The streets and the sidewalks of Stagecoach Trace were full of the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th graders from our Sunday School class this past Sunday afternoon. Groups of two or three kids with adult chaperones canvassed the neighborhood on behalf of those who need help. We had a good time walking the streets and talking with the homeowners. And we gathered a whole truck bed full of supplies and food to deliver to Safe House.

I accompanied Ryan Brown and Landon Davenport as we made our way down Horseshoe Circle. There are three families from our church that live on that street: the Sawyers, Nell Nelson, and the Barnes'. The boys were delighted to be on a street where they saw people that they recognized, and the three families from our church were delighted to see our children working for someone else. Of course, we met a lot of people that we didn't recognize. Some people were sleepy - eyed. Sunday afternoon is, after all, a good time for a nap. But, most greeted us friendly enough. Especially, when it was explained that we were trick or treating for other folks. Trick or treating for canned food, toiletry items, paper goods, non - perishables and the like for Safe House. They presented us with generous smiles and generous gifts to the children and women of Safe House.

In particular, I noticed that as Ryan, Landon, and I made our way to the first couple of houses the boys were a nervous about asking complete strangers to give some of their stuff to complete strangers. That's easy to imagine. What happened as we made our way further down the road was that Ryan and Landon became comfortable with explaining what we were doing, who we were working for. Ryan even became comfortable enough to ask one man if they could donate some toilet paper. He told that man toilet paper would be a lot lighter to carry than the cans of food everyone else had been giving!

It was a good thing to walk along behind them and watch. Carrying bags filled with cans of beans and corn and tomatoes and chili ? boxes of macaroni and cheese, spaghetti ? some dishwashing detergent ? that can become a pretty good load. There was the occasional comment about how heavy the bags were getting, how hot it was, how nice it will be to round the corner and see the truck ? but never any complaining. Ryan and Landon might not actually admit it ? but I saw it - before our street work was through ? they were having fun!

Sometimes all that is needed is the opportunity to put discipleship into action -- the chance to tell people that your trying to help someone. Watching our children do that Sunday made me think about sharing the good news of Jesus with the people we meet. You don't have to try and convert anybody. Save anybody. It's enough to say, " We know these people who need some help. We're out here today helping them because we care. " You never know how well that sound will ring in someone's ear. And, maybe there will be other families from Stagecoach Trace who start coming to our church. They might say, " One afternoon I was sleeping when the doorbell rang. There were these kids from this church ... and, well, we thought we'd visit. " It could happen.