I just got off the phone with my partner Jeremiah who has been working out in Okalahoma for the past several months and is now spending some time Colorado Springs. Jeremiah told me that 6 homeless so far this year have frozen to death from sleeping outside in the cold and the churches in the area are sitting empty every night as people freeze to death on the streets. This is simply unacceptable!
"Taking in homeless, addict, hurting, is not optional for a church it's mandatory!" -Matthew Barnett – The DreamCenter
I remembered back when we started to minister to the homeless in Detroit. We had friends who froze to death sleeping on the streets. I remember one time it was so cold the bottle of hot sauce for the chili we were serving froze solid, and my wife in the car on the way home crying because here feet were so cold and hurt so bad. I remember going home with no gloves, no coat, no hat, and no boots thinking that my toes and fingers had been frost bit because I had given all of the items I was wearing away to those who were freezing in the streets. We took home and housed as many homeless as we could, but I remember thinking back then the same as Jeremiah was on the phone today. “What about the churches?” How can they sleep at night with multi-million dollar buildings that sit empty at night while people freeze to death in the streets?
Pictures From Our Ministry In Detroit
“People say taking in homeless is not my vision. The term "my vision" must die. Caring for the homeless is Gods vision. - Matthew Barnett – the DreamCenter
I don’t want to “come against” anyone or any church but I can’t understand how churches can sit by while people freeze to death, especially at Christmas time. What about Matthew 25:41-46 when Jesus talks about the sheep and the goats? Jesus said when you don’t do it to the least of these; you don’t do it to me. How can a church sit silent while Jesus freezes to death? What about the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Aren’t these people freezing to death on the doorsteps of the churches just modern day Lazarus’s and the churches the modern day Rich Men? I hope not, because the Rich Man in the story went to hell for seemingly no other reason than ignoring the poor man on his door step. What about the sin of Sodom in Ezekiel 16: 49. "Now this is the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were proud and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen." According to Scripture, Sodom was destroyed not because of rampant sodomy as many believe, but rather because they were overfed and unconcerned and did not help the poor and needy – this was Sodom’s big sin that brought down the wrath of God. Many would not even consider having an ongoing practicing sodomite as a pastor preaching in the pulpit, but what about a pastor who is overfed, unconcerned and does not help the poor and needy? Why should that be any different? And what about in James where it says if you have the means to help someone in need and don’t that the love of God is not in you? I would 1000 times much rather encourage, edify and rally the troops, but these are very important and serious questions with eternal consequences that need to be asked, especially if you go to a church or are a pastor of a church that does not help the homeless sleeping on the door step of their city.
It reminds me of a wonderful and eye opening experience that God blessed me with about 6 months ago. I was able to spend the first day in America with a Jewish professor of Old Testament history who had recently accepted Jesus as the Messiah. This man spent his first day in the United States with me in Skid Row. He had never heard of Skid Row before or even knew such a place existed in America and it was just a crazy twist of fate and circumstance brought about by the hand of God that we were able to spend the day together. My new friend was utterly horrified at what he saw. He asked me “I thought America was a Christian nation? How could a people who claim to believe in the God of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ ever allow a place such as this to exist? Where are the churches?” He was so horrified by what he saw and disappointed at those who call themselves Christian I think he began to have second thoughts about Jesus being the Messiah. He then told me “Homelessness is a disgrace in Israel. We would never allow people to live on the streets homeless. Such a place would be a national disgrace and embarrassment on the entire country of Israel. We believe what God says! Your churches and Christians obviously don’t!” I told him that Jesus said there would be MANY who called Him Lord but were actually workers of iniquity and would end up in hell, but I assured him that there are some in this country who actually do believe the teaching of Jesus and prove it by putting them into action. Do you?
I am sorry to say but my Israeli friend was right, homelessness, places like Skid Row, and people freezing to death while churches remain empty at night has become instead of a wonderful and blessed opportunity to show the world the love of Christ and bring people into the Kingdom, a blight, disgrace and shame on the churches in America that further harden people against the gospel of Christ. Let us examine ourselves and be the light of the world to those who are hurting and in need of love and comfort.
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christiansare so unlike your Christ.”Mahatma Gandhi
“If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.”Mahatma Gandhi
Buy a pair of TOMS and 10% of the purchase price will be donated to The Jonah Project!!! Buy a pair of TOMS and help a child without shoes and The Jonah Project at the same time!!!
Skid Row is located in the heart of Los Angeles and is home to more then 10,000 homeless. Skid Row has the highest concentration of violent crime on the West Coast. On any given night there are hundreds of makeshift cardboard shelters and tents lining the streets. Drugs are so prevalent in this area one can often see people smoking crack or shooting heroin as casually and openly as someone smoking a cigarette in other areas...
We offer a wide variety of audios available for your edification. We have many bible studies, Sunday services and open air preaching sermons from The Jonah Project and the streets of Skid Row. Please take the time to listen to these powerful messages. We also have many compilations available for your listening pleasure. Compilations are a combination of music and preaching that produce a short and powerful message.
We have compiled many videos from the streets of Skid Row as a well as a good collection of other videos from the web that we like at The Jonah Project. Please watch some of these wonderful videos.
There are many different ways you can join hands with us in our effort to help the homeless and spread the love of Jesus. No matter where you are in the world, please read more about how you can assist us in helping others in need...
