If the St. Louis Cardinals were to hit a homer out of the park, to the delight of tens of thousands of fans, then if that ball rolled down the hill to the river, you would find St. Louis’s infamous tent city.
The area of St Louis is a dead industrial city, of acres large abandoned industrial buildings, covered in graffiti, broken windows and crumbling brick walls. Speaking with a woman who had once wandered into one over tent city she said; “There was a giant pentagram painted inside on the floor, and in a hole in the floor to the basement you could see a big human size altar. It was too creepy, I had to get out. You could just feel the evil in the air.”
The place reminded me a lot of Isaiah 25:2.
“For You have made a City into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin; a palace of strangers is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt.”
This week the team from Louisiana hosted by AIM spent almost every afternoon visiting tent city, a sprawling sectional assortment of shacks, tents, piles of wood and fire pits. If you’ve been to third world slums you would recognize the similarities, but be confused by the St. Louis gateway arch in the background. Third world slums are more permanent than Tent city because there are no walls, just fabric and plywood sheets. Tent city lived through snowstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes. It is a dynamic flow of homeless (“Temporarily displaced”), addicts, drunks, the used and abused and those who have given up trying to succeed at life. Excellent potential for Christ; at the point of stopping trying.
What struck me was that very few of the residents knew each other well, mostly only knowing the other’s various addictions and problems. They were mostly strangers to each other, commenting on how everyone had two sides, two faces. But all were adamant that they were still strong, that they could and WOULD defend themselves if it came to it.
“Therefore a strong people will glorify you; Cities of ruthless nations will revere you.” – Isaiah 25:3
In making friends in Tent City I came to shelter made of a couple tents and tarps, with a guy named Joey. Joey and his girlfriend were living there temporarily, in someone else’s tent, until a job might come to him. Joey used to be in a big death metal band on tour, but things fell apart as drugs and a split rocked the band. As Joey is a Satan worshiper I was happily surprised that he agreed to pray with us that he not be kicked out of tent city in the morning. Hearing he might have a job, the others in Tent City were ready to forcibly evict him as soon as possible. We prayed;
“Lord, you said that even the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has no place to rest His head. We ask You would teach Joey what you meant in that, that You would teach your purpose for homelessness in even Christ Himself to Joey. Please take control and provide for Joey the revelation of who You are as A shelter for the needy.”
The next day at Tent City; Joey was in great Spirits. Even though the potential of a job was put off for two weeks, the residents around him in Tent City had a change of heart and would allow them to stay longer. He came to the concert and opened up to conversation on God and ‘gods.’
“For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat.” – Isaiah 25:4
Joey’s temperament was subdued, and his anger and frustration taken away for awhile. It was nice to hear the thoughtful side of him.
“Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of the alien.” – Isaiah 25:5
He let me hear the death metal music his band had made before it’s splitting apart, and though it was worshiping death, it was professionally done and he has a great voice. Joey has a huge potential for worshiping Christ. He really enjoyed the rapper Big Al and the gospel message, and the huge pizza, pasta and dessert dinner that various ministries put on at a small park there.
“The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for ALL peoples on this mountain;”
– Isaiah 25:6
Of those temporarily displaced who came and stayed for the dinner and songs, drunks and angry men put out their good side and enjoyed a fellowship in a place not just accepting, but caring for them. A drunk man got up and worshiped Jesus for forgiveness with joyful bliss, staggering, dancing with his arms in the air. Drunk enough at the moment to believe the incredible message he heard. And we joined him, worshiping Jesus.
“He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach from His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.” – Isaiah 25:8
Joey and I started to talk about why sometimes the exact same action could be an offence, and other times a blessing from God. A lot of people go through Tent City to give, sometimes as a charity, other times as a pity. I told him how the ideal of man was that Christ not just live in him, but through him. “Jesus’ solution for eternity wasn’t just for the point of our death, but for our life to begin at the start of life in Him.” Though a work can be identical, righteous works – effective and in God’s character – is when Jesus lives through you.”
Joey was dumbstruck and then excited that what had always made no sense – God’s life for you in the present – made sense, and was in the Christian ‘Religion.’ He wasn’t about to stop talking to demonic forces, but he understood what ‘ideal’ Jesus offered wasn’t supposed to be the burden it was shown to him in works.
“And it will be said in that day, Behold, this is our God, for whom we have waited, the He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited.” – Isaiah 25:9
We talked about the fall of Satan and his angels, and how it seemed suspicious to him; ‘a conspiracy where God is punishing Satan for finding what He didn’t want us to know.” I said “Joey, there’s one prayer that God loves to answer for a person in your place. Ask Him who has the power.” Joey didn’t say if He would or not, I’m not sure what his internal allegiances are in saying a prayer to God. But I know this;
“The unassailable fortifications of your walls He will bring down, Lay low and cast down, Even to the dust.” – Isaiah 25:11
Whatever internal defenses Joey and the people of Tent City have before God, they are nothing to Him to tear down. They are like tarps and shacks to Him; defenseless and temporary.
