In 2010, a documentary was made that addressed the terrible condition of the public education system in the United States. The theme of the documentary is that it would take a superhero, or a superman, to rescue children from a failing system of public education. The film was aptly titled Waiting for Superman.

What happens in a city where Christ is not faithfully preached? What happens in a city where right and wrong are not clearly taught or modeled? Within it you will find inordinate levels of broken families, gangs, violence, crime, drugs, prostitution, homelessness, and more. With all of these kinds of problems comes a sense of hopelessness.

My wife, Beverly, and I live near Milwaukee. I have worked as a mail carrier in a very impoverished part of the city since 2007. Since that time, I have witnessed many of the problems mentioned above. Almost every day, I see prostitutes and homeless persons on corners along the freeway off ramps panhandling, often trying to make a few dollars to buy their next needle of heroin.

Like many major cities, we have had our share of horrible acts of violence. Milwaukee has one of the highest murder rates in the United States. Not too long ago, we lost a dear brother in Christ, a police officer, who was murdered as he and other officers attempted to serve a warrant for the arrest of a felon. We could say that our judicial system in Milwaukee County is failing too, since many criminals, like this felon, are all too quickly back on the street.

All systems fail in a fallen world that is deep in sin and in rebellion against God. The only hope—and there is hope—is found in Jesus Christ.

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In fall 2009, we started a Bible study at our home. We call this Bible study Saturday Evening Studies in the Scriptures. Numerous people from the inner city have attended, but none have continued for a long period of time. Currently, we have a group of 10 believers from a local church, Reformed in their theology though not RP, that regularly attend. These are dear friends now of many years and have been an important part of ministry to those who have come from the inner city. We also attend this church, Grace Community Church, when we are not at Westminster RPC in Prairie View, Ill., where my wife and I are members. We live a little more than one hour from Westminster.

In 2012, I began teaching a Bible study at a place called De Paul Meal Ministry. A Catholic charity runs this ministry, and they feed 200 to 300 people every day of the week, except Saturday. I teach the Bible study two Sundays a month, and, last year, I began teaching another Bible study two Thursday evenings, as well. Over the years many people have attended, but only 3-4 regularly attend.

There are a variety of Catholic churches as well as Protestant churches that come to volunteer for an evening. They not only serve the evening meal, but, in many cases, supply the meal that is served. Yet a door has been opened to me to teach a Bible study. At the end of the Bible study, just before the meal is served, I almost always say the prayer and give a brief exposition of a Scripture verse. Each time, I invite people to come to the Bible study and often tell them to come get spiritual food before they have their physical food. Sometimes I walk through the cafeteria passing out Bible tracts, speaking with people, hearing their needs, and sharing with them the love of our Savior.

In the area where I work, I have developed many relationships too, with people both young and old. Many of them I have known for years. I have heard of their ups and downs, their joys and their struggles, and I have prayed for them.

Perhaps two of my most memorable times of ministry occurred during home visits with two gentlemen that had terminal cancer. In each instance, I was able to share the gospel of Christ with them. Both of these men died soon after our visit. Before my visit, I would see one of the men just about every day, and we would talk briefly at his fence. Almost always I would have to interrupt him, because I was, after all, working! When I did not see him for weeks, I knew something was wrong with him or Christine, his wife. Then I ran into both of them getting out of their car one day. It was then that they told me that Edward had cancer. I arranged a meeting with them on a Sunday evening after Bible study; their home is only a few minutes away. We visited together for almost two hours, and he shared with me his life story. Both of them were immigrants from Poland, and Edward was somewhat of an inventor. I was very glad to meet with them that night, for, the very next day, Edward passed away.

I have also befriended some homeless men. Some I have met during work and others I have met at the meal site, and, on occasion, they have attended the Bible study. There is one man I have known for quite some time, who has even been to our home for study, and will also come on occasion to the Bible study at De Paul. Over the years, some of these men have moved on; sadly, some have passed away.

These things tell you about our past. We also have plans for the future. While we have talked about the idea of a worship service at different times, we became serious about this in the spring of this year. In April, we met with the session of Westminster RPC. We thought we had a place to meet, but, after about two months of working out a lease agreement, that location fell through. Another attempt was made for a community room at an apartment complex, but that also fell through. There is now a possibility that a local Baptist church will rent us their building for an evening service. We hope to have an answer soon. The potential downside to this location is that the church is more than 100 years old and is not handicap accessible. There are three people that are in wheelchairs that have expressed an interest.

Should we begin services soon, we have about 12 people from the immediate area who are interested, including those just mentioned. We also have commitments to help from our friends that attend our home Bible study and from members at Westminster. We are hoping to start a weekly evening service in the area where these people live and where I work.

Milwaukee is hurting, like most cities are that have difficult problems. These problems cannot be resolved with more government; one would think that after many years of trying this humanistic approach people would finally come to that conclusion. Only God can truly bring hope and the needed healing as He brings reconciliation through His Son.

This was true in Nineveh as well. Nineveh was full of sin and ripe for God’s judgment. But, according to God’s love and His goodness, He sent Jonah to a foreign place—in fact, to Israel’s enemies! Jonah was sent to tell them of their need to repent and turn from their sins. We know that Jonah finally did obey God, but we also learn in the last chapter of God’s great compassion, for He tells Jonah that many of the people of Nineveh did not know right from wrong. They needed to know right from wrong in order to be able to turn from doing and believing one thing to doing and believing another. It was God’s will and desire to see this done, and He did!

It has been my joy and privilege to be used by God in this small parcel of His vineyard. I could have moved to a better location long ago, but I feel the need to remain where I am, not just to deliver the mail, but to deliver a warm smile, to have available a listening ear, and, most importantly, to deliver the good news of Christ and hopefully one day, if it is God’s will, to see a church established in this part of the city of Milwaukee.

While children and their parents across this country are waiting for a superhero to deliver their children from a poor educational system, it might be that they are also waiting for God’s people. Maybe besides a superhero, they are waiting for a Jonah! Might that be you?

Please pray for our ministry efforts here in Milwaukee. To learn more about what we are doing, please visit our website at milwaukeercm.org.

Jim Brown and his wife, Beverly, have been married almost 30 years and have two adult daughters, Deyhonn and Hannah.