For more information on our stance on panhandling, please read this post: http://www.ourcalling.org/2010/01/11/panhandling/

How long can we listen to the cries of the people without responding?

Jesus told a story of a shepherd with a lost sheep:

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4

If we wait for the “lost” to come to us, it shows that we are not a “good” shepherd. Jesus modeled the relentless pursuit of the lost when He came here to save us. So should we not do the same?

We go behind the liquor stores, in remote wooded areas, to the drug infested neighborhoods and sometimes to the crack houses. God loves us so much that He sent His Son. He loves the homeless so much that He continues to send us to pursue them for the sake of the Gospel.

Can you look into these faces and tell them that they aren’t worth pursuing?

We want to be where they are, serving where they live. Will you join us?

Areas where we serve (red marks note new locations for apartment churches)

They have crazy rules that sometimes change daily. They treat you like children telling you when to go to sleep and when to wake up. Shelters herd us like animals which makes us feel less than human…
People are homeless because of deep problems. Some have drug or alcohol problems, but others have social problems or problems that started at childhood. Out here, no one tells you what to do.

His choice to live at a remote camp also comes with challenges. Where do you get food? What about health and safety concerns? There are extreme challenges that accompany the freedom of the streets.

But why would anyone choose to live out there? That’s as difficult as why someone would live in a neighborhood that they can’t afford in order to impress people they don’t like. People live – where they live. Sometimes it’s by choice and sometimes it’s because there are no other options. Where should the thousands of homeless people on the streets go? The shelters are full, many are unemployable and most don’t have the stability to maintain a “free” apartment.

Then we are slapped in the face with a difficult question : What would Jesus do? Or better, what did He do? He went out to the masses and introduced them to the God who rescues. He pointed people to a relationship with God and united people into a community of faith who would come beside and help those in need. He fed the hungry and met tangible needs of the community to whom He ministered. Under His example, the early church served the poor, the widows and orphans. The Apostle Paul raised money for the poor in Jerusalem. And today, men and women unite to be the church to those in need.

My friend in the picture did live in that shack. But recently, utility workers tore his home apart, cleared the brush and disposed of all of the “trash”. He has found a new campsite and we continue to visit him and the dozens of people in the same situation at that location. There are hundreds of similar campsites around Dallas. We can’t meet all of their needs, but with a meal and a warm handshake, we can begin a conversation that will change his eternity. Will you join us?

Search and Rescue:

Our calling is to glorify God by leading homeless people to Christ and stabilizing broken lives as they begin God-honoring lifestyles. So, why do we take blankets and food under bridges? Sometimes the noise of a growling stomach or teeth chattering with cold make the gospel difficult to hear.

We use blankets and food to help meet physical needs. Those are felt needs, as the pain of hunger robs your attention. In order to get an opportunity to tell someone about God’s love, we must show them what it looks like. Sometimes it’s a warm handshake or a warm blanket. Other days it may include helping someone find a job or providing the basics for a newly acquired apartment.

This morning a man called me that has been moved out of a shelter and into his own subsidized apartment. It is a blessing to move off of the concrete and into a carpeted space! But how well does this meet his needs? In reality, he moved into the space with his clothes and a single blanket. He has no soap or towels, dishes or cookware nor does he have any furniture or food. He has traded sleeping on the sidewalk to sleeping on carpet.  He can control the temperature, but he cannot shower, shave or eat.

One of the privileges we have is to help meet those needs. Often, we connect the dots between those who have and those who need. We may take donated items and redirect them to someone with a need, or maybe we might purchase slightly used items from a thrift store to stock an apartment.

Jesus was not in the food business, yet he was recorded to have fed many. Why? Was it because he wanted to impress people  with his his culinary talents? Maybe it was because in the process of leading people to the Father, their physical needs had to be addressed. Maybe he recognized that there is a connection between addressing felt needs, in order to address real needs.

Please pray that God will continue to provide opportunities to meet the needs of the community. If we can spend a couple of hours stocking a man’s apartment – do you really think I’m going to spend the whole time discussing furniture?

^Eph6:19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel

Before I begin, we are surrounded by poor people. People have real needs and many people still eat out of trash cans and out of despair some are left with no choice – but to ask for your help.

When you see someone asking for money, there are usually two needs going on.  The guy asking has a serious need. His sign may say “Homeless vet” or “will work for food” or maybe “beer money”. That guy has a serious need. His need may not be clearly communicated on his cardboard sign, but he does have needs.

You have needs. You were created in the image of God and therefore you have compassion – and want to help. But you also want to know that a gift be used for the intended purpose. Will the money buy food or alcohol, medicine or drugs?

I suggest a different option. In my car I carry non-perishable food. I have packages of cereal bars, cheese crackers, McDonald’s gift certificates and Bibles. I would love the opportunity to sit with someone in need – rather than passing something through my car window. Sometimes I don’t get the option, so I ask for the person’s name and then I tell them that I will be praying for them. “Is there anything in particular that I can pray for you about?” This is a great primer for someone to know that you care. “I don’t have any money that I can give you, but I do have some food – are you hungry?”.

Sometimes I am told by the guy with the sign that reads “Hungry” – “I don’t want food – I need money”. That’s usually a good sign that his needs are deeper than his sign and he is dealing with issues that can’t be resolved by passing something through a window. If I can, I will pull over and try to spend some time with him.

If you are approached by a panhandler, I suggest these alternative options:

• Don’t ignore them. They are people and no one wants to be ignored. Acknowledge that you hear them, engage them, and tell them what you can – and can’t do.
• Don’t lie. If you have money that you don’t want to give someone, then tell them. “I don’t have any money that I can give you”. Don’t lie about the contents of your pocket in order to stop the conversation.
• Try to meet the need. If they are hungry, offer to buy them a meal or give them something that you have with you. You can buy yourself another lunch – give them yours.
• Ask how you can specifically pray for them.  Everyone needs prayer. Be courageous and bold. If they ask you to pray specifically for them – then do it! Don’t be afraid to build a relationship with someone who might look a little different than you.

If you want to give money to help the problem, I suggest you donate to a non profit who exists to meet their needs. They are usually better equipped to meet their real needs and engage them in developing their lives.

Human needs fall into three basic categories. Spiritual, Emotional and Physical. There are many groups who do a great job to meet physical needs. Our goal is to address the unmet needs. We focus on the spiritual and emotional needs of the community. Do we feed people? Yes. Do we clothe people? Yes. Do we give blankets and other physical items to address obvious physical needs? Definitely – Yes. But we do this – in order to meet spiritual and emotional needs. Our calling is to glorify God by leading homeless people to Christ and stabilizing broken lives as they begin God honoring lifestyles. What is your calling?

Update (1/11/10) Last Saturday I was under a bridge distributing resources when I met a woman named Rhonda. She is homeless and has been addicted to Crack for over 20 years. She was very honest. I asked her about panhandling and She told me “Don’t ever give me money. Don’t even give me one dollar. I promise you I will smoke it up. I am not only an addict, I am a dope fiend. I have sold my clothes, my body and told any story for the next rock of Crack. Please don’t give me money.”

Please think about Rhonda the next time someone tells you a great story of why they need money. Consider buying them food, filling their car with gas, or working with an organization that can meet their needs. We aren’t trying to deny anyone who needs help. We are trying to stop the cycle of enablement, one dollar at a time. Our mission is to lead them to Christ and to stabilize their lives. If it takes food, assistance with filling a prescription or a bus ticket to bring stability – then by all means lets meet those needs together.

After the movie we heard the testimony of Phill, who was once homeless himself. He was addicted to Crack, and has come to live a new life in Christ. After Phill spoke, I shared the gospel of Christ and then prayed for our time and closed the evening by leading the room of homeless men and women in the song Amazing Grace. It was a beautiful sound. I wish you could have heard them.

Afterward we passed out gift bags to almost 275 people, and left about 75 for the staff to give to anyone who came in late.
Please pray for the homeless. For many, the holidays are a reminder of families that they have lost and emotional pain that won’t stop hurting.

Volunteers loading the bags

Volunteers packing the gift bags

Watching the movie at the shelter

How many of you grew up in broken families?
How many of you are part of a broken family now?

A family is a strange animal. Place very selfish people into the same box – agitate them with life, finances, pain, suffering, sin, mistakes …
What do you get? You get every family. Every family has selfish people agitated with life, finances, pain, suffering, sin, mistakes
You are not alone.

But this is not the way families are supposed to be.
What do you think about this quote?

Much of the debate about the growing gap between rich and poor in America focuses on the changing job force, the cost of living, and the tax and regulatory structure that hamstrings businesses and employees. But analysis of the social science literature demonstrates that the root cause of poverty and income disparity is linked undeniably to the presence or absence of marriage. Broken families earn less and experience lower levels of educational achievement. Worse, they pass the prospect of meager incomes and family instability on to their children, ensuring a continuing if not expanding cycle of economic distress.
The Heritage Foundation

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/bg1283.cfm

Do you agree with this?
Do you think that marriage would help any problems in your life?
So get married and all of your financial, social problems will be gone? NO – if you can’t maintain your life alone – then putting two dysfunctional people together – will cause chaos.

Imagine your life is a boat. Some days it’s hard to stay afloat. Wave, stress and the world want to sink you. For some of you – you look down and there’s a hole in the boat. Something is missing in your life that is causing major problems.

Imagine a boat with a hole.
Not only do you have the stress of the world and the waves of dispair trying to sink you from above – but there’s a hole in the boat. Something is wrong. You just can’t figure it out. Something is not working.

• It’s not supposed to be this hard to get a job.
• It’s not supposed to be this hard to get a place to live.
• It’s not supposed to be this hard to get off of an addiction.

And on top of it all – there’s a hole in the boat. So you paddle and you struggle – and then you have to stop and bail out the boat before it sinks. As you bail out your sinking ship you realize that the more you bail – the less you move anywhere – making any progress. So you try to paddle again in the right direction, but that hole is still sinking your ship – so you bail some more.

Then you get a brilliant idea. My boat is sinking and I can barely keep it afloat, so I’m going to get in a relationship – that will fix it all. Maybe I’ll get married.
You know how the Bible says “The two shall become one”.
Now the two of you are in one boat – sinking with the hole you brought into the marriage – and the hole they brought into the marriage.
Brilliant idea?
What is a family supposed to look like?
What is a faithful wife supposed to look like?
What is a faithful husband supposed to look like?
What models do we have for families?

As I look around in the world, I don’t model my marriage, my family, my kids, my parenting, myself – after anyone walking around today.
I think that the Bible gives us a great model for families. In fact, the family is the model that God used to reveal himself to us.

Look at this:

• Two become one- as a model of the trinity - God is revealed to us as an amazing holy union. 3 in one. How does this work? We are told early in Genesis that the union of man and woman is two in one – very similar language.
• God is revealed as a father.
• He saves the world through his Son.
• The bride of the son is called – the church.

The model of the family is an icon of the gospel
Even broken marriages give us pictures of our brokenness with God.

Imagine a couple living together: Living together is like knowing God without a commitment
Oh God I want to know you- and want you to help when I need you – but I don’t want to have any commitment in this relationship.
God is your vacuum cleaner – pull him out when there’s a mess to clean up.
God is your life jacket – you only put him on when you are drowning.

What about another picture of a broken marriage. What about adultery. If marriage is a model of the gospel, what would adultery be in the gospel – our relationship with God?
Adultery is like breaking the first commandment – having another god before God?

How is this?

If you are supposed to be in a committed relationship with a person, but fool around with someone else – what is this?
If you are supposed to be in a committed relationship with God, but choose to worship at a different table – what is this?

Wouldn’t it be great if you all had a really great father?
What would be different in your life if your Dad was a great man? Not an average man, but a great man who taught you all about life, prepared you well, loved you unconditionally, provided for you without limit.
God wants to be that for you.

And what about a spouse? Do you want one? A real one? A marriage based on biblical truth and not the laws of convenience?
If you want to have a wife that honors God – then be a man that honors God. If you want to have a husband that honors God – then be a woman who honors God.

Broken families begin with a dysfunctional marriage.

But just because you grew up in a home like that – doesn’t mean that you have to repeat those mistakes in your life.

What will enable you to break the cycle?

What will enable you to make the right choices in your family?