The Brightmoor Free Store
D uring a brief talk about missions one Sunday morning, a young pastor shared about a ministry in two adjacent communities of southwest Detroit called the Redford Brightmoor Initiative. The pastor of two churches, one in Redford and one in Brightmoor, and also President of the nonprofit organization, RBI, his dream is to involve neighbors in “worship, breaking bread together and… working together for the betterment of our neighborhoods.”
The Free Store is just one of the services offered by RBI and is held every Saturday at an old brick church in Brightmoor. Run by volunteers, the store is stocked with toiletries, clothes, toys and small appliances, all donated by churches and individuals. Everything is free for the shoppers; however certain things like diapers are given out in limited numbers.
A friend from our new church home, Don Sylvester, offered to take us to visit the Brightmoor church and store one Saturday morning. Don drives a long distance from his house nearly every Saturday to help with the running of the store. It was nice visiting with him on the way, a good opportunity to get to know him better.
When we arrived, helpers were putting out donated supplies in a large room on the main floor of the church, now used exclusively for the “store.” Others registered people as they come in the door. Volunteers were downstairs in the kitchen preparing coffee and lunch for the shoppers and helpers later that morning. Don and another volunteer sat at a table near the “store' to take registration cards and check bags for certain limited items. It was a very organized operation.
Al and I didn't have a job assigned to us; so we were able to visit with people and attend the short worship service before lunch. Ernestine, lay leader and prayer warrior of that congregation, shared the importance of our words and also of using scriptures from the Bible to guide our prayers.
Then she asked us to join hands in a circle and proceeded to walk around inside that ring of hands, praying for many families and specific prayer needs. She prayed with authority, conviction and power. We were amazed when she said that she was almost in her “90s!”
Later, Al and I talked with her at length. Ernestine shared that “God's Word is “truth, peace, joy, protection (emphasized), love… God's Word is healing for the soul.” She told us that although she had gone to church all of her life, she hadn't known God. Her late husband's love for God and the Bible was what influenced her.
Ernestine spends much of her time now reading and memorizing the Bible. The words from Psalm 91:9-11 in particular have changed her life: “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”( KJV) Her passion for the Word of God was evident!
Not including volunteers, there were about 50 people who participated in the outreach that morning. One man had walked about six miles to get there. Pam Griffin, the new program director for the RBI, said that one of things she enjoys most about her job is making connections and building relationships with the people who attend.
It was an inspiring day — seeing the love of Christ in action. May the Lord continue to use His people to bring about transformations in the world around them!
Judy Lowery lives in Michigan. The Good News column appears regularly in The Porterville Recorder. You can read more at Judy’s blog, goodnewswithjudy.blogspot.com.