The 2013 Jimmy Brazell Community Impact Scholarship Essay Contest
Sarah Roberts
257 Jared Sparks Rd
Willington, CT 06279
rangerdog1@yahoo.com
(860)576-7503
Jimmy Brazell passionately and unreservedly gave Christ-like love away. On the inside of
Jimmy’s Bible was written: “THE ESSENCE OF LOVE IS GIVING. THE ESSENCE OF LIFE IS LOVE.”
Isaiah 61:1 says: “The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the
prisoners.” Both this verse and Jimmy’s quote tell us that as Christians we must go out and live a
life of selfless, sacrificial love.
Jesus went to the poor, neglected, and broken. He went to those in need of a spiritual
doctor. Jesus left his throne and came to our world to serve sinful people. As Jesus’ followers
we are COMMANDED to “GO.” Jesus didn’t say “go later,” or “go when you want.” In the Bible
Jesus called a man to “come follow me,” but the man was too busy. If we think we are too busy
now or we’ll go represent Jesus to others later; it will never happen. Winston Churchill once
said, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.” We all must step out in faith now
and follow where God leads now. There is no promise of tomorrow for me, you, or the lost
person on the street.
God put it on my heart to join The Rock, a ministry serving inner city children in Rockville,
Connecticut. I am not from the same background as these kids, but that doesn’t matter. God
gave me a passion to reach my community with His love.
The Rock is based on Metro Ministries, a kid’s church currently serving over 25,000 kids each
week in New York City. Willie Perez, sidewalk Sunday school director at Metro, is famous for
saying, "Your willingness and faithfulness, or lack thereof, will make a difference in someone's
eternity." How very true. We are to be Christ’s ambassadors to the world. It is my prayer that
when given an opportunity to be the face of Jesus’ love, I will not miss it.
In our small corner of the world, on Friday night, we hold our kids church. We bus the
children in from the streets, give them a warm meal, lead them in a powerful time of worship,
and then present an engaging Bible lesson. I volunteer in the preschool church, older kid’s
church, and with the home visitation team.
The staff visits the children biweekly. Before home visits we meet for prayer, and then split
into teams of two. We climb many dark steep staircases and enter small smelly apartments
with broken doorknobs and thin doors. We go from one cold and drafty apartment to the next,
checking on each child and inviting other children on the streets to come to The Rock.
I see inside each child’s home, and hear his or her story. Most Rock families consist of a
single mother with many children who do not share the same last name, or a grandmother
acting as mother in place of the children’s absent parents. These children have been victims of
neglect, hunger, physical, emotional, and sometimes sexual abuse. A select few have a good
parent; however, most children live in unhealthy environments.
These are children who have souls, children who don’t need pity, but love. They are made in
the image of God, made to worship God, made to lead others to God. The children are hopeless
until someone brings the hope of Jesus. It is our obligation as Christians to fight for the kid’s
souls and to protect them through the power of prayer. Jesus calls us to follow him into the
streets where the hearts of these children wait.
What I’ve seen in the kid’s lives is difficult, but they are proof that your situation in life is not
an excuse for apathy, but an excuse for action. When the kids live out Jesus’ example, they are
a strong witness to others, and their love and reliance on the Lord grows. There are a lot of
children who have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord of their life, but I am seeing many children
come to Christ. The children that are Christians aren’t half-in; they are trying the best they can
to live like Christ.
To be a witness you have to go and show. Go meet people where they are and show by loving
and caring. Billy Graham said, “The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal
and bless. The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. The
greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless.” I do
visitations in Rockville because, by coming into the families homes, I am meeting them where
they are and loving them for who they are. I can walk out on those streets with Christ by my
side and entrust my life to him as a witness to his kingdom.
I want people to remember Christ’s love in me. There is no time to waste; I must choose to
serve the Lord with my whole heart today. I can only fulfill my call when I fully rely on Christ’s
strength and love. If I live a mission of 1 Corinthians 13 love, others will see Jesus through me.
There are people everywhere searching for something to fill their life. I have nothing and can do
nothing, except through Christ, and it was Christ’s love that compelled me to join The Rock.
We must go out and be authentic Christians. We must step out in faith. Go, give love. Serve
unreservedly, and show we truly care. As a result, our love for, reliance on, and relationship
with Christ will continue to grow. Through Christ-like love, others are coming to know the love
that Jimmy lived by, and through Christ-like love we can make a difference in this world. “THE
ESSENCE OF LOVE IS GIVING. THE ESSENCE OF LIFE IS LOVE.”