“I really believe it’s encounters that we have with people that are broken that change us on the inside. I think broken people and what they do for us do more than we can really do for them.”
Pastor Matthew Barnett founded the Los Angeles Dream Center which houses close to 600 people who are being rehabilitated. In Matthew’s new book, , he says we need to understand that admitting our weakness allows God to move in us.
“Sometimes I thank people who go through our recovery program. They’re saying, ‘Pastor why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you.’ I say, ‘I thank you because I’ve learned what courage is and getting back up again to the journey.’”
Broken people can teach us things. Matthew tells the story of an experience he had with his dad at a football game.
A father of one of the other players, angry that the ref had made a certain call, became worked up and started yelling during the game. The louder he yelled, the more flags the referee threw. Soon the other parents turned on the father and he was ejected from the stands.
Matthew tells what happened next.
“He bowed his head, realized how he lost his temper. And in shame, he walked all the way to his car. I saw my dad get up from the stands in the middle and he walked all the way to the car.”
Matthew’s father Tommy approached the man and put his arm around him. The man broke down weeping and shared a number of things he was struggling with in life.
As Matthew’s father ministered to him, the man became a Christian and joined their church. He currently serves as an usher and is thriving in his faith – all because Matthew’s father was willing to see beyond the anger and get to the man’s heart.
“My dad went looking for that misfit dad who made a fool out of himself at the game. And yet he was willing to stand for the underdog.”
Matthew says that’s what we’re all called to do.
“I think there’s something great about living a life that stands for the underdog. Living a life that goes looking for misfits and looking for broken people and ministering to them.”
Key Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5-6; Mark 8:22-26; 2 Corinthians 5:7
Theme Song: Open Up the Heavens by Meredith Andrews
