Newsletter for Summer 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
God willing, A Simple House will open a new house in Kansas City, MO this January. KC was chosen because of the need amongst the poor and the support of our donors and volunteers in the area. In addition, Fr. Adam Ryan OSB, who is A Simple House board member, is a monk at an abbey near KC.
A year ago, expansion was a long shot. We needed more volunteers, a house, and more money in order to expand. Without previous recruiting success (our largest recruiting class was only one person), six new volunteers will start in August, and although we hadn’t even started looking, a generous donor offered us a house in KC. Expansion has become a reality. The only missing factor is money. God has never made us do without, but it has been close at times.
A Simple House had an extreme moment in its financial history last December. We did not have enough money to pay the bills, finish the preparations for Christmas, or give volunteers their stipends. When the stipends were due, the problem came to a head. We decided to work all day, pray, and meet at the end of the day. At 4:30, we met about our financial situation and started discussing the unpleasant options. At 4:45, the mail came. There was a $10,000 donation in the mail. At 4:46, we were humbled and in awe. With a sense of reserve and joy, we adjourned the meeting.
God has provided for this ministry for five years. He has given us no excuse to merely count our blessings or circle our wagons. It is necessary to be careful and prudent, but these virtues must be informed by faith or the devil will slow all good intentions to a crawl. ‘If there is an award to be given for patience, it should be given to the devil. He has a lot of patience.’ Bl. Mother Teresa. We are lacking in faith, hope, and love when we drag our feet while following Christ. So we are going ahead with the new house and praying that God will support it.
Trusting in God is not all prosperity and roses. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but He walked into the Temple, overturned the tables, and made chaos with a corded whip. He also stirs the mess in our souls. A contractor we know is a convert and former heavyweight pro-boxer. I asked if he was interested in doing missionary work. He meekly declined. He said that too many evangelists pretend that Jesus will solve all of your problems, but his own experience is that problems seemed to only begin with meeting Jesus.
Jesus does not really make chaos or problems. He stirs up existing problems and makes us aware of the false peace we strike with the world. Jesus ruins this false peace and gives us peace grounded on truth.
We work alongside many government programs and secular charities. Lowering the crime rate and raising the graduation rate are worthy goals for a government agency and a secular charity, but these are not our ends. The human is our end, and we are trying to engage each human with love. This love goes beyond material assistance and running programs. It should be a mirror of God’s love which provides for us and has particular interest in each of us.
God wants much more for us than material goods and good health. Some people have suffered many worldly misfortunes, but they overflow with supernatural blessings. They may be disabled or destitute, but they radiate grace. This proves that God’s love is more than worldly blessings. The most radical demonstration of this is Jesus on the cross.
It is the peculiar job of Christians, to spread the Kingdom of God and infuse the whole world with His grace. The science of social work is not the science of Christian charity, and secular programs are not designed to bring God’s grace into the world. Material goods and social services do not bring God’s grace by themselves. ‘It is very important that the Church’s charitable activity maintains all of its splendor and does not become just another form of social assistance.’ Pope Benedict XVI. When Christians settle for merely providing a natural or material good, they are selling their mission and their life short.
To answer the Christian call of charity, men and women were appointed as Deacons in the New Testament. Deacons were spiritual workers who brought material aid and Christ’s love to the poor. It is only through love that conversion is possible, and it is only through love and conversion that amazing transformations are possible.
St. Stephen was one of the first seven deacons, and the first martyr of the Church. His strong foundation in the faith is clear from his speech before being stoned to death. (Acts 7:1-51) Like St. Stephen, St. James was deeply convicted of the link between Christianity and charity. As one of the twelve original apostles and the first bishop of Jerusalem, he wrote, Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27) The new house in KC will be under the patronage of these two saints and be called A Simple House of Sts. Stephen and James.
Other Interesting News
- Kelly Pertee finished her commitment at A Simple House and is preparing to become a sister with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal.
- Two people we serve were baptized into the Church.
- A son, of a family we have been serving for many years, was recently shot. We also know many of his friends who have recently been locked up. Please pray for their health and conversion.
- Two mothers who considered abortion gave birth to healthy baby boys with the support of your generosity.
- Prayers are still needed for the 14 person Williams family which continues to teeter on the verge of homelessness.
Thank you for being a blessing to us,
Clark Massey with Laura Cartagena, Ryan Hehman, and Jessica Hensle.