Youth pastor's message knocks more than just their socks off

  
    NEWBERG — Well over 100 people left Family Life Church either barefoot or in stocking feet on March 13. And no, the message wasn’t so bad that they’d thrown their shoes at the pastor.
     Indeed, following a message based on Luke 16 from FLC Youth Pastor Darel Handley, scores of people from the congregation filled tubs at the altar with the shoes they’d worn to church, leaving the service for lunch in local restaurants or to go home shoeless.
    “Luke Chapter 16 is Jesus’ least-preached parable about the shrewd business manager,” said Handley. “Essentially, the parable tells us we need to be as shrewd as possible with what God has given us. I tied the message to the group Soles 4 Souls, a secular outreach organization that simply gives new and ‘gently used’ shoes to people all around the world that don’t have a single pair.
    “I was shocked at the congregation’s response. I thought I might be the only one going home shoeless.”
     There are about 200 adults in attendance on a typical Sunday morning at FLC, an Assemblies of God affiliate. Handley estimates “only 30 or 40” people left the service with their shoes — many of them elderly. Another 20 pair came in to the church office the next day.
    “It just shows the power of the church and what we can do, even impromptu, when the Lord leads us,” said Handley.
     More information is at www.soles4souls.org.