A funny thing happened when the cop stopped me...

[Mike McVey]

I was stopped by a police officer at about 8:45pm yesterday. The reason… Speeding? Causing a disturbance? Jaywalking? Nope. Apparently asking people about their clothes is considered soliciting here in Scottdale. While walking home from a Scottdale Planning Meeting concerning the future of the borough of Scottdale, I saw two teenagers, one who was dressed completely in black. I asked the guy about his clothes, and mentioned that if I was able to get away with it, I would wear all black as well.

Next thing you know, a cop is walking up to us. The guy and his sister said that we were loitering and should probably start walking (later I found out that the police were not very favorable to them, this cop specifically). The cop stopped us and before he said anything, I apologized for loitering, mentioning that I am the new Nazarene pastor to Scottdale and was unaware of the laws concerning this. He stopped for a second, and said that the problem was not loitering, but soliciting. He said something like, “People around here don’t like being asked questions, and some people saw you asking these two questions that seemed inappropriate. I’m sorry if this offends you, but you can’t go up to people and ask them to go to your church without a solicitor’s license.” I found out how to obtain a solicitor’s license, apologized for the confusion, and assured the officer that I was not soliciting. The guy and his sister agreed. I had not asked them to come to church.

The funny thing is the guy and his sister were putting up yard sale signs (what I understand to be a clear sign of solicitation) without a license. We had a nice two hour conversation after this incident. We talked about music and clothes, and eventually we talked about church. But our talk about church was more in jest to the cop’s idea of soliciting. We constantly joked about, “Now, I’m not soliciting, but…”

The sad thing is that the guy’s family is in an interesting situation. They are constantly harassed by the cops, though they admit that sometimes it is warranted. But the major reason they are harassed is they do not fit the Scottdale status quo of a good citizen. Wearing all black and impregnating your girlfriend or being impregnated by some guy is not kosher around here. And instead of finding ways to help this family, there are those in authority who want to punish them.

The guy’s family and future family are completely what I believe the Nazarene church is about. They are outsiders and take on Bresee’s moniker of what good can come out of Nazareth? The guy and his sister are going to be parents within the next year to separate babies and most likely, neither will be married. How amazing that they are interested in coming to church just to spite the officer? Please pray that this family who is not really crazy about the whole church thing will take the chance to hang out with us for a while and maybe participate in our community and who knows? Maybe they will choose Christ as Lord…



For other things going on here in Scottdale, feel free to peruse my
webpage (http://becomingoaks.typepad.com/main/2007/06/scottdale-e-new.html).

[Marilyn Lawson]

Right on!!!!!

I know many many families like this.

Anything to spite the police - the funny part is, as they get to know you and your church - they will come out because they want to and because they feel wanted.

Isn't God good!!!

Marilyn

[Barbara Moulton]

Let me get this straight.

It is against the law to walk down the street, stop for a few moments and talk to people you meet about your church without having a license?

Wow...if that was a law up here I would be breaking it quite often.

[Jim Franklin]

Now not only the church but the town wants to ordain who can be a pastor.

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

May God bless you, and give much fruit for your labors. We have worked with many people such as these, and have witnessed wonderful changes in their lives. HE IS ABLE!
Where in the world do you live?

[Mike McVey]

Let me get this straight.

It is against the law to walk down the street, stop for a few moments and talk to people you meet about your church without having a license?

Wow...if that was a law up here I would be breaking it quite often.

Honestly, I'm not sure. I really think the cop backtracked when he found out I was a pastor and was trying to save face. On Monday, I will be talking to the borough to find out all the ordinances and laws, especially this one. Part of the problem is that 1) I was not soliciting or doing anything that could be considered soliciting. I mentioned that I was a pastor, but did not talk to them about church. The reason I mentioned I was a pastor was because they asked where I worked and I try to be honest; and 2) this cop has harassed these teens multiple times and I deflected the attention away from them. I believe that is what the problem was and from my understanding (though I plan to find out more Monday) the officer very well might have been abusing his authority.

[Mike McVey]

Now not only the church but the town wants to ordain who can be a pastor.

I laughed very loud when I read this, Jim. I had to do more than push the "thanks" button. Again, I think I caused more of a problem that I was hanging out with the degenerates from our township than by soliciting.

[Mike McVey]

May God bless you, and give much fruit for your labors. We have worked with many people such as these, and have witnessed wonderful changes in their lives. HE IS ABLE!
Where in the world do you live?

Thank you, Anne. I live in Scottdale, PA. It is about 25 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

[Greg Farra]

Mike,

Wow, that was wild! I think the cop was out of line. We have several Goths that come to our church, and I think that's great. What I've liked about our church, and the Nazarene church in general is that they are accepting of everyone. I come from a blue collar background, and have experienced way more grace in 3 years of being in a Nazarene church than I did in 19 years in my former denomination. :fav18

[Ryan Scott]

I had a similarly interesting experience at General Assembly in 2005. I was busy all day and found myself really hungry at about 2am, so I walked down the street to the White Castle and got some food to go. As I was walking back to the hotel, this guy came up and began walking beside me taking an interest in my food.

He asked about the conference and our denomination and was totally lucid and rather intelligent. He had just gotten out of prison, but he lived a couple states over so he was just looking for odd jobs to make some money for the bus. Eventually (like five or ten minutes later) he mentioned my food and how he was hungry.

I hadn't eaten all day, so I really wanted my food. I gave him $5 and told him to go down to Denny's and get some breakfast (he mentioned the cook had made him a meal for $5 the day before). I told him (as I often do when I give money away) that I was giving him this money because God had given it to me and I was accountable to use it for good things.

He thanked me and as we were parting in front of the hotel a police cruiser turned on its lights and the office hopped out and began yelling at us, at the man, in particular. He was irate for some reason and going on about how panhandling was illegal in Indianapolis.

I ran over and stood between the two men and explained to the officer that he wasn't panhandling and that I, in fact, had brought up the subject of money. He then proceeded to tell me that the man was obviously a drunk and would just waste my money.

I replied that I had been walking and talking with this guy for at least ten minutes and he was clearly not drunk. The office continued to yell at me and it was then I decided to reach into my pocket and pull out $20 and trade the man for his $5.

It was just unreal to me. Although, I guess there could have been some reason for the exasperation, it was that same night that the local police were rounding up all the homeless people in downtown and loading them into a paddy wagon to be taken away.

[Billie Goodson]

Good night....you Christians! Mike and Ryan, you are following the example of that Jesus guy and going out and meeting with the "less desirables". I hope you get what you got coming to you -- just not very soon -- heaven may want you, but, we need people like you for a while longer.

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40)

Some may say you are soliciting -- ok, what about it?
Some may say you are enabling -- ok, what about it?

I have often been approached by people that asked for money. Sometimes I gave it -- once I pulled away and sat across the street and watched the guy come out with a six-pack -- ok, that was not a good result. I don't know that everyone I gave to "deserved" it. I have tried to be more creative -- when someone in DC said they needed money for metro fare to go get their daughter medication, I offered a metro card with about $8 on it. Their refusal to accept it answered to me the question. I have followed a guy to a 7-11 and purchased the gas for him.

But, I think the answer lies in your heart -- what you were trying to do, not always the result. God bless you for having a heart and reaching out.

[Ryan Scott]

I give money when I feel prompted to do so, sometimes without being asked. For me it's not about whether the person deserves it or if they'll "just waste it on booze" it's about giving of what God has given me. It doesn't belong to me anymore than it belongs to them.

Although, Oliver Phillips tells the best story. When he was working in Baltimore, guys would always come to his office looking for money and he'd say "I'm going to give you this money. God has entrusted this money to me and someday I'm going to stand before God and he's going to ask me what I did with this money and I'm going to have to tell him. So now I'm giving you this money and someday you're going to have to stand before God and tell him what you did with it." He says, most of the time they won't even touch it after that speech.

[Glenda Harvey]

Wow!!

[Mike McVey]

Update!

Well, I went to the borough this afternoon. The person I needed to talk to won't be back until Wednesday.

The person I talked to seemed absolutely stunned. She asked if I was trying to sell something? I said no. She didn't look very believing. When I told her I was a pastor, her jaw dropped (probably cuz I haven't shaved in a week and was wearing my, "I'm not big you're just small" shirt). She said, "I have never heard of anyone not being able to ask someone to come to church, especially a pastor."

I'll am going back Wednesday and should find out more then. I'll keep you updated.

[Billie Goodson]

She said, "I have never heard of anyone not being able to ask someone to come to church, especially a pastor."



It is kind of unique for someone to ask a pastor to come to church -- maybe we should try that!

[Dale Cozby]

Mike as you may be aware, in Dallas it requires a license to panhandle. The homeless people are supposed to go to city hall present thier ID and pay a $10 fee. They will be given a tag they can wear indicating who they are and what they are doing it for. They require the firemen to get them during the boot drive for MDA even.

It really is just a law to let the cops hassle anyone on the street.
Sounds like Scottdale is using thier version of the law too.

Frankly, if the cops don't like your looks they can come up and ask you for your solicitors license and write you a ticket, arrest you, etc...seems the rich people buying those new condos downtown don't like being panhandled.
Hurts the million dollar price tag on those things I guess.

What is with the name anyway? Where is the "s" at the end of Scott?

Scottsdale, Scottsville sounds right.

[Mike McVey]

Well, some interesting things happened today. One, the borough manager can't figure out for the life of him why the cop would tell me that I was soliciting. He's checking with the borough lawyer, but he could find no grounds for soliciting or even loitering.

Apparently the cop abused some authority.

I'm supposed to find out more on Friday.

Keep this in your prayers please.

[Susan Unger]

Well, some interesting things happened today. One, the borough manager can't figure out for the life of him why the cop would tell me that I was soliciting. He's checking with the borough lawyer, but he could find no grounds for soliciting or even loitering.

Apparently the cop abused some authority.

I'm supposed to find out more on Friday.

Keep this in your prayers please.

I'm curious...whatever became of this?

[Joel Merrill]

My son-in-law is from Scottdale. He said if this officer's initials are B.H., he has a long history of bullying and abuse of power.

Joel

[Mike McVey]

I'm curious...whatever became of this?

Not too much, I guess. Or maybe a whole lot. No longer getting hassled by the guy, but most of our efforts to minister to the teens have been for not.

[Marsha Lynn]

Not too much, I guess. Or maybe a whole lot. No longer getting hassled by the guy, but most of our efforts to minister to the teens have been for not.

I missed this thread the first time around. It stirs my heart. I am so in love with young people such as the teens described.

This week my favorite "young hoodlum" was in the library and needed help making copies. He said, "I hate creditors." I didn't have a response. He repeated his statement. I said, "Well, I'm glad I'm not your creditor then. Oh, wait, you owe me a dime for the copy. Does that make me a creditor?" He responded that we treat him well in the library. He has no idea. That good treatment is the love of Jesus spilling all over him. He's my test case for every ministry plan I devise and has been for years. Will it reach Arnold? What would it take to build a bridge that would put Arnold in the empty chair in my Sunday School class balancing a Bible on his knee? I'm watching him and loving him and not giving up. He's 28 and a father now (probably accounting for the creditors). I haven't seen any headway on the church thing, but he came to the library and told me when his father died, when he found out he was going to be a father, when the baby was born, etc. I wonder how long ...

I was disappointed that I missed my favorite "young ruffian" earlier in the week. I discovered at a recent junior high band concert that he plays the drums! I never would have guessed that he would be a member of the band. And I'm thinking there's a very good chance he isn't attending church anywhere. He plays the drums. We need a drummer. He needs Jesus. We might be able to open some doors for him in that respect. I need to talk to that boy! But I missed his library visit and only knew he was in because he managed to rile up a staff member enough for a report to come back to me. What would it take to build a bridge that would put him on the platform playing the drums on Sunday morning? The miracle would have to include not only him but the guardians of the platform who aren't exactly keen on the idea of giving young ruffians a chance to sit up front and make a bunch of noise.

Man, these people are where it's at! That's where the challenge lies. Who knows how many fish we might catch while angling for the most elusive ones? The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, nothing to write home about at all until it suddenly germinates and grows into amazing proportions. I pray, Mike, that God will multiply opportunities for you to plant seeds in the young people of Scottdale who need him most. Don't give up!

Marsha

[Susan Unger]

Not too much, I guess. Or maybe a whole lot. No longer getting hassled by the guy, but most of our efforts to minister to the teens have been for not.

Ahhh, that's too bad.