Custodians of Our Church's Mission

Dear First Pres, 

  To be a custodian means that you are a person who maintains, guards, or cares for something. On our church staff we have two custodians, Sarah Maravilla and Enedel Ramos. They’re not just in charge of cleaning rooms or setting up for events. They’re truly custodians for our church property. But as custodians of our church property, they’re also custodians for our church’s mission: loving God, loving neighbors, making disciples and pursuing shalom. This week they received a wonderful reminder of that greater purpose in their work. 

  On Tuesday morning a woman stopped by the front desk. She looked familiar, but at the same time she wasn’t. She asked if she could see our custodians, Sarah & Enedel. This isn’t a regular request at the front desk, so as the admin team reached out to the custodians they asked a few more questions of the woman and the woman began to explain.  

  She had a new name. It was actually her real name, but for the years she was on the streets, she went by Pepper. That’s how Sarah and Enedel knew her. For much of 2024, Pepper took up residence in the alley behind the Fellowship Hall. While she was there, Sarah and Enedel would often make contact with her. They would bring her a cup of cold water or hot coffee. They would offer to connect her with some of the resources available in our city. They would treat her with respect and dignity. But then, one day in December, she was gone … until Tuesday. 

  The woman standing at the front desk was definitely Pepper, but she was new. She was clean. She was well. She wasn’t Pepper anymore. She finally got the help she needed. Now she’s resettling with her family and putting her life back together again. But, while coming into town for a doctor’s appointment, she decided to stop by the church office to see if she could find those custodians who helped her.  

  When the custodians arrived and saw her, she instantly burst into tears. She just wanted to thank them face to face for their kindness and care for her. She wanted them to see what God had done. For Sarah and Enedel it was a great encouragement. Their work, as I often try to remind them, is an integral part of our church’s ministry. God had used their kindness as a reminder of His love for the lowly. They aren’t just custodians of the property; they’re custodians of our vision and mission.  

  The woman asked Sarah to pray for her before she left, and that’s what Sarah did. It was a powerful and heartfelt reminder of the way God can use us in our everyday lives through simple acts of kindness and words of encouragement and prayers for shalom to advance His Kingdom on earth as it already is in heaven.   

  I wonder, do you consider yourself a custodian of our church’s vision and mission? If you’re a member of our church, that’s essentially what you promised to be the day you stood up in the Sanctuary and took the membership vows. I pray today that the Lord uses this story of Sarah and Enedel’s kindness to inspire all of us to step into His greater purpose over each of our lives. The Lord builds His Church through His Church. Praise God for the way He’s building in and through us. 

Blessings, 

Jeremy 

P.S. If you missed Jon Jo’s class that started last week on the Scripture Practice, I encourage you to jump in this Sunday morning at 9 a.m. in the Commons.