In our county we have more than fifty churches in just one denomination. During a recent discussion we began to consider if each church could put together a group of five to seven folks who would agree to provide a circle of support to our shelter guests. Their purpose would be to get to know just one shelter guest and walk with them from the streets toward home ownership. Along the way the group would support, encourage and hold them accountable to a new life direction. They would not do to or for the guest but would walk WITH them. One thing they could do is to work to tear down the obstacles before the shelter guest. This group would continue to work with them (if the guest was open) even after they leave our mission. This group would walk with the person until the person gives up or the person closes on their new home.
The group would need some training on walking with a person in poverty. The mission would need to provide support to the group because there will be discouragement and difficulty. Some of the guests will relapse. How does the group support a person in active addiction without enabling them? Most church members are not overly educated on the prison system or with mental illness. They would need training and care. Then there will be times when the guest does something dangerous or illegal. What does the group do when they need to call the police? They will need training.
A discussion came to the table, would the churches support this with no guarantee the guest will end up at their church? That person may end up at a different denomination or maybe even no church. Will the group be ok with that? How many churches are willing to walk alongside folks who are living in sin and love them onto the path of righteousness without judgement?
The fact is that if we could get just fifty to sixty churches to support one or two people, the efforts to release a person is likely to be expedited. The community can be part of the process and in many cases the church members would find great purpose to their faith. Together we would rejoice over those who have transformed lives and be excited as they get a new job or have a healthy romantic relationship. All churches would celebrate the salvation experiences of those guests even if they go to another church. The Kingdom of God would be able to celebrate together. Fifty to sixty churches could effectively escort people into a stable life and there would be nobody left in our community that are on the streets. Now that is a dream worth living. Now that is a long term solution that can work and bring the war on poverty to a conclusion.
