Being The Church by John Monday

“Danny, you’re a religious guy, right?”  By his own admission, Danny is a fairly religious guy, but the question caught him off guard.   Although they’d been acquainted for nearly a decade, to the best of Danny’s recollection, he and Rick had never had a religious conversation.  Danny had been able to help Rick and Joni purchase their "dream home.”  Could it be that, in their real estate dealings, Rick had seen in Danny an honesty, integrity, and willingness to help in a time of need? Nonetheless, that relationship had insured a monthly contact and provided an opportunity for Danny to mingle with Rick and Joni as one who had their best interest at heart. Now, any past needs paled in comparison to the need Rick was facing.

“My wife is in the hospital,” the shaky voice on the other end of the phone continued.  Rick and Joni had been married for more than twenty years and, by all accounts, were a doting couple very much in love.

“She woke me up a few days ago and told me she was scared.” That morning had started like every other. Since Rick works a late evening shift and is rarely able to get to bed before 2:00 a.m. Joni would wake up early and clean the house.  Once the morning chores were done she would put on a pot of coffee, gently wake Rick, and the two of them would enjoy the morning in the hobby room they built together.

“Then she just collapsed in my arms!” Danny was with Rick now.  Danny would spend a lot of time with Rick over the next few days and weeks.  Joni had been transferred to Florida Hospital South where they are better equipped to deal with the major brain trauma from the stroke Joni had suffered, but there was no good news.

“Will you pray for Joni, Danny?”  Danny, too, was surprised to be in this situation.  While he had enjoyed his conversations with Rick and Joni over the years, he never really thought about having an opportunity to minister to the spiritual needs of the chef at Rachel’s Night Club, the premier men’s club in Orlando.

The next day, Rick called again.  “I have to make a decision.”  Rick was sobbing now.  At 54, Joni had had a massive stroke and would not recover.  It was not anything Rick or Joni had prepared for.  They were relatively young with years of the good life still ahead; this decision was supposed to be far away.  Danny told Rick that he would come to the hospital to be with the family.

"Where can I turn?” was the heart question that Danny sensed Rick asking.  They were beginning to talk about final arrangements now.  Rick wanted to memorialize his wife but had no idea where to begin.  Danny put his arm around Rick, walked to the window of Joni’s room at Florida Hospital, and pointed to a building across the street.

“Rick, that’s my church over there, and I think they’d be happy to help.”  Twenty minutes later, Rick and Danny were at the Hospital Church making arrangements.  There was no real decision to be made or discussion to be had about whether the church would help.  The Hospital Church has chosen as its mission to “Love people into a lifelong friendship with God,” and if there was ever an opportunity to love people, this was it.

Danny and his wife, Jodie, met with Rick to prepare and later conduct a beautiful memorial service filled with the love of Christ and the memory of Joni and her love for Rick.  By the time the funeral started, it had already been a long day.  The viewing and visitation started early and ran late to accommodate the dancers and staff from both the day and evening shifts at Rachel’s.

As the memorial was being held, our church family prepared a feast for the mourners.  A young professional woman, a mother with two young daughters, a couple that joined the church just three weeks earlier, a restaurant owner - they all responded to the call to reach out in love, and they stayed until every person attending had been served in the humility of Christ.

That evening, I had dinner in my church with the original owner of our city’s leading men’s club and his self-identified “best customer.” Sitting around us were a host of dancers, friends, and bar employees who would rarely be seen in church, and they were loved. I’ve never been more proud of, or humbled by, my church.

Our church’s mission and vision simplified is to love people into a lifelong friendship with God and to do it 752 times*.  Danny and Jodie try to live it.  The young adult and the mother and her two daughters exemplified it. The new couple imparted it.  The restaurant owner served it.  Our church gets it, and I pray that the staff and patrons of Rachel’s have experienced it.

Epilogue:
“Danny what do you think really happens when you die?”  Rick has decided to move to Iowa, but the conversation continues…

John Monday

*752 just happened to be the number of “active” members in the FHC data base in 2009.  So over the next 5 years it seemed possible, with God’s guidance, and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, and Jesus presence with us, that 752 Christians could be instrumental in assisting 752 people become disciples of Jesus.  For a full explanatin of “Vision 752,” visit www.hospitalchurch.org/content/explanation-and-background-mission-and-vision.