The Loss of a Friend

What mixed feelings urban ministry can bring! Yesterday there was a major raid in our neighborhood. The swat team came in unmarked police cars and took out several guys from our neighborhood. For some months now we have been struggling with an increase in foot traffic around our house. We were afraid because many people who were desperate and could be potentially dangerous were walking past our house on a constant basis. We made friends with some of the guys that were involved in this. One guy in particular I have had many deep discussions with. Although his life is not lined up with God's purposes at present God worked through him to minister to me on several occassions. Yesterday the police had him lying face down to the ground with handcuffs on his wrists. The feeling is a wierd mixture of relief that some of the safety issues for our neighborhood will improve and sorrow for a friend who is now going through some very real and difficult transitions. Don't get me wrong he deserves what is happening...but we all deserve some sort of punishment don't we? But Christ's love reaches even beyond our evil to minister to our hearts!