Our back yard at Cottonwood Grove (CWG) in Wichita KS by Fran Meservy
Untidy Tenant by Frances M. McCrory-Meservy May 1992
One of the rules in our community was that the yard around your home had to be kept tidy. A person could have playground equipment but at the end of the day the smaller toys should be out of sight (in a toy box or behind the deck). We had one tenant whose yard was always a mess - even the grass was too high most of the time.
I could see fruit from the lady of the house but even though the man said he was a Christian, he did not act like one and I saw no fruit. I prayed about it and God said, "If someone says they are a Christian, treat them like one."
I typed them a letter telling them that as Christians we were supposed to set the example for the rest of the community. We were supposed to pay our rent on time, keep our yards looking nice and generally obey the terms of our leases.
After that, they stuck with their lease agreement.
I discovered that treating everyone as if they were Christians made my job easier. I could tell them what the Bible said and expect them to adhere to God's word. 99% of the time it worked. I never said, "The Bible says." I just paraphrased scripture into whatever I was trying to relay to the community.
One of the best tools I had was the monthly newsletter. I had a special column set aside where I expounded on a Biblical principal without saying it was from the Bible. Relationships started to improve in the community as people started applying the principals. After I'd been there for a year, I added a Christian column written by our youth minister and our church had a youth ministry at the clubhouse once a week for the children.
One day my boss said, "I think we should evict every couple who are living together and are not married." I laughed and told him that would be about 50 families. He was shocked. I asked him, "Wouldn't it be better if I talked them into getting married instead." He said financially that would be best. I lost count; but there were several couples who got married and several who just separated and lived singly until they met the right person and got married. Yep - I kind of meddled; but no one complained.
No one ever complained about the Christian messages that were in the newsletter. I even wrote about a supernatural event in the newsletter. After I could no longer work, one couple complained every time the new manager put something about Jesus or God in the newsletter. It was really strange. No she did not stop putting things about God in the newsletter.
I was always available for counseling (Unequally Yoked women, children who wanted advice & couples who had marital problems) or just lending an ear to someone in distress. I almost wore my 700 Club Counseling book out and did wear one Bible out (tabs wore off, no gold left on the edging, one page tore and half gone).
I can tell you now that if God has something to say to someone, He uses whomever is willing as a speaker. It just goes in your head and out your mouth. The whole time you brain is going, "You don't know that!" But God did know that and the person you were speaking to would come back with, "No one knew that. God must have told you." It is awesome when God uses you that way.
John 13:13-17 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Phil 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
1 Tim 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
James 5:10-11 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
1 Pet 2:21-24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
1 Pet 3:1-2 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.