Gary Tilman and his wife Sharon run a ministry in Cairo. It’s not a church, but a group of people who believe God will turn their city around.

Cairo has been in decline for more than half a century. The population has decreased, the buildings are falling apart and the economy is all but extinct. There is crime, drugs, racism and unemployment.

The Tilmans’ Two Rivers Ministry works out of the old St. Joseph’s school building downtown and brings worship services to the streets of Cairo, attempting to get as many people as possible to join them in worship. The Tilmans have a crew of six or seven younger people who are also part of the ministry.

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They are a very inspiring group of individuals.

They play music, sing, pray and read scripture. They get together Friday nights at a comfortable, lounge-like place at St. Joseph’s and sometimes have dinner beforehand.

The problem is, after years of trying time and time again to get the people of Cairo involved, the ministry has had no one join them.

Does this mean the ministry is a failure or that Cairo can’t be saved? No. It means the mission may be bigger than anticipated; the ministry might have to change the way it approaches the people of Cairo or it might need help from others who believe in the mission as well.

Personally, I think the people of Two Rivers Ministry are doing a wonderful thing. They have a long road ahead of them, but I think Cairo needs spiritual revival if it is ever going to come together as a successful community and improve its conditions.

I’ll admit I wasn’t especially fond of Cairo during my first few visits, but there are great people there who had to be found.

The principle of finding good in the bad can be applied to just about anywhere. I believe there are a lot of places in the country and in the world that have serious troubles, places that need help because others have brought suffering there. The problems don’t replace the good things. They just overshadow them.

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Some may see a place with bad problems and think the problems are all that is there. They need to realize one thing, as I have: Looking through the bad things and finding the people that care is the only human power that can and will save the world.