By Kim Thoday It was 1993, in Sydney's Martin Place, and Jeff Gambin sat on a park bench. Jeff was taking a break from his busy schedule . life as a well known Sydney restaurateur was a hectic one. It was a cold night just after 10pm. An old man suddenly appeared near Jeff and said: "Why don't you sleep in that doorway, its cold out here." Jeff said thanks but told the old guy that it was okay because he had a home of his own. However, it seemed that the guy was not convinced, perhaps wondering if Jeff had too much pride to admit to being homeless. The old guy opened the one bag that he carried and pulled out a rug. Jeff could see that it was the only thing in the bag. It appeared to be all the man had apart from the clothes he wore. Here was a human being offering another human being his only earthly possession. Profoundly moved by this experience, Jeff's life would never be the same again. He spent the next week seeking out the old man. When he finally caught up with him, the old guy became Jeff's passport into a parallel world on Sydney's streets - the world of people living with homelessness and poverty. Soon the Indian born restaurateur sold his businesses and most of his assets and for the last ten years has operated a food van from which he and other volunteers feed 500 or more people with a choice of eight dishes. The charity project is known as JEF (Just Enough Faith) and the old man who offered the blanket became Jeff's best man at his wedding. (http://www.justenoughfaith.org) Jesus Christ is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus always comes as the stranger who invites us to come and be part of a parallel world - to lose ourselves in order to find ourselves. But we need just enough faith to recognize Jesus and come to know him and his friends and follow. Grace and Peace, Kim Thoday, Hewett Community Church of Christ
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