The cigarette smoke clung to my denim jacket. I sat on the front step of my church, a man named Hank sitting beside me. His friend Trish stood in front of us. They each took long drags of their cigarettes, the smoke curling into the winter sky. Our church service was starting, but I saw them slip outside and wanted to see if they were okay.
Turns out they just needed a smoke break. There was snow on the ground, and I was cold as I sat down on the cement stair. But Hank was telling me how he hadn’t been to church in awhile.
“I haven’t seen you in a few weeks!” I told him. “I’m glad you came back.”
“Me too,” he said. “I was going to come last week, but didn’t feel like it.”
I nodded. I understood that. Some weeks I didn’t feel like coming to a church service either.
He motioned to his bag. “But I brought my New Testament with me today.”
I was delighted. “What’s your favorite part? I’m reading Luke right now. I like Luke.”
“I’m in the Acts of the Apostles. There’s some wild things that happen there.”
“I hear you.”
I could hear one of our pastors preaching, the sound muffled through the front door, and I knew the service was well underway and we were missing most of it. My skin felt tight and itchy. I kept thinking about how I could get them to come back inside. Wasn’t it more important to hear the preaching and be inside?
Then Trish started talking. “I was an actress and a comedian, you know. Before life changed. Before life got harder.”
“I didn’t know that,” I told her.
She took another drag from her cigarette. “I had money. I was doing well for myself. Things can change sometimes. They can change quick.”
She tossed her cigarette into a snowbank and smiled at me. We talked for a while longer, then Trish decided to take a walk and Hank decided to come back inside. There was nothing spiritual about our conversation, not really. Neither of them decided to confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Neither of them shed a tear. But I was left with the profound sense that despite the fact that we were sitting outside the walls of our church building, Jesus was sitting right beside us.
Sometimes I can become so consumed with doing things the “right” way, that I can miss out on how God is working in His own way right in front of me. Of course, I want to be holy and disciplined, and there’s something beautiful to that – but Jesus isn’t always found in the four walls of a church. Sometimes He’s also found outside sitting next to those who are taking a smoke break.
A few weeks ago, another man came up to me before church service. I told him, “I’m so glad you’re here!”
His eyes filled as he said, “I didn’t think I was good enough to come here today. I almost turned around and walked back home.”
I looked at him with all the compassion in my heart and said, “None of us are good enough. That’s the good news. We each get to come exactly as we are, and you belong here.”
One of the things I love most about Jesus is how He seemed to purposefully gather the most ragtag group of people as His followers. They had all messed up more times than they could ever count. Even as they followed Him, they made mistake after mistake. And yet, the more time they spent with Jesus, the more they began to look like Him. Each of them belonged to Him.
Jesus meets us inside the walls of our churches and outside of them on smoke breaks. You might feel like a ragtag follower, like you don’t belong, like you need to polish up before you enter the building of the church you call home.
But you belong to Jesus and so do I.
Later that night, I sat on my porch and watched the sun dip slowly. I still smelled like cigarettes from Hank and Trish earlier that morning. I lifted up a heart of gratitude to the Living God who was holding the setting sun and at the same time holding me and Trish and Hank.
Church isn’t always a sermon. Sometimes it’s a smoke break with two friends whose lives have looked nothing like mine. Jesus was right there – inside our church service and outside too.
Each of us belongs to Him.
Thank you, Aliza! I shout a hearty, “AMEN!” to what you’ve shared today. The adage, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” came to my mind. The sermon that morning may have been wonderful and filled with knowlege, but Hank and Trish were blessed in talking to you…someone who cared about them.
I love that adage – thank you so much, Linda!
Aliza love your message today. I have tired smoking but no not for me. Bought a packet only at most smoked 3 out of it if smoked them all can’t remember. I don’t know why I bought them. I think I wanted to see what it was like. Even before I bought them I hated the habit. As my late Mum our me of smoking for life. But if I honest with you. Probably why I bought a packet of cigarettes. Was to see why late Mum who could never give them up. Why does she enjoy the rotten smelly habit to Mr that is bad for you. I all the cigarettes I ever smoked and tried. I thought disgusting. Not for me I why would anyone want to destroy their health and it an expensive habit. I never did it again. But my late Mum you couldn’t tell her not to smoke or you get told of. Then Jesus spoke to one day said who was I to judge anyone that smokes. Take a smoke brake. As before my Mum went anywhere special like her Grandkids Birthdays or their churches. She always had to have a Cigarette before she went and after the event. God said don’t tell your Mum of for a bad habit that she can’t seem to brake that she has done from a very young age. Just love her and pray she can give up. Just chat her as she as her we smoke. As it helps her cope she thinks your Mum with the day going to these events. Especially when your Dad will also be there as they are not together anymore. So I did that she thank me when alive for not judging her for smoking ever even though she knew I knew and she knew it was bad for her and expenses. I am saved and the only in my family saved along with my Husband. Who am I to judge someone for enjoying a we smoke. I am to just pray they see and have the strength to give it up and see they should never have started the habit. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx
You have no idea how timely and needed this is!! I am the chair of my church search committee. We are having a meeting today and I have been praying for guidance. We have a couple of members (big financial supporters) who can only see the small number of folks who attend on Sundays. We are a small country church and there almost has never been more that 15 present at a typical Sunday worship, if that. HOWEVER, we have all sorts of folks who are not members, who do not “do church” that come to our Tuesday free lunches, our Tuesday coffees, our warming spaces, our thrift shop, our twice monthly meals (soups, stews and all the fixings) that they take home, our little pantry of food and paper products. This is church for them. There is no cost. This is where Jesus is! These are the people that need our caring and love. So, Lord, please help me be patient today! Church is more than Sunday worship.
Have you watched Jesus Revolution? Some church members need to see beyond themselves and cling to the mission.
Praying for you, Madeline!
Madeline,
You are so right. You never know how God can work in a food pantry. I volunteer with Loaves & Fishes food bank. We give out food boxes & meals 4 nights a week. We have had some people that come ask for prayers & some have accepted Christ. I believe it is because we met them where they are-in the trenches. We loved on them first then told them about Jesus & His love. Actions speak much louder than words. The church is more than just 4 walls. We need to get out there & reach the unreached. God bless your ministries!
Blessings 🙂
Yes, Aliza! Preach this compassion all day long! This is Good News. Thank you ❤️
I smiled all the way through your article. How true it is, how true it is
AMEN
So thankful, Susen!
Yes, you are right and I agree with you that God can meet us (Believers and Nonbelievers) right where we are. I know some people don’t like that fact. They want easier candidates who look like they are ready to change and come with great potential. But sometimes it does not happen overnight or over some years. God is Sovereign !
I love you all.
Enjoy your day.
Brenda
Your Sister In Christ
That’s beautiful, Brenda – thank you!
I live in the U.S. and this is a message needed so desperately now with all the societal and political turmoil of labeling people and telling us citizens not to be of open hearts and minds. I can’t connect with people and be a servant for Jesus if I don’t meet them where they are and see them for who they are.
What a profound (and true) testimony, Aliza! Thank you so much for sharing. We are not called to be “churchy people”. We are called to be loving, compassionate, in-the-moment witnesses and friends.
So beautiful, Sharon. I love that.
Thank you for sharing this story. So many people are worried about being ‘seen’ at church instead of Christ being ‘seen’ in them. I love your line “Jesus was right there – inside our church service and outside too.” You blessed those two smokers in more ways than you can imagine. You gave them a listening ear and your time. And what an uplift you were to the man you welcomed in church that morning who you reassured that he ‘belonged’. Your writing blesses us readers, too. May God continue to give you the wisdom and insight to share your stories with others. It helps us grow, too!
Thank you so much, Phyl. That is so kind.
What a beautiful message, Aliza! And you are a beautiful disciple, inside and out. Carry on.
Thank you so much, Irene.
This moved me to tears. Thank you. When we stop “playing church” and remember to love each other where we are is when real community and fellowship happens.
Thank you for hearing the voice of Jesus as you sat with these two. They probably needed the companionship and acceptance of just being together with others more than they needed the sermon.
Sometimes we need to be Samaritans to others we see on the path. They may be beat up emotionally or spiritually more than physically but the care we give them by just being there while “sitting on the step” can make all the difference.
I am so deeply thankful this moved you, Debbie! Bless you.
I LOVE this so much!!! I have heard similar stories after slipping into the very last pew. In fact, that’s where the most powerful testimonies often choose to sit.
We serve a Mighty Redeemer God!
Nikki
xo
So often we also dismiss those with disabilities and/or poor social skills from our churches. Not reaching out to and including those that are different from us grieves the Lord who made each of us in His image. May we begin to really be inclusive to His glory
This gladdens my heart….so true!!
I love this message. A long time ago somebody told me you can’t put God in a box. My mom liked country music and dancing. I prayed for her for 10 years and God met her in a country bar when a man shared the gospel with her and later invited her to be baptized at his church. 30 years later she is still walking with Jesus. His ways are higher than our ways.
Amen!
I like this story. Reminds me about me talking with a man at church last Sunday during our greeting time before another song in worship started. I asked him if he was new. He said he’d been here a few times then decided not come back. Then he realized he needed to be here. He gave me a smile when I said welcome back to church. Inside the walls of church ⛪️. Holy spirit touched my heart when I did that and became a good memory now.
God bless you!!
Aliza,
Actions speak much louder than words. People can attend church & hear sermons. Until they see the caring & love of Jesus shine through us they won’t change. It’s been said that a lot of Christians are hypocrites. We talk the talk but don’t always walk the walk. We need to get out of the four walls of our church & meet them in the trenches. Help meet their daily needs then tell them of Jesus’ love for them. I volunteer with Loaves & Fishes food bank. We give out food boxes & meals four nights a week. Some of the people that come have asked for prayer & we take the time right that minute to pray with them. A few have accepted Christ. People want to know how much we care!
Blessings 🙂