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Homeless

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Servent, Mar 31, 2009.

  1. Servent

    Servent Member

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    What is the homeless situation like in your area, what is being done to help. I live about 30 miles from Houston and our church goes downtown once a month, we see so many people it's hard to help, and even harder to see what is being done if anything.
     
  2. ReformedBaptist

    ReformedBaptist Well-Known Member

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    umm...there are beggers at the off ramps on my way home. And sometimes the Shriners. I don't give to either one. Spent some time with the homeless folk. The ones I knew had obvious addiction problems, usually lied to me, and had little to no interest in the Gospel.
     
  3. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    I'm sure we must have some, somewhere, but generally we do not have homeless, that being people with no shelter, living out in the open(like, in boxes, etc). We do have people who from time to time for whatever reason need help with shelter and food, or people off the interstate, which is 1 mile away. People can get hlp at most churches. Our old church here in town will put people up in a hotel and buy them food, but it's like a few days max, one family they put up for a week while they were getting a governement apartment, we got them food, furniture, clothes for the kids, and the pastor helped the man get a job.
    They went back on drugs, she walked out on the family back to her mother in georgia because her mother was a drug dealer, he got busted for cocaine, went to jail, the grandmother (here, not the drug dealer) is raising the kids, 3 kids under the age of 4.
     
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    There are several people in the Salt City who stand on the side of the Road begging for $$.

    The local paper did a story on them, and said some bring in $3 - $500 per week! - and its tax free!

    The Rescue Mission will take a van out, especially on cold night to give these folks a place to stay for the night. Often, there is plenty of room at the RM as some refuse the offer.
     
  5. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Same here.

    Servent, when you ask "what is being done" I assume you mean what are non-homeless folks doing to help the homeless? In our area, we have a great Mission that feeds and houses the homeless, and all the churches do their part. We also have ministerial associations and other agencies that provide food and other help to people.

    My question is, what are the homeless doing to help themselves, and how are they pulling their share in society, if at all?
     
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    In Canada, there is no excuse for being homeless. There are so many government aids available and facilities. They are independent people and usually involved in illegal activities and hence refuse to connect where someone might see what they are doing. Alcoholism and drugs are a huge factor.

    There is the old saying that "God helps them that help themselves." I see a lot of truth in that when it comes to handouts.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  7. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    We are seeing a few more transients in town.. just passing through on their way to Baltimore or DC... (it seems they can get better help in the bigger cities than in the rural areas)
     
  8. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    So they have to go to where the liberals are since those stingy conservatives won't unhinge their wallets unless it means a tax deduction or they can make a list... :wavey::applause:


    @OP... We feed. In the past we opened the fellowship hall of our Church on cold winter nights but our PA system came up missing last year so I can't convince the deacons to take that chance again.

    I also voted for Obama since he's in favor of social programs but I have to keep that a secret around these parts... so mum's the word...
     
  9. ReformedBaptist

    ReformedBaptist Well-Known Member

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    God forbid someone may dare to think that if a man won't work he shouldn't eat....

    Silly liberal, paychecks are for workers.
     
  10. LadyEagle

    LadyEagle <b>Moderator</b> <img src =/israel.gif>

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    Nashville has a growing homeless situation, over 30 tent cities around town and estimates of over 3000 people, half of them children!

    Our city mission and area churches are trying to help address the problem through several ministries:

    http://www.bridgeministry.org/

    http://www.nashvillerescuemission.org/

    http://www.roomintheinn.org/

    Some of the comments on this thread seem rather harsh, IMO. Not everyone who is homeless is an alcoholic, schizophrenic, or drug addict! Some people have hit on very hard times through the economy and have lost jobs and inability to provide for their families and some of the homeless are working, but are only working at fast food or minimal wage places, hardly enough income to support a family.

    Some of the homeless are Veterans who have served our country but coming back from war, have fallen through the cracks and have no job, no one to hire them, and no place to live.

    Have you ever attempted to talk to the homeless and listen to their stories as you ministered the love of Jesus? Have you ever wrapped your arms around a homeless person, hugged them, soothed them, someone who hasn't had a bath in days and maybe weeks? Have you ever personally handed a meal to a homeless person and seen the despair and shame and embarassment in their eyes? I have. Some of the judgments on this thread are cruel, IMO.

    Not every homeless person is trying to scam society and live on handouts. Many of these people just need a break. All of them need prayer. :tear:
     
  11. Servent

    Servent Member

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    There are many shelters here in the Houston area, all are maxed out, of course drugs and alcohol are a big problem but not for all. Still Jesus did say when you have done unto the lest of these you have done unto me. there is a big difference between cant work because there is no work, or not trained for the work that is there, and wont work. Even those who do have a problem with drugs and alcohol we should still minister to them as well, they need Christ the same as we did.
     
  12. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    LE you had better watch out. Someone will accuse you of being a .... dare I say it ... LIBERAL!! :laugh:

    You are spot on. I would add that some of the homeless are suffering with mental illnesses of one sort or another; others just down on their luck. Compassion for others is a value everyone should have...sadly, many do not.
     
  13. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Did I say we didn't help them?
    Our ministerial association feeds them, puts them up, etc... but they won't stay long..

    Like I said, they know they can get more (bigger) handouts in the bigger cities, so they move on.

    You see despite the economic downturn elsewhere in America.. WV is still doing pretty well. We still have companies hiring. IF people are willing to work.

    The Chicken plant, just 12 miles away is always hiring.. so when you offer a person a job making a decent wage... POOF... they are gone faster than greased lightning! Off to the big cities where they can claim there are no jobs... and take advantage of liberals.

    Give a man a fish you feed him for a day.
    Teach a man to fish you feed him the rest of his life.

    BUT if that man doesn't want to work... send him to a liberal.
     
  14. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    To minister, supply needs, is one thing. To be taken for the fool is quite another.

    I always had $100.00 in my pocket as a pastor to assist where assistance is needed, but I was responsible to God for how I dispensed of this money.

    If a person came into the church demanding support, I wouldn't hesitate to show them the door. If someone came humbly to the door, I would instantly care for their needs as I was able.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  15. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Same philosophy here.. .

    Those of you that are not ministers would be surprised at the calls we get demanding our church helps pay a 6 month past due electric bill.

    Or they come to church for a couple weeks and when they realize that we won't pay a 6 month due rent bill, they leave calling us names....

    I LOVE helping people.. But don't act like it's your right to the help just because we are a church.. WE are a church.. NOT a social agency.

    True help is giving them the Gospel truth...
    But some don't want it...


    What I really like doing is finding a family that would NEVER ask for help.. then secretly helping them... They don't even know who did it...

    NOW that is FUN!!... and I know they are not taking advantage of us.

    But I won't help someone who thinks we owe it to them.

    It is like a person hurting someone else, then demanding forgiveness because we are Christians... they say, "Well, since you are a Christian, you have to forgive me.. over and over".. and they go right back out and do it again...

    At some point God wants us to recognize we are being used, and not helping them.
     
  16. Servent

    Servent Member

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    All these post are true, there are those who are just look for a handout. Share Christ with them give them a sandwich and send them on there way. The people we see on a regular basis are not just looking for a handout, the are looking for and need a hand up, Last month when we were downtown we ran out sandwiches, I had 3 different people say they needed our prayers more than food, food they can get almost anywhere. These are the people who I am talking about, The places that can help are out of resources or the are full up.What next.
     
  17. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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  18. charles_creech78

    charles_creech78 New Member

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    If I see a bagger I give no matter what. I think to myself would if that was me and someone thought that I didn't need the help. I can't see there heart and I surely don't know what they stand the need of. Therefore I do not judge them. Give to them that ask of thee and turn them not away. Even if it is a dollar it fill GOOD.:praying:
     
  19. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    So long as it's not a dollar to help by some more hooch or something worse.
     
  20. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    What worse LE, is when the ones who aren't drunks, druggies etc... end up in these places having to exist (I don't call it living) under these conditions. Underemployed is sometimes worse than unemployed since the help is reduced or cutoff.

    A 5 year old girl sat on my lap today and wouldn't stop hugging me. Her dirty little face sticks in my mind. I never could find her mom or dad, she was just running around the shelter... I asked who her mommy was and the little girl shrugged her shoulder...
     
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