On Tuesday afternoon I met with Margie at Starbucks to hear a little more of her story of how she found herself in ministry with the homeless of Santa Barbara and began Holy Chaos with her husband and two close friends. Margie is not your typical lady. Although she has a 5 year-old granddaughter and enjoys taking watercolor classes at the City College, her heart throbs passionately for not only her family and art. Her loves extends to her larger family of Christ, her neighbors of the city of Santa Barbara. These neighbors live in the streets, sleep in the park, and travel from soup kitchen to shelter for meals. When it rains they huddle under any shelter they can find, spreading out their worn blue tarps, wrapping blankets tightly around their shoulders, hoping the sprinkler don’t go off tonight.
Margie told me about how she became involved with the Pershing Park meals and then was presented with the opportunity to use The Loft to host a special service for those who they often saw in the park. Every week there are new people who show up at Holy Chaos who are welcomed by the four leaders who have made Christ’s compassion their own.
I am fascinated with Margie, Gert, Ruth, and Jack’s holy desire for empowering their homeless friends with hope in Christ. Holy Chaos is not a typical church service. There is no pulpit or sermon given by a pastor in a suit. Space is given for problems and hurts to be shared and prayed over, time is given to those who need to be heard, and hospitality is an art that is practiced skillfully and encouraged. Holy Chaos is a place of invitation to those who aren’t allowed on the trolley because they’re assumed to be drunk, who eyes are avoided because they probably will use your quarters for alcohol and drugs, and whose humanity is undermined because they may not be as articulate as you or me. Margie and her friends provide a haven for those who call the public park “home,” who desire to belong, to be valued, and loved.
During the end of our conversation over tea, I encouraged Margie in the good that she is doing. It is my desire that Westmont can encourage these four leaders in their ministry. I offered to partner with them in prayer. Margie and Gert both send prayer requests via email that our team will spend Wednesday mornings at 7am praying over. I also expressed that Westmont students are willing to support them in presence also. It will be a goal of our ministry teams this year and the next to find ways to partner and sustain those who are already doing well what God has called them to do in the city. We want to be “on call” and available to these leaders, letting them know that we wish to make their endeavors are own.
Margie, Gert, Ruth, and Jack are passionate warriors of the Lord. Margie is excited to see Westmont’s enthusiasm in joining in their kingdom building. She is willing to come up to Westmont to talk with students more about her vision and mission. It may be possible to have them come before the semester ends. Continue to pray for them and their ministry. Contact me if you’d like to know how to get more involved with the homeless of Santa Barbara or if you have any creative ideas of how to bring Westmont into the city.
-Trin (thokama@westmont.edu)
11 students have already signed up. I’m getting excited.