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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

When some of the members of John Wesley UMC in Annapolis began reaching out to a runaway boy they noticed hanging around their parking lot, they didn't know the relationship would begin to redefine both the future of the boy and the church.

It was at the end of November, on a rainy Sunday morning, when the members noticed a teenager wandering around their property. One of the members invited him in, but "he wasn't too sure about us," said the church pastor, the Rev. Jerry Colbert.

Another member tried again, telling the boy, "It's cold out here," and letting him know he would be okay inside.

The boy, Weston, came into the church and stayed for the service, and even came forward to the altar when the pastor issued an invitation for prayer.

He tarried there, Colbert said, and some of the church's lay ministers talked with him, asking how the church could help.

Weston admitted that he had run away from his home in northern Virginia. He was living in the woods near the church.

One of the church members took him to Burlington Coat Factory and bought him a jacket. Weston asked, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"That's what God's people are called to do," Colbert explained. "We take care of those who are hurting, of those who are homeless."

The interesting thing was - Colbert and his congregation realized - this wasn't something their congregation really did. Instead, too often in the past, "their ministry was being the church," keeping the doors open and attending Sunday mornings.

"Meeting this little Caucasian boy, taking him in, loving him and tending to his needs opened up some of our eyes and hearts. It's a new world for us," Colbert said.

The journey wasn't entirely smooth. Initially, Weston was reluctant to accept help. When the church made arrangements for him to stay at an area shelter, he ended up leaving. "I sensed he was going through some mental hurt," Colbert said.

But the next Sunday Weston was back in church, and the members continued to reach out to him, inviting him to dinner, contacting local police so that they would keep an eye out for his safety. One family took him to see a play.

And throughout it all, they prayed, making sure Weston knew God loved him.

Eventually, John Wesley members convinced Weston to contact his family. On Dec. 12, his mother and sister came to worship. They joined Weston at the altar for prayer and he agreed to return home.

The Rev. Susan-Keirn Kester, the church's Guide who was in worship that morning, prayed with Weston and is convinced, she said, that he is going home knowing Jesus in a new way.

"We're trying to be the Acts 2 church the bishop is encouraging us to be," said Colbert. "The congregation is a small group of loving people. Lately, they've begun to move out of their box and care for those who stand in need."

Weston isn't the only sign the church is changing.

The church's basement was in disrepair and contractors estimated the work to make it habitable would exceed $50,000 - money the 55 people who met each Sunday for worship just didn't have.

The congregation enlisted the help of the Honey-Doers, a men's ministry team from nearby Calvary UMC.

The connection between the two congregations brought some vitality to the John Wesley congregation, which is now providing space for a Hispanic church to worship in its building on Sunday evenings.

Colbert attributes the new spirit, which led to the members reaching out to Weston, to
providing meaningful worship that lifts people's spirits. The conviction of the words we say and sing in worship move us out of the pews, into the community, Colbert said.

Since Weston, people are thinking about faith a little differently, said Colbert. "My slogan for this church has always been ‘The little church in the valley who reaches out to everyone who passes our doors.' We now know the church is not just a building. We're doing things we never did before."