Out of the Woods

We are all about helping people in need, but our real desire is to get them "out of the woods" and back on the highway of following Christ and doing life with fellow believers.

Speaking of the woods, Wednesday afternoon I was wandering around a patch of woods where a homeless guy was living. He had come in contact with several of our church people over the past month or so and was now on the verge of facing trespassing charges.

I located a flattened area where his tent had been, a bag of soaking wet old clothes, and other items too large to put on his bicycle. He had apparently moved on to another location. One might say, "Only God knows where he is." Then again, that is true, God does know where he is and thousands of others like him.

Within thirty minutes after leaving the woods I was approached by a church member with medical needs. Earlier that day, I worked with a local support ministry as they "bent" the rules a bit to help someone who is coming to the end of his rope and about to get real about what he is facing.

I am taking a crash course on ministering to the poor, looking at models, reading philosophies and searching the Scriptures. If you are a reader of this blog, I am open for comments. With the economic issues facing our culture, it may be time for the church to consider what the Lord would have us to do with the poor.

Thinking, praying and planning