Ministry or Money?

I wrote a post a while back about staying on mission.

Some times we can get off mission when we focus on the money.

This same theme keeps coming up again and again.

The other week I went to a meeting with several different organizations that were working with the homeless community.

The common theme of the meeting seemed to be focused on the need for more resources ie... money.

In the real world of non profits I get it.

These organizations are doing some great work! 

They are run by great people and are impacting thousands of people for the good.

But when I speak to some of the recipients of their services they have a different take on things.

They have shared with me that the non profits some times get off their  originally mission of helping and get side tracked on focusing on where the next dollar is going to come from.

Sunday I read a very sad article about one of the local shelters, Freedom House. 

They will be closing their doors at the end of this month.

It was mentioned in the article that "we just don't have the money any more".

I have personally seen the damage that can come from focusing on the money and not the mission or calling.

I have seen it in my personal life as well as the life of my Church.

God calls us to love him and then each other and that is where we need to start.

If we do what we are called to do then the money will follow.

It's his money any way!

Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version (NIV)

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

I believe ministry must come first!

I am looking forward to what God has planned to pull THE CHURCH together to serve the Homeless community as a result of this big void that will be left after the end of this month.

I see it as an opportunity for God to show himself strong!

Thank you Melba and staff for all your wonderful years of service and sacrifice!

Unbelievable! I thought hospitals were to CARE for people!

On Saturday I received a call concerning a friend of mine.

He was having some serious medical issues.

He was confused and disoriented.

He couldn't remember the last 24 hours.

An ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital.

I followed the ambulance and then waited an 1 1/2 hrs before I could go back and see him.

The emergency room was like organized chaos!

After several hours my friend received an IV.

As the evening went on he became more agitated. He was finally administered some medication to calm him down.

He fell asleep and I went home that night planning on seeing him the next day at the hospital.

I received a text the next morning at about 7 am.

My friend explained to me that he was woken up at 3am from a dead sleep.

He was asked if he was feeling better and then RELEASED from the hospital at 3am!

He then proceeded to walk home in the dark with no money, no wallet, no phone and no ride!

I called Charles that morning to get his input.

Charles is a man of years of experience. He said that was normal behavior for the hospital.

This is how you are treated when you are homeless and without insurance.

Even though I can understand the money issue to some degree, does that make it right to put some one out at 3am?

It does work!

I was speaking with Charles today and he told me that Paul got a job!

Paul is a man who ended up here in Richmond by way of New York.

He literally left everything and got on a bus to Richmond.

Charles took Paul in a couple of months ago. 

He had no where to go.

That first day I met Paul was the first day he had run into Charles.

I thought to myself why not give him some work to do.

I was fixing up my house to put it on the market to sell. I needed some help moving some mulch.

Paul accepted my offer and I picked him up the next day.

Paul did an awesome job around the house.

I thought Paul would serve as a great employee for whoever would take a chance on him.

For weeks now, Charles has been trying to find Paul a job. 

Charles took him in with no money and no income, but gave him a chance at a new start!

Today Paul got another chance at a fresh start with a new job!

If you provide the housing for the Urban Camper, then that opens doors for so much more.

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Paul and look forward to the days to come when I too will be his neighbor.

Housing First, works and allows people to get back to work. 

Homeless in Jail?

The other day I received a phone call from Shelton.

He called to tell me that Ed had been put in jail for trespassing.

It turns out, this was his second time for being charged for trespassing.

My question is: Does that make sense?

Here is a guy who is sleeping in the woods with no where to go. He has done no harm to anyone.

Most people don't even know where he is sleeping.

I read an article that suggests the local area government and services spend at least $40,000 a year on a homeless individual.

The article also suggests that the cost might be a lot more than that.

The costs associated with homelessness are medical expense, incarceration and such.

If more money was spent on housing then these cost would be cut in half.

I have seen houses being bought for as little as $25,000 and then fixed up to be lived in.

There are no easy answers. There are always two sides to every story.

I am looking at it from a numbers perspective and them numbers don't make sense to me.

The city could save a whole lot of money, if they would just spend it in the right places.

It makes me wonder why the city is building a much larger jail.

As one person shared with me "they have to show they need it".

Therefor does it make sense to put the homeless in jail?

Does God use Text Messaging?

Last night I received a text from Shelton who went on the Urban Campers Retreat at 11:10pm.

I didn't actually read it until I got up early this morning.

All it said was Hebrews 6:11-12.

I am not a biblical scholar so I went to look up what it said.

Hebrews 6:11-12
New Living Translation (NLT)

11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. 12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

I am going to keep doing what I am doing and praying for a Dream Center!

I love the fact that God is relevant even through a text message!

Thanks Shelton!