The story of Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16) is so dark and haunting, but when you see God's love in that story it becomes more hopeful.

What would it be like to learn to live with the same compassion that compels God to reach out to people on the outside? What kind of ministry is it when we think merely about how comfortable we can be in the pew – or in the pulpit, for that matter?

There are people, who like Hagar, with lives so full of misery, shattered by circumstances that maybe they have even brought upon themselves. And they need to hear God calling to them, “Where are you going?” and “Where are you coming from?”

Do you think we could be God’s voice in this community? I think so. That’s why our motto for ministry is “Touching Lives with the Transforming Love of Jesus.” That’s what makes the huge commitments of time, talent, and money worth it – to be able to hear people speak in some fashion the words of Hagar: “I have now seen the One who sees me.”