Sammy a tall man, covered in tattoos, gave off a “don’t come near me attitude.” He sat at a table by himself and was silent day after day.
Midwinter at the Lamb Center is full of blessings and challenges. Many new faces appear at our door each morning often displaying that “deer in a headlight look.” It may take a few days until they “leave their street outside” as one guest put it, and acclimate to the peaceful, accepting, loving environment the Lamb Center offers.
One evening, while Sammy was at the hypothermia program church, he unexpectedly connected with a Lamb Center volunteer over a hot meal and discussed his love for drawing. Before we knew it, a space was cleared for an art studio upstairs in our Lamb Center “The Holy Spirit Room.”
Donations of paint brushes and art supplies began to appear and “resident artists” from our local community signed up to donate an hour on Wednesdays from 12:20 to 1:30 mentoring our guests on different techniques. One of the resident artists sketched our guests as they created and blessed them with a caricature along with an encouraging word.
Recently, Sammy displayed and sold several of his paintings in an Art Show hosted by Fairfax City and Sammy’s life was transformed by the recognition and compliments he’d received. He now has “pep in his step,” and his eyes twinkle when he stops by to visit his Lamb Center friends occasionally. Sammy looks forward to the day when he is able to return and serve as a mentor in the art studio.
The Lamb Center Vision is:
“To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed to poor, hurting and homeless people in our community; to know them; to love them; to foster and encourage their relationships with our Lord; and to help them to discover and enjoy the many gifts that God has given them each, for His glory; for the good of the Church, and in ministry to others.”
Sometimes all it takes to proclaim the good news is to sit down at a table and share a meal. Just like Jesus!
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~ Ephesians 2:10 NIV
The names and photos have been changed to protect the dignity of those involved.
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