Faith Drives Action
As an organization we are motivated by our beliefs to serve others and see a clear mandate in scripture that guides our response to the needs around us. It is important to note that Peterborough Community Chaplaincy works with individuals regardless of their beliefs. There is no expectation on our clients, volunteers or staff to participate in religious services or other faith based activities.
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40 NIV)
For many of us, doing something for the overlooked has been reduced to small acts of service we pursue to make us feel good. Even for those who take this mandate seriously we are often drawn to serving specific groups of people. One well known passage from the Bible states:
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
This translation uses the specific example of “widows and orphans.” No one would suggest there is anything wrong with that but the truth is that we feel good about serving the needs of children or the bereaved. We see people who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in need and it evokes our compassion. Our mandate, however, is clear; we are to pay attention to all who are overlooked and oppressed.
There are many needs in our world that are not addressed as well as they should. One group of people that are often ignored in our society are ex-offenders. Sadly, for these people supports are limited and few want to reach out and connect with them.
The only time it seems they are not overlooked is when there is negative attention focused on them. In some cases ex-offenders are singled out with a great deal of negative attention because of their crimes. Ironically, this type of attention is worse than being ignored! Neither situation helps people succeed in finding a safe and healthy place in the community.
Peterborough Community Chaplaincy takes the words of Matthew 25 to heart. We do far more than simply visit the prisoner. We assist ex-offenders in meeting the many challenges that come with re-entering society. The list from the verses in Matthew are like a check list of basic needs that we help address through the journey from prison to the community.
Working with ex-offenders can be very challenging but scripture is clear that it is important to God that we do. Jesus himself set the ultimate example and certainly did not seem to have any trouble spending time with ‘less desirable’ people. Jesus knew what his mission was and he demonstrated for us the way we should live out our faith.
11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:11-13)
PCC Executive Director, Dan Haley, relates to this message in a very personal way. For Dan, there is a strong calling to this ministry. He believes that it is what God had in mind for him from the beginning. Dan has faced many challenges in his life and, like many of us, could have turned away from God’s call not knowing how the broken pieces would be put back together. As Dan and the ministry of PCC have grown he knows this is what he was redeemed for.
7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:7-10)
These verses also remind us that the ministry of PCC belongs to God and we have been entrusted with it as stewards. Our ultimate goal, as we seek to serve the overlooked is to bring honour and glory to God as we ultimately serve Him by serving others.