HOMELESSNESS
It is a hot topic in Ft. Worth at the present time. Mayor Mike Moncrief has made
numerous trips into the homeless district of Ft. Worth in recent months to survey the
scene, meet those who are homeless, and make it known that he desires to do
something about it. Many folks subscribe to the "Housing First" philosophy as the
means to end homelessness. That is, provide enough housing for the homeless and
get them into it, and then offer needed services to the newly housed. While this is quite
appropriate for the mentally ill, the physically challenged, the elderly, and mothers and
children, it is a horrible approach for able-bodied and sound-minded men and women
who have addictions or just flat out don't want to work. Entitlement began with the
advent of the welfare system in the 60's and is at least in part responsible for the "take
whatever the system will give me" mindset that is prevalent today. Supplying housing
across the board for all who are homeless is not the answer, but its futile to try to
change the minds of those convinced otherwise. For the throngs living on the streets
and in the shelters because of sinful choices they have made and continue to make,
their only hope is to have an attitude change, as in mindset reversal. They need to do
a 180. Their best shot lies in relationship with Jesus.
OUR CURRENT MINISTERIAL APPROACH
Obviously, the Church is who should be presenting Jesus to the Homeless. The
problem is, most Christians are scared to even set foot in the part of town where the
homeless stay. Its like a modern-day leper colony. Those that do decide to minister to
the homeless generally don't have a real understanding of the problem, so they bring
food to giveaway, and why wouldn't they? The media has taught us to link hunger to
homelessness the way we link Laurel to Hardy or Abbott to Costello. The fact is, in Ft.
Worth, the homeless know where to get three squares a day, know where to go for
clothing, for bus passes, for free medical assistance, and many other basic needs.
What they have trouble finding is authentic friendships, sobriety, Jesus being lived out
before them rather than being preached at them, and real opportunities to achieve
self-sufficiency when they are ready to give that a shot. When we Christians stop
thinking in terms of the masses (How many can my efforts affect?) and start treating
people as individuals and sow into their lives one at a time, we can make a significant
difference in a few rather than an insignificant difference in many.
A NEW APPROACH
Feed By Grace Ministries is hosting a conference on May 3rd with the intent of
educating interested ministries, churches, and individuals on homelessness and
engaging them in a new approach. The conference is titled, "Ending Homelessness:
One Life At A Time." Our speakers will be Marvin Olasky (former faith-based initiative
advisor to George W. Bush and author of "The Tragedy of American Compassion"),
John Perkins (author of 9 books, founder of Christian Community Development
Association, and renowned champion for the poor), and Michael VandenBerg
(executive director of possibly the most successful coalition of churches, social
agencies and local government in the country - Good Samaritan Ministries of Holland,
Michigan). After hearing these gifted men inform, encourage, exhort, and motivate us,
we will present a grassroots approach recently begun on the streets of Ft. Worth that is
based on a relational approach involving employment, job readiness training, bible
studies, addiction services, discipleship, and more. Our program will administer all
these components and will then ask congregations to adopt an individual in the
program. We will do background checks and drug tests. We are asking churches to
offer spiritual guidance and mentoring and the opportunity for someone looking for life
change to join a fellowship they can call "home." Join with us as we begin a new kind of
empowering ministry on the streets of Ft. Worth.
It is a hot topic in Ft. Worth at the present time. Mayor Mike Moncrief has made
numerous trips into the homeless district of Ft. Worth in recent months to survey the
scene, meet those who are homeless, and make it known that he desires to do
something about it. Many folks subscribe to the "Housing First" philosophy as the
means to end homelessness. That is, provide enough housing for the homeless and
get them into it, and then offer needed services to the newly housed. While this is quite
appropriate for the mentally ill, the physically challenged, the elderly, and mothers and
children, it is a horrible approach for able-bodied and sound-minded men and women
who have addictions or just flat out don't want to work. Entitlement began with the
advent of the welfare system in the 60's and is at least in part responsible for the "take
whatever the system will give me" mindset that is prevalent today. Supplying housing
across the board for all who are homeless is not the answer, but its futile to try to
change the minds of those convinced otherwise. For the throngs living on the streets
and in the shelters because of sinful choices they have made and continue to make,
their only hope is to have an attitude change, as in mindset reversal. They need to do
a 180. Their best shot lies in relationship with Jesus.
OUR CURRENT MINISTERIAL APPROACH
Obviously, the Church is who should be presenting Jesus to the Homeless. The
problem is, most Christians are scared to even set foot in the part of town where the
homeless stay. Its like a modern-day leper colony. Those that do decide to minister to
the homeless generally don't have a real understanding of the problem, so they bring
food to giveaway, and why wouldn't they? The media has taught us to link hunger to
homelessness the way we link Laurel to Hardy or Abbott to Costello. The fact is, in Ft.
Worth, the homeless know where to get three squares a day, know where to go for
clothing, for bus passes, for free medical assistance, and many other basic needs.
What they have trouble finding is authentic friendships, sobriety, Jesus being lived out
before them rather than being preached at them, and real opportunities to achieve
self-sufficiency when they are ready to give that a shot. When we Christians stop
thinking in terms of the masses (How many can my efforts affect?) and start treating
people as individuals and sow into their lives one at a time, we can make a significant
difference in a few rather than an insignificant difference in many.
A NEW APPROACH
Feed By Grace Ministries is hosting a conference on May 3rd with the intent of
educating interested ministries, churches, and individuals on homelessness and
engaging them in a new approach. The conference is titled, "Ending Homelessness:
One Life At A Time." Our speakers will be Marvin Olasky (former faith-based initiative
advisor to George W. Bush and author of "The Tragedy of American Compassion"),
John Perkins (author of 9 books, founder of Christian Community Development
Association, and renowned champion for the poor), and Michael VandenBerg
(executive director of possibly the most successful coalition of churches, social
agencies and local government in the country - Good Samaritan Ministries of Holland,
Michigan). After hearing these gifted men inform, encourage, exhort, and motivate us,
we will present a grassroots approach recently begun on the streets of Ft. Worth that is
based on a relational approach involving employment, job readiness training, bible
studies, addiction services, discipleship, and more. Our program will administer all
these components and will then ask congregations to adopt an individual in the
program. We will do background checks and drug tests. We are asking churches to
offer spiritual guidance and mentoring and the opportunity for someone looking for life
change to join a fellowship they can call "home." Join with us as we begin a new kind of
empowering ministry on the streets of Ft. Worth.
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