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Homeless people
The Homeless - they are found in every large town or city, and live among us creating their own specific sub-culture. In most situations they would hardly draw respect from their outward appearance, nor from the lifestyle or way of living. It's precisely because of those reasons and not others, people often stay away from them and don't want to engage with them or their problems, treating them as ill and not worthy of any interest. People often don't want to get involved in homeless issues as they are seen as troublemaking, dirty or drunk. Many people think of the homeless that it's their own fault - and their suffering is their judgement. Despite that, each of them is a living soul and in each the same human heart. Are we to withdraw from the homeless, leaving them alone, allowing them to spend the rest of their days vegetating under a railway bridge, protecting themselves from the winter chill in the city sewers, sleeping near the city dump, or to die with a bottle in their hand on a park bench having wasted away most of their years? Do the homeless not deserve another chance to change their lives? It is us who must give them that chance. For this reason, as a church we are also on the streets, among such people, dedicating our work to them. We believe that for many of these people, God has already planned a complete change and prepared a new life. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. (Mat. 9:10) Jesus was not ashamed of anyone and no-ones physical or spiritual needs are alien to him. Jesus set an example for us to follow. As a church we firnly believe that the Gospel is not aimed at the 'good', the 'beautiful' and 'pleasant' but also to those who are not - and before anything else it is for those who feel bad about their own sin: But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Luke 5:30-31 We also believe that all of those of whom Jesus spoke deserve better than what they have. Today they are on the streets, living in places they should not have to be, carrying heavy 'baggage' of life, often down-beaten, washed-up and unhappy. Putting in to practise the work of the Lord Jesus, we offer all we can in terms of humanitarian aid, a good word, and a message hope - of belief and trust in God who loves them so much. Jesus was always in the most needed places - that is where HE was most needed - with the drunks, the poor the sinners. Today we would call those people the homeless, drug-addicts, prisoners, AIDS-sufferers. Jesus is still in the same places today - in that his Church carries on the same work he began. Jesus' heart wants to pour out undescribable love for them. His compassion forthen is above our understanding. Jesus wants us to stand in the places he stood - so we want to be with such people meeting them in their loneliness with the last ray of hope.
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