“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40, MSG)

On November 30, a limousine was parked in front of Princeton Pike Church of God in Hamilton, Ohio.  No one knew why.  A week later, the members of the church learned something about that limousine: 9 celebrities had been inside that limousine.  Not the celebrities we would think of.  Not at all.  But they were celebrities in the eyes of the King.  That limousine had carried 9 homeless men to church that Sunday morning.  It just so happens that the owner of a limo service attends that church.  On November 30, he went out into the streets and found 9 homeless men and brought them to church.  7 of the 9 came to know Christ personally that Sunday morning.  That’s what I call a bus ministry!

To most limo owners, that would seem like craziness.  You don’t normally let dirty, smelly homeless men ride in your limo for free.  But that man saw something more important than their physical state: their spiritual state.  In his mind, they weren’t homeless.  They were sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

I’ve had the unique opportunity to grow up in a church (Liberty Baptist) with a inner-city bus ministry.  Every Sunday, we go into the inner-city and bring 250 boys, girls, teens, and adults to our rural, somewhat affluent, very Caucasian church.  Sometimes bringing “those kids” in is not a popular decision.  But Jesus loves “those kids” too.   I’ve helped on a bus route several times.  Some of the homes you see these children growing up in nearly want to make you cry.  Sometimes the kids smell funny.  Sometimes the kids aren’t exactly friendly.  Sometimes the kids aren’t dressed “right” for church.  Some of the family situations are despicable.    It’s not a pretty sight.  Yet I don’t look at those situations and see the depravity.  I look at them and see sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

I was a sinner in desperate need of a Savior.  I had parents to teach me that.  Some kids don’t.  As we approach this Christmas season, make it your goal to get yourself and the kids in your ministry in contact with some of the “overlooked and ignored”.  Show them that God’s love goes beyond the walls of a church, and provides for both material and spiritual needs.   Start a fundraiser in your ministry to raise money for an inner-city church.  Take your kids on a missions “trip” to distribute food and clothing to those in the inner city.  It’s a lot easier to make a trip downtown with a bunch of kids than it is across the world.  There are so many things you could do.  Take action.  Make yourself available.  Let Christ change the lives.  Help your kids to know that Christ loves humans, no matter their income level, color of their skin, cleanliness, or living situation.  He looks beyond their physical state.  He loves sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

May it be my prayer and yours that one day every child in your ministry today will look up into the glory of the King and hear Him say, “[When you reached out] to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.”