July 1, 2026
Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God.
Daniel 6:21-23
This week, our church youth group and several dedicated adults traveled to Hazard, Kentucky with our mission partner, Appalachia Service Project. We worked as two teams on two homes in rural Appalachia to make those homes warmer, safer, and drier, the mission of ASP. On my worksite, we were hosted by a homeowner who’d built her tiny dwelling with help from family 30 years ago as a one-room house on a hilltop, her first with indoor plumbing. She raised two kids there. She was strong and sweet and sat on her porch each morning before work and told us about her life and struggles.
She told us that not long ago, our she had been bitten by a tick and gone to an urgent care. The cost to care for her would be $175, well beyond her means. She asked if she was likely to die from this tick, and since the answer was no, she went home and took care of herself. So when I say she didn’t have the means to do the home repairs we did, it’s no exaggeration. One team was repairing her bathroom and installing a walk-in shower. Our team was installing soffit, insulation, and replacing rotting wood studs in the walls. Her home had become cold and dangerous, and wasn’t safe for this winter. Our work will soon be completed by the next team, next week, and before this winter.
One day, on the porch, she mentioned a favorite passage from scripture, Daniel and the Lions’ Den. She loved the story of God’s rescue of his faithful servant. When she finished, I asked her if she knew where we were staying. She nodded. She knew the school nearby where we slept and had our meals. I’d seen signs all week. I said, “Do you know the mascot?” Her eyes went wide in recognition. I continued, “Ms. P, they’re the Lions, and the sign above the front door says, ‘Welcome to the Lions’ Den.’” Ms. P’s home is no longer a lions’ den. It’s no longer a dangerous and cold place. She wept and called these youth her angels who have rescued her.
I’ve always thought of lions dens as a very literal thing. But this week, we came to understand that houses, circumstances, and hard times can be a lions’ den and rescue can look like the literal help of rescue that repairs homes, changes circumstances, and restores hope for the times ahead. I hope you’ll look for the places this week and in the work we do together as a church where you can lend your hand to rescue. I hope you’ll answer the call to enter someone’s lions den or front porch and help where you’re needed most.
Prayer
Lord, send me to where hope seems lost, darkness seems permanent, and rescue is needed. Amen.
Rev. Brian Daoust
Associate Pastor for Mission & Youth
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