Church challenges and innovations aren’t unique

Pastor Matthew Best
7 min readNov 22, 2024

I serve a church that hosts three free clinics that serve the community where the church is located. It’s a unique call in many ways — serving as both the pastor of the congregation as well as the executive director of the health ministries. It’s an urban setting in a highly economically challenged section of Harrisburg, in Allison Hill. There are many other challenges for the people who live in this community.

Yesterday on my way in to the church, I was a stop light in my car waiting for the light to change. There was a man with a sign at the corner. He was homeless and looking for some help. He motioned to me to put my window down so he could ask a question. I obliged. He didn’t ask for money, but rather for food. I gave him part of the lunch I had brought with me. There’s not a whole I can do, but I do what I can. I gave him not only some food, but also an acknowledgement of his humanity. And reminded me of my own. I need that and so does he.

Parking for the church is primarily along the street and I pulled up where I normally park. It is well known that there is prostitution occurring in these streets. One of the ladies came walking my way, who I greeted and said good morning. She could see I wasn’t interested in her services, and she complimented the color of my car instead. I thanked her and wished her well and safety for the day. I said a prayer for her on my way into the church. There’s not much I can do, but I do what I can. I hope that awfully boring normal interaction of pleasantries was a…

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Pastor Matthew Best
Pastor Matthew Best

Written by Pastor Matthew Best

My name is Matthew Best. I’m an ELCA (Lutheran) pastor who attempts to translate church and churchy stuff into everyday language.

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