When Earle Harvey signed up Peoples to put on a dinner and worships service at the Root Cellar in Portland, it seemed like we were there to help them. Little did I know they had much more to offer to us.
The first challenge for the evening came when the director called aside a few of our number to go out and gather the kids from the neighborhood and invite them to dinner. Doreen Gay was one that reluctantly went on the adventure. Before long, it was clear that it was a fun time to meet the local kids of various nationalities that were glad to join the gang for a meal. She said that it was a very special opportunity and much more joyful than scary once they got going under the confident leadership of our hosts.
The next surprise came for me as I sat down to meet some of the group coming for the meal. It seemed everyone I met was a volunteer. I thought, I wanted to meet those from the community, not the volunteers. It took me a while to figure out, all those volunteers were the same folk from the community that the Root Cellar was there to help.
They have an excellent model for Christian ministry that invites people to both receive their hospitality as well as joining the community offering hospitality. The Root Cellar offers medical and dental services, youth and adult classes in reading, English and computers and afterschool programs, a teen center and much more.
It was a privilege to serve there. It was a safe, comfortable and pleasant place to both see and be the Body of Christ at work. Please join with us the next time we get a chance to serve there.
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