Housing the Homeless at Church of the Reconciler

Sunday, November 14 was Housing Sunday at Church of the Reconciler, and we celebrated the 60 formerly homeless people who have been placed in housing through the church this past year. We presented certificates to members of the Jefferson County Housing Authority who joined us in worship. “Y’all gave us keys to housing,” member Michael Brown told them in appreciation, “but we gave you the keys to our hearts.”

Richard Irving was one of six Housing Shepherds commissioned to help others travel the highway out of homelessness. The key to progress? Faith, he says. There are two parts to the faith equation: “The first part is to do something,” he explained. Fill out and submit the applications; get the necessary IDs. The second part of the equation is to “speak as if you have already received what you are seeking. I was already thanking God for the key before I got it. I prayed my way into that apartment.

“It wasn’t about me getting the apartment,” he continued. “It was about God using me to help get others off the street.”

Henry Spells, a veteran who was also commissioned during the service, agreed. “If someone reaches out and gives you a hand, reach back and give someone else a hand.”

While we took time to look back during this special service, it is clear that when it comes to housing the homeless, we are looking ahead to building the highway out of homelessness for more and more people in the future. This was a day of new beginnings for people who need housing.

Let the children come

Yesterday we had 22 children and youth at Church of the Reconciler. We were blessed to have several angels from Riverchase UMC who came to help shepherd the children during worship and Sunday school.

It’s a lot of work to manage 22 young people (plus 6 in the nursery) on a Sunday morning. Many of our children come from very challenging circumstances. Working with them can be difficult, to say the least. Sometimes, the work can seem like trying to herd cats, and we wonder if we are truly making a difference.

As I sat in church yesterday, I looked around at them. They seemed particularly restless, and at first, all I could see was a rambunctious group of kids. Then I looked closer. I saw the children who have started participating in the prayer circle before worship. I saw one of our youth who was working the computer screen in the absence of the adult who usually has that job. I saw a youth playing with the band. I saw the children who joyfully participated in the passing of the peace and welcoming people to worship, as well as the ones who hand out bookmarks to those who are visiting. I saw them singing during the praise portion of our service. I saw them enjoying the food we offered, even sleeping at times during the service, knowing they see our church truly as a place of sanctuary and rest. I saw the children who clamor to light the candle each week, and the girls who have learned to knit and make toboggans so the homeless can stay a little warmer this winter. I savored the hugs of the children who shared them with me as they left.

The truth is that working with these kids has relatively few warm and fuzzy moments. We struggle to meet their needs and maintain discipline. It’s hard to get them safely to church and home again with only one van and too few drivers/teachers/helpers. But we are faithful to the call to serve them, and occasionally, we see the fruits of our labors. Those rare pearls we find in the huge bed of oysters are what keep us going.

Sometimes we are called to ministry that is difficult and challenging. Can you answer the call to serve with our children? We need helpers, food, juice, yarn and other craft supplies. How can you help?