Courtside Ministries

Last month, I was notified to serve on jury duty in Richmond.

I really wasn’t too thrilled, because it meant reporting to the local courthouse at 8 AM and sitting in a sort of holding room or “bullpen”along with about 150 other people, and and waiting and waiting to find out if we were needed to serve on one of the juries for the court cases scheduled that week. This takes all morning, and meanwhile you have to sit in a stiff chair, along with others seated in row after row of chairs. There is one TV program set up for us to watch, magazines, or you can read your own material or read the magazines provided.

You have to stay in the room unless you need the restroom. And since everyone is seated in this one vast room, it is pretty awkward to talk with someone, since EVERYONE can hear you, so people on the whole keep to themselves. And it’s very QUIET.

(Internet photo)

Knowing that is is our civic duty, and knowing that someday, if any of us had to go plead our case, we would surely appreciate 13 impartial people listening and deciding, versus instead of just one judge..it does motivate one to serve. And to many, it’s a way to get out of work.

So in light of Acts 17:24-28...that, I paraphrase, God “sets our appointed times” and that “in Him we live and move and have our being”, I thought that I was here for an intentional reason. With all these people, I thought I was here to strike a conversation with someone God had in mind.

I’d assumed.  Because I prayed several times for God to lead me to someone, and I couldn’t make it happen. Was I too chicken? Did I shrink back because it was so quiet and that everyone (I kid you not) could hear our conversation? I started to beat myself of up about being a coward. But I couldn’t make it happen. Who knows?

Then the lady in charge, the one clerk behind the counter called out a selected 30 peoples’ names and they were escorted out to the courtrooms. I prayed again.

I went to the outer hallway just outside the bullpen room, where the restrooms were. There were a dozen or so chairs with more people scattered about and sitting in a row, their backs facing a large picture window. I gazed out and saw an information table set up. A small group was there. The banner on the table said “Courtside Ministries”.  I saw that those people were volunteering to pray for/with anyone who wanted prayer before entering or after leaving court.

I thought that that was very touching. Most people are really stressed or sad at the courts. So I said to a kind-looking lady right by me, “That’s a nice thing....it’s nice that people can help pray for people if they want it.”

Boy, did that lady react! Her attitude changed and she got rather angry, saying, “They shouldn’t have people out there “in your face” and bothering people, etc., etc.”.

I sure rubbed her the wrong way. Surprised, yet not surprised, I was a little caught off guard. I didn’t say “Sorry”, so that was good. I did reply, “Well, they really don’t seem to be bothering people. You have a choice whether want to stop and have prayer.”

The next thing I knew, immediately, everyone as dismissed by the clerk. No further jurors were needed. Everyone hustled out of there, relieved to get out.

I stopped to find out about the Courtside Ministries table. They were people from local churches, and this was an organization to simply be there for people. Not to be judgmental, or find out about all their business but just to call upon God to support them. Very impartial and very kind and loving.

...I thought it was a wonderful idea and Ministry. It really touched my heart. Then I found out there was a group right in my hometown too.  I stepped out in faith and gave someone there my contact info. And went home to pray about it....