Mar
05
Homeless
Ever get stumped by a situation. I deal with a lot of “life” situations as a pastor. After 13 years in ministry I have seen most situations at least once and have learned how to navigate through them fairly well. But one situation that still puzzles me is homelessness.
Just outside my office a homeless man in his 40’s has made a temporary home for himself. He sleeps on the concrete near our recycling bins where the roof overhangs to provide shelter from the rain. We have talked on several occasions and he has shared a little bit of his story with me. He doesn’t like some aspects of being homeless but I think at this time in his life that he would rather live that way instead of dealing with the pressures of work, home, and bills. I wrestle with how I should respond. I am humbled that he appreciates a dry concrete slab outside my office.
Sunday, a young couple in their early 20’s was in church. They are homeless as well. They spent the night under the porch at the church and just came in to use the bathroom. People greeted them and offered them coffee. They stuck around for church. I gave them some unsolicited money and they were very appreciative. They have been homeless all winter and he was kicked out of the mission so they have been sleeping outside. They said they enjoyed our church so much that they might sleep here every Saturday night and come to the service in the morning.
I can’t imagine living this way. We call their situation the “homeless problem” and being a problem solver by nature I want to solve that problem. But I don’t know what to do. Am I doing enough by letting them stay on the church property and being friendly?
Previous Comments
#1 from on March 05, 2009
Hi, Pastor Dave! I’m intrigued by your questions. I think that, as Jesus said, “The poor will always be with you…“ It’s our job to offer what we can share and show them love like Jesus. That’s it. That’s all most people want anyway. And when we represent God this way, we’re doing exactly the right thing!
#2 from on March 06, 2009
I too struggle with the homelessness question. I worked for a time at a homeless shelter in Pasadena and I saw the gammit. I met people who were chronically homeless, people who were down on their luck and ended up on the streets, people who had mental health and/or addiction issues and even met some who liked to live on the streets—the old “hobo” mentality. Now my 62-year-old step-sister is homeless and living on the streets. She is mentally challenged and has been asked to leave 3 different rescue missions she’s tried to stay in. The question is simple, the answer is quite complex. We need to ask them what they need. Their answer might surprise you. If their answer is that they need help to get off the street, then there are many services to connect them with, and we can try to help. More often than not, they will tell you an immediate need—money, food, blanket, a beer. Then the best solution is to love them in God’s name. Perhaps he’s trying to get them to a place where they will be ready to receive help to make real changes in their lives.
#3 from Russ on March 16, 2009
Hey Dave,
I struggle with how to help our fellow man in that way too. We have a man living in his RV on our parking lot. Prior to 5 guys chipping in some cash to purchase the RV for him he live under a tarp behind the old Eastmont Lanes in Gresham. People within the church have noticed the RV and wonder why it is there. When they have come to me I tell them and surprisingly they question…Is this guy safe? He’s a homeless person, not a criminal! We should be the one to open our hearts and doors not matter how difficult. I read a blog post by a pastor friend in California who opened his church parking lot up to people who had lost thier homes due to the mortgage crisis and were living in thier cars. He enclosed part of parking lot with a fence so people where safe…How hard would that be for the faith community to step up and invite folks to park and sleep safely…taking it a step further, what would it look like to offer coffee and bathroom in the mornings? Hmmm…
#4 from on April 08, 2009
I am troubled by the problem with homelessness as well. In this economy the problem is increasing and I wonder what it would be like to live like they do. I know that I would probably not last a day. Like Russ said though the first thing that comes into our head when we think of homeless people is criminals. Maybe if we changed our image of them, then we would be much more likely to help them. I find it really cool that our church Living Hope really opened up to these people and now the guy in his 20’s was hired by someone in the church and has come back to church several times. God works miracles through us if we open ourselves to being his hands and feet.