Unexpected guests at two Methodist churches

I was busy shuttling across the West Midlands today. I preached in one church and then had to rush back to my own church for a general meeting and a communal lunch. At both churches just as we were leaving we had unexpected guests.

Let me start with the pleasant side of this hospitality. The unexpected guest at our my own church was a local Christian who was putting himself forward as a Conservative local council candidate. He hadn't seen our church door open before (mainly because he would be worshiping elsewhere) so called in as he was passing.

He belongs to a different political party to myself but we still admired his enthusiasm and his keenness to meet us. We prayed for him and others seeking office and it felt  right.

The encounter at the church where I preached was less pleasant but sadly a fact of church life. I suspect many readers know the scenario. Just before the last hymn a couple arrived. The church stewards welcomed them in and they clearly had difficulty catching up with the hymn book and proceedings.

After I had said the blessing and dismissal one of the stewards approached me. The  couple would like to have a private word with me. My heart sank. I knew full well what this was about.

I then got what sounded like a very long story that didn't hold water. They had no money for petrol to get them home nor for food. They claimed to have been visiting  relatives in the area but were hazy about where they lived.

They asked me for a "blessing", and I said a prayer that didn't feel right. I've been through this before and I couldn't help feeling, so too had they.

I consulted with the stewards who confirmed that they had a policy of not giving money. This is a wise policy and one that many churches in our area now follow.

We used to give at our church and often found several regular people turning up as our services ended. They always knew the exact moment to arrive. In fact there was one man who turned up at a church where I was leading the 9.30 service and then came to our church just as someone else was closing the 11.00 service. I arrived to find him telling the exact same story knowing that the saints at the 9.30 had already given him the £10 he so desperately needed for his electricity meter.

This morning we decided that as they were hungry we would offer food. Two tins were found and I offered it to them. This angered them. They clearly expected us to give them a "loan" - which of course they would pay back - large enough to get them back to their home which they claimed was on the South Coast.

I must admit I felt intimidated and could see that a scene would ensue as the rest of the congregation were about to enjoy the fellowship of a cup of tea.

In the end the request was reduced dramatically. Would we lend them enough for a  gallon of diesel? Myself and the steward dipped into our own pockets and sorted out a fiver. They wanted me to give them my address so they could repay the money. "Not on your life" I thought and explained it was a gift.

On my part this was no act of Christian charity. I just wanted to get rid of two thoroughly unpleasant people who clearly saw churches as a soft touch.

On this occasion they got a fiver. The tins were left in the church, clearly they weren't that hungry. I wonder how often they persuade a gullible clergy or steward to hand them the £50 or so that was their original request? And I wondered what they did were anyone foolish enough to give an address?

I came away feeling thoroughly fed up. That's one of the reasons it was so pleasant to meet the candidate, even if we was from a different party!

There are times that I feel totally inadequate for the role to which the Lord has called me.