wanted to fix things for her but was unable to help her financially. My heart wept for her need to have a warm home where she could teach lessons, sleep, and do her schoolwork. I contacted a close friend from Fellowship, and soon Fellowship Memphis stepped in. Because of the Engage Memphis fund, the body of Christ at Fellowship was able to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a young college girl who was unable to rescue herself.

The weeping interval ended, and the indescribable joy of the fulfilled need overflowed like a beautifully picturesque waterfall. What a privilege to be a small part of this picture! Oh, the joyous transformation that could take place if we would be ready with the compassion of Jesus during each weeping corner that we turn in the city of Memphis!