The first time I met Rebel I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of the movement she and her team were creating in Sioux Falls! The unconditional love, shown to everyone, is the kind of love Jesus wanted us to show when he said love your neighbor. Everyone has a story, even the unhoused. By taking just a few minutes to listen and show compassion, we can be the face of Jesus to someone that has never experienced Him.
The first couple I met from Church on the Street surprised me in a lot of ways. Their rawness and honesty was beautiful. I was taken aback by how open they were with me, a person they met only seconds ago. While I listened, I wasn’t sure what to say or how to react. I had never heard first-hand anything like what they were telling me. I had read stories and testimonies of people who had lived on the streets, but now people were right in front of me, telling me of their misfortunes and blessings. As the minutes passed, I saw the living gospel, not just in Pastor Rebel, but in the couple sitting in front of me. The visit may not have lasted long, but that couple, the first people I ever met from Church on the Street, changed my life in a lot of unexpected ways. Every time I see them, they welcome me with open arms. I am deeply grateful for this couple and how they introduced me to a life-changing ministry.