Grant Lombard was an intern with us at Life Changers for the majority of 2016 before heading off on a new adventure on the West Coast of America, in an area called Tenderloin, a neighbourhood in downtown San Franciso, with an organization called San Francisco City Impact. Below is an update from him from his first few months there.
It is crazy to think I have been here in San Francisco for four months already! I have seen the incredible grace and faithfulness of God during these months. He continues to sustain me in a very tough environment and I have seen his hand so clearly at work in my own life and in the neighbourhood.
Just over a month ago, we had a big thanksgiving outreach, where close to a thousand people came from all over to serve in the Tenderloin for the day. It was my first thanksgiving day and after the outreach, myself and some fellow students got to get out of the city for a few days and stay in the home of a couple on staff here. We had a wonderful dinner on Thursday evening together and it was a refreshing time away.
With the season of thanksgiving and Christmas fresh in my mind, I wanted to highlight that God has given me an increasing thankfulness since I have been here. I am overwhelmed when I think that He would send me to San Francisco, and almost every day I walk the streets I am so thankful to the Father for what He has done and is doing; the way He brought me here, the people that I have met, the friends I have made and the opportunities I get, to serve and love people in the Tenderloin. I am deeply thankful to Him.
The ministry side of things has been really good! God has answered prayer in wonderful ways as He has allowed me to build some good relationships with residents in some of the buildings. We have been able to speak with them about the love of Jesus and share with them our stories. It has been incredible to see God giving me those opportunities and I am constantly learning that we get to plant and water, but only He brings the growth.
I am continually reminded that this is not an easy place, and because of the trauma many of these residents have experienced in their pasts, it takes a long time for them to open up and build a relationship with you. This is really hard, as one moment they are thrilled to see you and the next week it often feels like you are starting all over again. It has been exceptionally tough some days, but God keeps reminding me to bring all to Him in prayer and to keep praying for these people.
I am still really enjoying class and it has honestly been such a wonderful part of my time here. We have learnt more of the Old Testament such as the historical books and the wisdom literature and we are heading into the prophets now. We have also learnt about the Church and are about to wrap up our apologetics section, before moving on to studying spiritual warfare. I am thankful to be learning these things, while at the same time being forced to put what I am learning into practice as I walk the streets day to day.
There have been some tough and stretching days here for sure and God has certainly brought me to a unique place, where people are really struggling; the brokenness and effects of sin are at times so evident and in your face on the streets, and at other times you can only wonder what could be going on behind the many closed doors in the buildings. And yet, God is not absent. He is working in our midst and His kingdom is being established sometimes in the most unlikely ways. And we get to participate in it! What an amazing privilege.
Please pray for this neighbourhood and for me; that God would continue to set people free, that He would be glorified in my time here and that he would strengthen my prayer life. Also that He would continue to give me a thankful heart in the slow and often draining work of ministering to the people in the Tenderloin.
In Christ alone
Love Grant
San Francisco City Impact is an organisation that tries to provide holistic care for people, taking care for their physical day to day needs (providing food and health care and clothes), as well as caring for their spiritual needs and seeking to point them to Jesus and bring them into church community.
Granty! Miss you so much man but I’m so very sure that you’re there by His commission and sent with so much love from Dad’s throne to be mined and resourced for those beautiful people – you’ll see it yet bud, stick it out! So proud of you and incredibly inspired by your journey!