So as many of you know, I am from Concord, North Carolina. Charlotte is a place that I consider my stomping ground. We all have seen the news and facebook posts and all of the opinions.
I myself have tried so hard to abstain from commenting on these matters. See for me, it was hard both ways because I have friends and loved ones who are not black and don’t understand what it is like to be black, especially in America today. I refused to post anything about Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter simply because I did not want to offend anyone.
But then I saw the riots that first night and my heart was heavy. Unlike most who were watching, I didn’t see unrest because of a man loosing his life earlier that day. I saw frustration boiling over. I saw fear coming out. I saw Teba.
Some months ago, I had it pressed on my heart to just go into Charlotte and pray for people. Take sandwiches, play waterfall soccer ball in Romare Bearden park with the homeless teens, and just be a light in the middle of darkness. It was a great season and I got to meet some amazing people, including Teba.
Teba is a guy we met after the EMS helped him regain conciousness. We were walking back to the car when we see this young guy just passed out on the grass. He wasn’t moving, barely breathing, and his eyes were totally spaced out. I thought he was dying. I remember people being in the park and just walking about and minding their own business and just disregarding this young guy losing his life on the ground. Of course the police and EMS came and we saw him jump up in shock. We never found out what he was on, but my heart was soft towards him. It was getting close to curfew so unfortunately all we got was his name.
A few weeks later, I met Teba again in the park. He sat with me for a while and was tripping out about these lights that were above us. I got to know a little more about him and for some reason, being around this guy, all I wanted to do was show love. I didn’t care that he cussed and was obviously high.
Some months later, maybe two, I had a dream about Teba. This time it was the Lord showing me him once again and telling me that I need to tell him about Him. I woke up with expectancy in my heart to see Teba again though I didn’t have his number, no point of contact…nothing. All I knew is that he could be anywhere uptown in Charlotte. A few days later, we had a worship night in the city, right on Trade and Tryon. I was praying with one lady and I look over and there is Teba! I crossed the street and told him and I wish you guys could have seen what his face looked like when I told him that he is loved, even in his current state. I wish you could have seen the look in his eyes as I told him this dream. I got to hear more of his heart and ah it was so beautiful! He came over and the people who had met him before were so excited to see him there. He worshiped with us for a bit and then we got something to eat before he disappeared again.
I haven’t seen Teba since.
The reason I tell you that story is because that is who I see. I don’t see a bunch of “thugs” or “druggies” filling the streets. I see young people and old alike that need a radical encounter with Jesus. They need someone that is willing to leave the four walls of their church building and take Jesus to the streets. They need people who won’t pray for them to stop rioting, but pray that the riot that is raging inside of them would cease.
Initially the riots pissed me off. The ignorant comments made me get off of facebook and instagram for a while just so that my heart could remain pure. But then God did something awesome. Not only did He take the bitterness and coldness out of my heart, but He fueled a fire within me.
Over the next 11 months, I’ll be in countries where this is their response to issues on a “good day”. Rwanda was torn to shreds by genocide and God is allowing me to be His hands and feet to places where hope has not flooded the streets. Where there are not many who have felt the love of Christ to flood their hearts. Guatemala is corrupt to say the least. Thailand is huge in sex trafficking. The list goes on a on. What the enemy meant to hinder, God is sending forth. He’s so amazing!
