“I
long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of
your wings” Psalm 61:4
A
loving homestead can be a refuge. It is shelter from the cold and
from the dark. At Outflow Ministry, we wish to provide everyone with
a place they can call their home and refuge. This could mean someone
who is just dropping in for a cup of coffee and conversation, to an
individual who wants to volunteer their time, or to someone in need
of a hot shower and meal.
At our men’s shelter, men can come in from the streets and walk into a brightly lit and warm shelter. During the day, we have a women’s drop-in, Oasis, where women can come in for tea or coffee, Scrabble, and company. Bible studies are going on in the early mornings and late evenings with various community organizations. It feels like Outflow is alive and growing in terms of community. Community goes hand in hand with shelter and safety.
At Outflow Ministry, we also try to talk about a spiritual refuge within the Lord, for those who are seeking Him. Sometimes we may have a warm home, but within, there is not a peace or a sense of shelter. That is where the Lord can come in with a peace that helps us weather the storms of life. “And His peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). I came out of a season where I was living for myself and not for the Lord. I had a home and food and friends but I did not feel joy or a sense of day to day peace. Last fall, I found the Lord’s peace one day at church during a worship service. I realized then and there that is what I was missing.
A refuge speaks safety and peace. What would it look like if we felt that everywhere we went? If the idea of a refuge and safety extended from a purely physical sense but also could be understood spiritually? We can find the calm in the storm even in the stormiest bit. That is where the Lord is beyond remarkable; when we find him as our Rock and our shelter even in those difficult seasons. We are wrapped up and sheltered from the wind that is not strong enough to tear us down and uproot us. That is also where community comes in – when we have brothers and sisters who can pray for us and give us a cup of coffee with a smile.
We
are better together. Outflow Ministry can be a home and shelter for
everyone, no matter your circumstances. We have a vision for the
future and hope to expand this idea of shelter and refuge.
Blessings,
Laura Duncanson
Community Liaison
Outflow Ministry
Outflow Ministry
