Like a Steeple Fire - (Or How a Good Story Spreads)

I heard a good story last week about a Christian I don’t know.

The story was told by a young woman battling a world of hurt and poor choices in order to break free of her old life and rebuild a life she’s barely begun.

She went to a local church for help with a bill. They helped her but they also invited her into their community. She’s not sure about God even after months of church, Bible study, and practical assistance from this little group of believers but she’s a part of their lives now and they, a part of hers.

They’ve been generous with her, even knowing the truth about her life, even though they know the odds she’s up against in making a lasting change. One woman in particular supports her with time and with frequent rides.

I’m not sure where this young woman’s personal story is heading but the story she told about the local church people affected another person who heard it with me.

When she was out of earshot, he turned to me and said, “What would make people give so lavishly to someone they barely know? What motivates them to such generosity do you suppose?”

I don’t know the Christian woman most involved with her and I’ve never attended their fellowship but I knew the answer to his question.

I shrugged. “That’s just the church acting like Jesus.” I said.

He thought for a moment. “Do you really believe that’s what it is?”

I nodded.

He thought again. “Why do you think they’re not afraid of being ripped off or manipulated by this woman?”

“Maybe they are,” I answered. “But the perfect love of Jesus Christ casts out fear. I know that some Christians and some churches have hardened their hearts but this one seems to have remained open.”

He shook his head. “Blows my mind every time she tells me about them. No one gives like that these days.”

I don’t know the believers in this story but I thank God for them. I’m sure they have their moments of frustration with this woman. They may have put in much prayer and some debate about how much to help to give her and when. She may have disappointed them sometimes. She may yet break their hearts.

But I don’t think they know that as she tells their story, she becomes, like the Samaritan woman, a spreader of the gospel, unwittingly sowing seeds that may take root in hearts the people of this church won’t see until we all meet in Heaven.

God says that we are living stones. Sometimes He tosses us into a deep pond and as we plunge into the cold and dark, we cause ripples that affect things far from where we entered the water.

Against the backdrop of the hopelessness, hardness, and deeply rooted problems this man sees every day, the generosity of this little group of Christians stands out like a steeple fire.


I’ve prayed for them this week. For God to strengthen them and keep their hearts open to giving, not expecting return but only giving in obedience to the love of Christ.

This young woman may change, she may not. The man who heard the story may come to Christ, he may not. But they would have less of a chance to change and to choose if it weren’t for the giving and the faithful service of this church.

“But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7

I love hearing good stories about Jesus working through the church. Someday, we’ll be telling be them forever.