When I first read up on the World Race and all its potential ministry opportunities, I was ecstatic about getting the opportunity to serve women. I wanted to help stop sex trafficking, love on broken women, protect at-risk girls, and make women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds feel beautiful and loved…
Within the first few months, I quickly learned I had a knack and passion for women’s health and all was great, but the longing to help didn’t end there. I felt my heart pulling me towards another population too (had to throw in some social work lingo).
I have slowly but surely realized that I feel called to men. Yes, those men who come to purchase sex, who drink or smoke hours into the night, who are lonely and desperate, and who need Christ’s love just as much as I do.
Many times men are seen as the aggressors, the mess-ups, the failures, the enemy…but we can’t forget they are human beings. Whether a man is a drunk, a druggie, a convict, violent, lazy, unrepentant–pray for him. That man is a sinner, just like you and me, who should get to hear the name of Jesus Christ and feel His love.
How much can be done by eliminating product if there is still a consumer? These men cannot be ignored. Yes, they are harder to love, to forgive, and to talk to, but in all honesty–what would Jesus do?
And my heart for men doesn’t stop in the sex trade. I want to hear from the men in drug rehabs, prisons, work labor, anywhere. This week I was blessed with the opportunity to put on a Khmer New Year celebration for about 100 men in a drug rehab facility. At first, I was nervous. I didn’t think they’d want to interact and even imagined them being somewhat hostile.
I was wrong.
These men were of all ages and every single one was singing at the top of his lungs, grinning from ear-to-ear, and expressing overwhelming gratitude. I had walked into that facility with preconceived judgements and left feeling surprised and joyful. Despite what these men have done or why they were in treatment, they were people. They were people who just wanted to celebrate an important holiday, who wanted to have a break and play games, and who wanted to simply enjoy a soft drink!
I may be the black sheep on this issue, but I can’t ignore what the Lord has put on my heart. I do not want to justify actions but to understand them….I want to see these men through God’s lens. These men are still God’s sons who have been covered in unconditional grace.
Pray for their repentance. Pray for their hearts to soften. Pray for the Spirit to fill the voids.
It may be hard, but pray for the men.
