Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless
person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced
as the head pastor at that morning.
He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was
filling with people for service, only 3 people out of the 7-10,000
people said hello to him.
He asked people for change to buy food – NO ONE in the church gave him
change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the
church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back.
He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with
people looking down on him and judging him.
As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church
announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and
were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the
congregation. “We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah
Steepek.” The congregation looked around clapping with joy and
anticipation.
The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking
down the aisle. The clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him. He walked up
the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this)
and paused for a moment then he recited,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for
you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I
was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed
me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to
visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see
you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
‘The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told
them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and
many heads were bowed in shame. He then said, “Today I see a gathering
of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people,
but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples?”
He then dismissed service until next week.
Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It’s something you live by and share with others.