Shoe Goo: A Runaway Shelter Update

Do you know what Shoe Goo is? To be honest, it’s really spelled “Goop,” but that didn’t rhyme so I went with “Goo.”

Shoe goop is glue for shoes. You can buy it at Walmart and most hardware stores. When your shoe starts to fall apart and you want to be careful with money, you go get some Shoe Goo and glue it back together. This saves you from having to buy new shoes; they’re good for at least another couple of weeks! (Really I have personally used the stuff and it does not last long.)

Now I can only imagine what you are thinking: “How is Scott going to tie Shoe Goo into missions during this prayer letter?” I’m very glad you asked and that others witnessed this, because you would not believe this story.

A couple of weeks ago, we arrived at the runaway shelter for our normal Wednesday night program. As I was finished speaking, a young man named VJ came up and said he really liked what I had to say and wanted to know if we would be back next week. I told him that we come very Wednesday night. His response? “Great! Could you bring me some glue?” Unsure of what he meant, I asked him why he needed glue. VJ said, "You see, I have these shoes and need to glue them back together. I have all the pieces right here.” I offered to take VJ to buy some shoes, but he insisted that he wanted glue for his shoes. I promised to bring some the next week.

The next week, I walked into the shelter, and VJ ran up to me asking for the glue. Unfortunately, I had had forgotten all about the glue, but my wife heard and offered to run to the store for glue as I started the program. We had a great evening, and VJ listened to every word. As soon as I was done praying, VJ jumped up and asked for the glue. Thankfully Joy was back with the Shoe Goo before anybody knew she was gone. VJ brought me his shoes and all of the rubber pieces that had come off and asked me to glue all of the pieces back together for him. So I sat there and glued the dirty old sneakers back together, piece by piece while VJ watched. When I finished, I reminded him not to wear them until the glue had dried overnight.

A week later as I walked back into the shelter, VJ met me at the door to look at his shoes again. He said, “They are perfect, and all of the pieces are still on. Check out how good they look!”

At first, I didn’t understand why he wanted to fix the old, worn out shoes. But later I learned why. VJ was taken from his home, and the only thing he could grab was this pair of shoes his mom had bought for him. She used all the money she had to buy him the shoes and told him to take good care of them. VJ said to me, “Pastor Scott, I know my mom is coming back for me, and I am going to show her that I am grown up and can take care of myself, just like I took care of my shoes. I know she is coming back.”

VJ wanted to make his mom proud, and I’m honored that I was able to help VJ. Without your support of Leverage Ministries, this wouldn’t be possible. Because of your support, we were able to buy shoe goo and glue VJ’s shoes back together. Because of your support, we are able to share Christ with VJ and also every young person we come in contact with each and every day.

Matthew 10:42 says, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

In Jesus’s time, it was a cup of cold water. In our time, it was a tube of glue.

Would you be willing to give a special gift this holiday season to help Leverage Ministries continue to glue lives back together with the glue only Christ can provide? Give online today at www.leverageministries.org/donate or mail a check in the enclosed envelope.

Thank you again for your continued prayer and financial support. We appreciate you!

Scott Hirdes
Executive Director