Loving the unlovable

Book review: Whose Child is this by Bill Wilson

Wow.  What a book this is. 

Bill Wilson is the founder and Senior Pastor of Metro Ministries; America’s largest ministry to children, gathering around 20,000 kids every week to their Sunday school meetings.  The movement is international, with branches of the ministry in several other nations and the model is used in Churches everywhere.

The book is Bills story from orphan to orphan rescuer.  He was abandoned by both parents as a teenager and after being taken in by a faithful Christian family he went on to launch and establish the ministry in one of New York’s hardest areas, Bushwick.  At a time when the police had even stopped responding to calls to the area and would only send in Special Forces teams, Bill decided to move into the ghetto.  He was the only white man in town and faced rejected, failure, abuse, muggings and physical attacks. 

It’s an inspirational story; I found myself in tears several times reading some of the things that he saw and indeed experienced.  There are three things stood out for me in this book and that I want to share as they’ve stirred me and challenged me on how I do life and ministry:

1. One person can make a difference

Bill Wilson certainly has.  He is impacting thousands, if not millions of lives through his ministry.  Personally I want to change the world.  I want to be someone who impacts this little planet called earth.  I want to do something that changes people’s lives.  This book has reminded me and inspired me to push on with my dreams and goals because it is possible.

2. The need is the call

So often we think we need a lightning bolt revelation, a flash of inspiration or an invitation to help and impact things around us but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  Bill Wilson reminds us that we are called to serve the need that we see around us.  If a poor man is homeless and hungry don’t wait to be told…do.  If a child is alone and dying don’t wait for an invitation…act.

3.  People need to know that you care

The ministry that Bill Wilson leads visit 20,000 families each week.  They give up their time to care for the families and children that no one else wants to spend time with.  They show that they care before they try and tell them what they know.  They try to help with practical and physical needs before preaching at them.  They first and foremost love those they serve.

 This book profoundly challenged me and has stirred me to look again at my own life and ask myself how am I making a difference; am I serving the need and do the people I serve know that I love them?