News Connection: Poverty Undercover

This was a great story. Front page of The News Connection this week: Poverty and the Modern Christian.

Investigative reporter Stephen Website goes undercover at Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, at the behest of its senior pastor Jim Ozier, to find out how a smelly, disheveled man (a "bum") would be received in God's house. You might be surprised. You might not be.

My wife and kids and I are members of Trietsch. We joined the church 10 years ago, and we've been privileged to be part of its phenomenal growth. It's a terrific place to worship and share faith in Jesus Christ. The people at Trietsch are as loving as any you will find, and the church regularly supports many community and world ministries, including Christian Community Action.

So why am I not surprised that a "bum" would get the "bum's rush" in our church? Probably because I am the church, and the church is me. Sad as that is. Up here in Flower Mound, we're pretty isolated from seeing things like this. Had I encountered Mr. Webster in church like some of our members reportedly did, I fear I would have been the same unloving example of God's love. And that saddens me.

Good job, Mr. Webster. Heckuva story.