What's In The Hood? - Major K. Kendall Mathews Speaks

The Salvation Army over the years intentionally built its corps and social service units within neighborhoods where some of the greatest social problems exist. Though present day ills have impacted our communities and left many people overwhelmed, the Army functions as a unit of care, relief, and hope for those living in the "hood". My "hood" - at least that's what we called it growing up in the inner city of Detroit - consisted of people who prayed for each other when life's situations overpowered families. It was filled with people who rendered service to each other; whether it was helping out with the lawn during the summer or shoveling snow during the winter, we could always count on hands of service. I also recollect that the love and compassion of my neighborhood was not only seen in the people but felt in the heart of everyone who lived in my hood. Jesus Christ lived in the hearts of the people who lived in my hood, which has helped me to keep my focus on a path of a path of Service for God in the Salvation Army.Prayer is in the hoodSome time ago, I was walking down an abandoned street in Detroit with another officer when a homeless man approached us and asked, "Do you have any spare change?" I reached in my pocket and discovered it was completely empty. I had no change to give him. All I had to offer this homeless man was a prayer from my heart. So we stopped at that very moment, bowed our heads together and began to pray. I offered a prayer of compassion, kindness, faith, joy, blessings, and love. After I prayed, the man thanked us for taking time to pray with him and said, "Prayer does change things and it has changed me today." Although I was not able to share any spare change, we shared what he could abundantly receive from God through our visit in his neighborhood. As a Christian, I feel we can continue to do the most good in the hood as we pray to the master for spiritual guidance and a connection that will keep us in tune with him, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our limitless prayers will be the key to unlocking the hearts of those we minister to as we offer them a way out of the darkness and into a glorious life with Jesus Christ. We can restore compassion, express kindness, rekindle faith, and deliver joy and love to those who live in the hood through our effective prayers. We should not assume others know the struggles of the hood. God, Listen! Listen to my prayer; listen to the pain in my cries. Don't turn your back on me just when I need you so desperately. Pay attention! This is a cry for help! And hurry - this can't wait! (Psalm 102:1, The Message) I am your neighbor...my wings of prayer fly high above the sky that protects the faithful and guides the fatherless to a rainbow of abundant love. Service is in the hoodThe Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (Mathew 2:28). Many of our inner-city neighborhoods are faced with societal difficulties and social ills that deepen personal hardship. Drug abuse, homelessness, and hunger have caused an increased need for our services in the hood. People come to us and they expect us to help. Our Lord ministered to all people from every economic background, but it was in the inner-city community where he reached the most. Why? I think that, like today, many social and spiritual problems existed during the days of Christ. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face (Romans 12:6, The Message). The marketplaces of the inner city are in great need of soul-saving work. As I visit corps in Detroit, I am reminded again of the poor conditions in which our officers work and the stresses they encounter every day as they minister. God heightens our service delivery through our obedience to him and our offering of sacrificial service. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Service is the rent we pay to occupy space on this earth." Not only should we render service to people in the hood as payment for our residency on earth, but we should also know that God's power in our lives is the gateway to doing holistic work of The Salvation Army in some of the poorest communities. Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. I am your neighbor...my wings serve the fallen from grace, the forgotten on the street corner, and the downtrodden sinner with God's donation of soup, soap, and salvation.Love and compassion are in the hoodI don't believe God has brought us this far in our expression of love to leave us. God's promises are something we can take to the bank and make endless withdrawals to give away. Even though your heart's bank may be empty at times, God is still righteous, and he will keep us in tender, loving care. It's not by chance that we serve in the hood, but by God's choice so that we as a people will show compassion to all people, not with a handout, but with a hand up that reaches to our Lord Jesus Christ. For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones (Isaiah 49:136). Before we can increase our love in the hood, we must be totally sold out to the master and fully yielded to his precious Holy Spirit. You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you (John 15:16, The Message). We have come a long way in our history of serving in the inner city with compassion of Christ, but we still have a long way to go. Yes, at times the "hood" has been misunderstood, but so was Jesus. At times the "hood" has been overlooked, but so was Jesus. At times the "hood" has been misrepresented, but so was Jesus. Our message of love and compassion no doubt can be the supernatural glue that holds us together as one family. God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters. No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. I am your neighbor...my wings expand to all God's people from every creed, every culture and from every community with limitless reach to all. Christ is in the hood  The Apostle Paul gives this advice in his letter to the Philippians, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things (4:8). As salvation soldiers this is a critical antidote to the potential burnout that comes with working day in and out with those who live in the hood. Let's think as Christ did on the things that can offer a renewed hope for the hood and those who dwell therein. This will help us to produce and acquire the energy to reach out once more to hurting individuals, couples, families and communities. Finally, let's meet the many needs of all our communities by taking on the spiritual mind of Christ in order that we may reach out to those who live in the hood. This place, the "hood", is where Christ would have been found healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and saving the mystified. May we be found praying for the unsaved, serving those in need and showing Christly love and compassion to those who live in our diverse neighborhoods. I am your neighbor...my wings make up the holistic work of the Salvation Army. These wings take flight on social justice, physical feeding, educational development, and spiritual growth that meet the needs of all mankind. Major K. Kendall Mathews is currently the administrator of the St. Louis Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. The center helps men overcome their struggles with alcohol and drug addiction and prepares them to become productive members of society. If you or a loved one is interested in the program, feel free to call 314-535-0057 or visit www.stlouis.satruck.org for more information.