Monday’s Mission Moment from chinaconnect

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I spent last evening at church hosting a group of people in what is called Family Housing Network.  This network is set up by Catholic Community Services here in Tacoma, WA., and designed to provide temporary housing (living in the church for a week) until permanent, affordable housing is found for those in the program. The host is responsible for preparing dinner and making sure guests are comfortable.

I thought last evening would be easy, but in reality it was difficult. The difficultly came not in preparing food, talking with guests, or even washing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. The difficulty came in not understanding how we as a nation, a state, a city, and a community have allowed the problem of homelessness to grow to such proportions. As our weather transitions from Summer to Autumn, colder and wetter days will be the norm. At First Lutheran, we can expect in these months to come to find more people trying to find shelter from the elements sleeping somewhere on our church grounds.  How do we as a congregation respond? What should we do?  I’m sure that in your part of the world this same problem exists and you have asked the same questions.

I do not pretend to know how to solve this most difficult issue, but I also don’t think our national, state, and local government leaders do either. So what do we do? I know what we cannot do. We, as a community, and a community of Christians, cannot give up. We must continue to exercise our faith, as if faith were a muscle, and work to find answers. I know the process will not be easy but it will be worthwhile. This process will be a journey, but a journey in which our faith in Christ must be a part. Family Housing Network has started the journey and our congregation is stronger and healthier because of our relationship with them. I pray we can all be part of the solution to homelessness in America. I know the church and her servants will continue to exercise faith in reaching a solution.

Grace and peace,

Steve