I recently watched the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith, based on the true story of a person named Chris Gardner. After his wife walks out, Gardner struggles to make a life for himself and his young son. At one point in the story, they seek refuge in a homeless shelter provided by Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco.
In light of the upcoming observance of Pentecost (Acts 2), Glide Church has much to commend itself as an example of one way the Holy Spirit works and moves among people in our time. In a news release announcing the groundbreaking of two new facilities designed by Glide Church in partnership with others to help working families and homeless people by providing affordable housing and supportive services, Glide is described as “an oasis that has served the poor and disenfranchised for over 40 years. In addition to serving over one million free meals every year, Glide provides dozens of other programs and services, including AIDS testing, health care, women's programs, crisis intervention, literacy and computer training, jobs training and placement, and educational programs for children, youth and family.” The church website gives more background on the story of Glide Church and how its ministry has unfolded over the years. It’s really all very remarkable.
What is striking to me is the diversity of people who make up Glide Church and its ministries, and the strength exuding from that diversity. Just reading about their efforts, and looking at the photos on the website, I have a palpable sense of a pounding pulse of life prevailing at Glide – from the raucous Sunday morning gathering of worshipers to the daily frenzy of activity surrounding their multitude of ministries. Wouldn’t it be great if all churches conveyed that image!
Churches don’t have to be huge to be spirit-filled. They don’t have to replicate everything that Glide is doing. But, I find the example of a church like Glide to be heartening. People -- church people -- can be moved outside themselves, outside what they thought possible, and give expression to the abundant life offered in the Risen Christ in ways that profoundly affects the lives of those around them.
Pentecost truly is a time to reflect on the possibilities inherent in the presence of the wild, uncontrollable, unlimited, powerful and absolutely free Holy Spirit.