Love Loud: A Shoe Story

If someone told you to walk out of your shoes, leave them behind, and go home from church barefoot, you’d probably say, “that’s crazy.” And you’d be right- it’s crazy love! Last Sunday, over 1,200 people made a decision to be crazy in love with Jesus. To demonstrate their commitment, they were asked to leave their shoes.

It wasn’t about the shoes. It was about commitment, which made it a totally different experience. Men wept. Women cried and prayed together. Senior adults, students, children, and persons of all ages came forward. The  tiers of shoes covered the steps. After leaving their shoes, people did not want to leave, they wanted to know more about crazy love. No one complained about being barefoot- that was a miracle! As they finally drifted away, families walked to their cars conversing, brainstorming ways they could show the love of Jesus to the world in practical ways. 

Families went to the mall to buy shoes. Employees asked, “Why all the barefoot people?” The store of crazy love was passed on. Other families went with barefeet to restuarants accepting that they might be turned away, “No shoes, no shirt, no service.” but none were.

As the week progressed, people from throughout the region asked, “has your church gone crazy?” The answer is yes, we have. We are crazy in love with Jesus and crazy in love with people!

The shoes are going to the organization Samaritian’s Feet which hopes to distribute 10 million pairs of shoes to the world’s shoeless in ten years. As they give the shoes, they wash the feet of the receiver and share the love of Jesus. Shoes are also going to Dress for Success, they provide homeless people with decent shoes to be used in obtaining a job. The Rescue Mission will receive the remainder.

quite a shoe story.

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