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Making a Difference
Al and Cindy Boyce and their family, along with others in their church and community, are making a difference in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are reaching out to homeless people and sharing the love of Jesus in very practical ways: feeding them, clothing them, praying with them, taking them into their homes, helping them find jobs. |
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Al feels strongly that building relationships is just as important as providing food and other essentials to the homeless. These photos show that relationship building in process—a bond of love and caring. In photo below, Melanie, a homeless woman, is hugging a 13-year-old volunteer while Cindy Boyce and the Boyce's autistic son, Parks, look on.
Al says, "We break all the safety rules—bring children to camps, let them sit on the laps of homeless men and women, let the homeless into our cars, into our homes, hang out in their 'dangerous' neighborhoods. We've never been harmed and I would say most of these guys and gals would take a bullet for us if it came to that. And the last thing the homeless need is one more person, especially a Christian, coming to them with a bunch of safety rules that remind them what outcasts they are."
If you'd like to learn more about this ministry, Al would love to hear from you. He can give you ideas on starting a ministry of your own. Or if you are already ministering to the homeless, you can share ideas and pray for each other. You can reach Al by e-mail at m. And visit the ministry's blog.
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Here is a March blog entry:
"The Lord has been providing so many field workers/harvesters these last few months - those joining us on Wednesday, Saturdays, and Sundays and those starting new missions Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As the Lord has called forth the hearts, hands, and feet of Jesus, He has also provided the needed manna! What a blessing!!! God is so good! |
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This past week a youth mission group from Wilmington, NC had their plans changed due to making up snow days. They contacted us to see if they could join us on Saturday morning to make and hand out lunches to those in need. . . .
There were so many God-incidents. One being the group was going to Jordan Oaks Retirement Center afterwards. Jordan Oaks provides over 200 cookies each week for the Brown Bag lunches and one of our Saturday missionaries works there. Another the weather was picture perfect!!!
The youth made over 200 bag lunches for the Apex missions and assisted with the additional 1500 (yes, really a total of 1700+ bags) lunches being prepared that day. Then the youth boarded the bus, traveled to the mission neighborhoods, and went door to door bringing a lunch and the love of Jesus to so many people. . . .
We are thanking the Lord for all of you; your hearts, hands, and feet (and vehicles); and your prayers.
Sending love and prayers
The Boyces"
Is God calling you to homeless ministry? |
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"Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"Matthew 25:37-40 NLT |
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Other Homeless Ministries and Helpful Websites
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All About God. Article: "How Important is Ministry to the Homeless?" |
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Bread of Life. We strive to build personal relationships with every homeless person in Downtown San Diego by meeting them where they live to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual fulfillment. |
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Brown Bags and Jesus. Our mission is to provide meals and clothing to less fortunate individuals in our community bringing glory and honor to God while maintaining the dignity of each individual. |
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Fred Jordan Missions. Since 1944, Fred Jordan Missions has worked on the streets of inner city Los Angeles and throughout the world to help share God's love by providing nourishing food, warm clothing, blankets and other vital services to people in need. |
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House of Refuge Ministries. The House of Refuge is a inter-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry designed to educate, empower, and emancipate our neighbors who are vulnerable, at risk or experiencing homelessness. Be sure to view their Church Homeless Ministry Handbook. |
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Hungry and Homeless Ministry. OUR VISION - To use a hot meal and a loving smile to open the doors and hearts of thousands to the Good News of God that we are commanded to share. To amass an army of servants who can quickly respond to God’s call and showcase His Love to those in need. To be frontline ambassadors for our church, supporting all ministries in helping. |
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SoulWinning.info. Article: "Starting a Homeless Ministry" |
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Threads. Article: "Change Your Life, Your Mind in Homeless Ministry" |
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To the Streets. To the Streets is simple: it is a ministry of presence and the living out of the teachings of Jesus to "˜go'. |
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Warehouse. Warehouse is committed to serving our homeless neighbors. With more than 6,000 homeless in our city, including over 3,000 homeless children who attend public school, we are committed to using our resources to serve those who lack the most basic of necessities—a warm safe place to sleep, and food to eat. Serving our city's homeless neighbors is a practical and meaningful way for individuals and small groups to live out the value of Service. In short, Warehouse participates with gratitude—to serve and share out of the abundance of what we have been graciously given. | |
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Books about Homeless Ministry |
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Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together
By Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent / Thomas Nelson
Denver Moore grew up in Louisiana in the 1960's, working on a plantation as a modern-day slave. Ron Hall is an international arts dealer who moves between upscale New York galleries and celebrities. It seems unlikely that these two men would meet under normal circumstances. Until Deborah Hall, Ron's wife meets Denver and sees him through God's eyes of compassion. When Deborah is diagnosed with cancer she charges Ron with the mission of saving Denver. From this request, an extraordinary friendship forms between Denver and Ron, changing them both forever. A remarkable true story of friendship and unconditional love!
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God in the Alley
By Greg Paul
Chronicling his years of work with the homeless and the hurting in Toronto's inner city, the founder and director of Sanctuary Ministries trumpets that every human being longs to belong and to find a meaningful place within a healthy community. Jars one out of stultifying complacency. 144 pages, softcover. Shaw Books.
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Trolls & Truth: 14 Realities about Today's Church that We Don't Want to See
By Jimmy Dorrell
The power of the gospel is revealed through a local church of homeless people, college students, and middle-class Christians who meet beneath the noise of 18-wheelers and rushing traffic under an interstate bridge in Waco, Texas, and brings a wake-up call for today's American church.Jimmy Dorrell is co-founder and Executive Director of Mission Waco. He grew up in Conroe, Texas and came to Waco in 1968 to attend Baylor University where he majored in religion and received a BA in 1972. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an M.Div. in 1978 and received his M.A. in Environmental Studies from Baylor in 1993. In 2001 he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Dorrell is pastor of Church Under the Bridge and also teaches classes at Baylor University and Truett Seminary in Waco. After receiving his degree from seminary in 1978, he and his wife Janet moved into the North Waco neighborhood where they began their call to incarnational ministry, to live among the poor and help bring "good news" through relationships and empowerment opportunities. His passion for the poor and mobilizing the middle-class to become involved in the lives of the poor became the strategy for Mission Waco that continues today.
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