kettles

I read a blog by one of my friends talking about his experiences on the kettle. (For the uniniated 'kettles' refers to the big red tripods the Salvation Army puts in front of stores and other places during the Holiday season to solicit funds)

Anywho, my friend stands on the manhattan side of the Staten Island Ferry in the afternoons and I stand on the Staten Island side most mornings.

Kettles is 111 year old tradition that generates a significant portion. Of the Salvation Army's funds. Mut kettle dollars are very hard dollars to make. Thus I can often be seen at the gates of the Staten Island ferry as early as 6AM. Because the keetle season is so grueling it is usually dreaded by all active members of the Salvation Army. Our leader for the East Coast however, challanged us to find ways to make this required fundraising into a ministry.

So when I am not amuzing myself by watching people trying to squeeze them selves through doors that have already closed to a size smaller than them I have tried to look for way to turn my kettle into a ministry.

It amazes me just how many Staten Islanders pass through the gates of the ferry. Standing the ferry has allowed me to interact with those fringe members and fallen friends that we haven't seen in a while.

When they see me the usually start fishing in their pockets or purse maybe thinking that if the deposit a suitable donation I might forget that they have been to church in weeks or months.

For t hese people I have developed a new 'slogan' "I don't want your money I want your soul."

Confrontation evangelism??? It works in the context of relationship.

For all those christians who have been sold on the wonders of "postmedernism" I am finding more and more that what is trully successfull in ministry is timeless.

Genuine love will save souls. It will do it because love is not just interested in the soul love is interested in the well being or flurishing of the whole person. If a person knows you are comitted to them on that level it will change them.

So far I have seen 3 people come back to church because of my early mornings at the kettle. This may sound like a small number to those who care about numbers but for me it is significant because they are three people that I care deeply about and have been praying for for some time.