Sally Palmer, who serves at LCM's day centre for people who are homeless, explores how Jesus’ ministry invites us to love the whole person.

Sean* was a man in my neighbourhood we’d known for many years. A sweet, older gentleman in his 60s, he had a slight build and a surprising habit – he often got into nasty fights.

These weren’t defensive scuffles; Sean initiated them, seemingly drawn to the adrenaline rush, even though he was almost always outmatched. More often than not, he ended up in hospital, bruised and broken.

Sean was easy to talk to about the gospel. He listened politely, welcomed prayer, and never resisted spiritual conversations.

I spoke with him several times about God’s love, and others from the local church did too. But over time, it became clear that these conversations weren’t sinking in. There was no visible change, no deeper engagement.

Sean remained the same – gentle in spirit, reckless in action, and seemingly untouched by the message of grace.

When Grace is a foreign concept

It took me a while to understand why. Sean didn’t know what love was. Not really. He hadn’t been cared for by his biological parents, had suffered abuse in the care system, and had never experienced the safety and warmth of being protected.

Violence was the only way he knew to connect with others. So how could he grasp the concept of God’s love when he had no framework for love at all?

This realisation shifted my perspective. Repeating the gospel message wasn’t enough. Sean didn’t need more words – he needed to see love.

He needed the church to show him, in practical and tangible ways, what it means to be cherished, valued, and safe.

Meals shared, time given, wounds tended – these were the expressions of love that could begin to soften his heart.

The gospel had to be embodied, not just explained.

Another experience of church

Then there was Leila*, a woman who fled war and persecution, who had recently arrived in the UK on her own. The church near her temporary accommodation welcomed her warmly.

They offered hot meals, English classes, and a sense of community. Two church members in particular, became close friends, walking with her through housing scares and even financial crises. Leila knew she could rely on the church. But when those two members moved on, Leila drifted away.

She found other services to support her and no longer saw the church as a place to belong. For her, church had become a service provider – a source of help in times of need, but not a spiritual home.

She had experienced great human kindness, but hadn’t yet encountered the deeper, everlasting love of God. Her trust had been in people, not in Jesus.

The Ministry of Jesus: Words and Action

Both Sean and Leila reveal something crucial about how we minister to others. Words alone aren’t always enough.

People need to see and feel the love of God through the actions of his people. But equally, practical care without spiritual depth can leave someone with a warm meal but an empty soul. Ministry must be both spoken and shown.

Jesus himself modelled this beautifully. In John 6, we read of a crowd following him, drawn by the signs and healings.

Jesus doesn’t just preach – he feeds them. He meets their physical needs with miraculous provision: “Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” (John 6:11)

But he doesn’t stop there. The miracle points to something greater – his divinity, his sufficiency, his role as the true bread of life.

The crowd is left not just with full stomachs, but with a deeper glimpse of who Jesus is: “After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’” (John 6:14)