A homeless couple in Washington, D.C. got married in a local church last week.Well, that doesn't really do it justice. Let me try again: Members of a church in Washington, D.C. organized a wedding service for a homeless couple last week.
Nope. Still not good enough. One more try: Members of Grace Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. paid for flowers, rings, invitations and more to give homeless couple Dante White and Nhiahni Chestnut the wedding of their dreams on Saturday, May 2.
Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? Marc Fisher, a columnist with the Washington Post, wrote a pre-wedding blog about the couple's nuptials:
It was church member Margaret Davis who started the ball rolling, taking the couple to Virginia to buy a ring. Then the wedding planning snowballed. Lenore Reid brought Nhiahni to shop for a gown. Dante will wear a tux, thanks to Jason Studl. The invitations are printed, elegant lilac cards in formal script. The reception will feature a three-tiered wedding cake, made by Kristin Killoran, and music by two of Washington's finest jazz professionals, Marshall Keys and Herman Burney. The newlyweds will have a honeymoon, two nights at the Key Bridge Marriott, a gift from church members and the hotel.
Isn't it romantic?
I think it's more than romantic. I think it's beautiful. I think it's wonderful. I think that this is a beautiful picture of the bride of Christ (aka, the Church) caring for and loving the people God loves.
What interests me even more is that the love doesn't stop with the wedding. According to an AFP story on Yahoo! News, the members at Grace Church are now looking for ways to help the couple get off the streets.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
I think this is an amazing example of what it means to love our neighbors, to care for the poor, to give freely what has been given to us and at least a dozen other Christian commands that are spoken much but performed little.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible comes from the book of James, written by a man that tradition holds was the brother of Jesus. James wrote to the early Christ-followers about what it means to truly have faith. Faith cannot be real unless it is manifested in what you do, he says. Likewise, what you do means nothing if you don't do it in faith.
"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do," he challenges. (James 2:14-26)
I believe that Grace Episcopal Church met that challenge. The cynic in me rolls its eyes and says this was a fluke, but the optimist in me screams that God is still alive in the American church.
Can you imagine what would happen if more churches did what Grace did? Can you fathom the impact the Church could have in this country if more Christians threw away their religion and became Christ-followers putting their faith into action?
I hope other churches hear about this. More than that, I hope they take it as a personal challenge to creatively and gleefully meet the needs of the poor, impoverished, homeless, sick, hungry, hopeless and hopeful in their own backyards. Money doesn't always meet a person's need or needs (directed to back-pew check writers who can't afford inconvenience or empathy). Creative, selfless, unabashed love in action does.
It's beautiful, I tell you. Just beautiful.
The feature photo was found in a brief slideshow of the couple's wedding. It is attributed to Nicholas Kamm of AFP.
I love the enthusiasm in your blog and you definately have found your voice just as Mrs. Hilt alluded to in class.
ReplyDeleteJust a personal thought on this story. Wouldn't that money they used on the wedding be better spent on an apartment?
In the blog that Marc Fisher posted, we learn that the couple has been on the waiting list for housing for a long time. When you're on the streets for a long period of time, you get to know what the local routines and help-spots are.
ReplyDeleteThe couple have a small income from White's disability check, so they're not without *some* money. They met on the streets, and they were together for nine years on the streets before the church threw the wedding for them. They know how to live, and they know where they can go if they need to.
I think that if the church had paid for an apartment, it would have been very difficult for them to continue payments on rent, utilities, renter's insurance, groceries, furnishings, etc.. When you're use to not having those responsibilities, it can be a lot to deal with.
What impresses me about this church is that they didn't stop with the wedding. They're looking for a housing situation that the couple will be able to maintain. I think you make a good point about meeting practical needs, though. Thanks, Sam.
Wow, that is amazing. I can't believe the church came together in such a way for this couple. You don't hear alot about churches truly being involved in the community. I also love that passage in James. My pastor always goes back to that passage in almost every sermon he preaches, particularly verses 15-16. Not that every other verse in the Bible has significance, but this verse is really helpful in guiding a Christian's words and actions. Really nice post Meagan!!
ReplyDeleteSorry. I meant to say "not that every other verse in the Bible isn't significant" in my above comment. You know what I mean. Haha.
ReplyDelete