Some “how-to’s” of homeless ministry.
Based on 20+ years of working with homeless people, here are some things I have learned. Your mileage may vary.
1. Freely give at first. Don’t worry about whether the person you are helping is “using the system”. Err on the side of grace, and use your giving to establish a relationship with that person.
2. Pray for discernment as you continue to work with a person. If it appears that they don’t want to take action to improve their lives, you must first determine two things:
a) Do they have a clue as to what they need to do for their part?
b) Do they have the capacity to do what is necessary?
In other words, do they have physical, mental or emotional challenges that make it difficult or humanly impossible to make the changes in their own lives?
3. If a person is able but unwilling to take action, don’t enable them to continue in their current lifestyle. They need to feel pain from their situation in order to move out of it. On the other hand, don’t abandon them. Be there. Be a friend. Be an encourager. Share the love of Christ with them. Help them to bring Jesus into their hearts so that the power of the Holy Spirit can strengthen them to overcome the forces that hold them down.
People trapped in poverty face a ton of obstacles to success: emotional, physical, mental, situational and spiritual. We MUST minister to the whole person. We MUST get involved in their lives and make ourselves vulnerable to the disappointment that often comes when they fall. When we do that, God can use us in incredible, life-changing ways.
Steve Jennings
Executive Director, Teens Opposing Poverty