West Asheville Church of God

Today we fed well over 200 people. Some were familiar faces, but there were a lot of new faces. I talked with a young man who really appreciated the food for him and some left over dogs for his dog.   He was traveling with a young boxer mutt pup as a companion.   Originally from Kentucky, he was back in Asheville for the second time after being gone for 3 months.   He said he was back because of the receptiveness of the people here in town. He has a guitar now and is learning to play it – “it’s a great place to hang out and learn to play music”, he said. If you ever spend much time down town you will notice that there are plenty of new music venues and street performers around. With them there is definitely a lot of culture in town.   Alternative music. Drumming session on the square. Drugs. Hippies, new agers, pagans, gays. And if you look closely a few followers of Christ handing out a hot meal, bottle of water, and a message of restoration & hope.

Some other folks I talked to had been living in tents, but they were “evicted” by APD and lost the few belongings that they had. One older fellow was associated with an outlaw biker club near Daytona FL. He had been up here a while and since losing his few belongings he really appreciated the food. On fellow said he had not eaten in three days he said "The hot dogs are fantastic!".

All of these folks, some homeless, some physically disabled, some mentally disabled, some just swirling through difficult circumstances, some just choosing to be wanderers, and maybe a few with homes, jobs, and transportation are all part of the culture here in Asheville. The culture has some dark parts. It also has some bright parts. 

I know folks who haven’t spent much time in downtime. They think it’s a very dark place. You know what I’ve come to liken it to – a night sky. Yeah it’s dark, but there is a sprinkling of light from the stars and the moon. They are radiating and reflecting the light of the Son.   Remember, the light of day comes after the night.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.    15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.