First of all I applaud this minister for challenging his congregation out of their comfort zone. I only hope the church board is not voting to have him removed from his pulpit.

I pray that something great comes out of this in his church – such as a ministry to the homeless, etc.

I spent most of my adult life living and working in Los Angeles. I have seen, encountered and helped many homeless people over the years. I will admit the idea of helping homeless or ‘street’ people every time I met one would be too much to do in L.A. I did help many homeless in LA, but could not do it every time I encountered one.

I have lived in Virginia for the last 10 years. Seeing homeless people is much less frequent.

I have a personal policy I follow with regard to helping homeless - I do not give them money. I will give them food or buy them a meal.

I came up with my personal policy In LA about 18 years ago. I met a homeless man in front of a 7-11 when he asked me to give him money. I told him I would not give him money, but I would buy him some food. After a bit of hesitation, he asked for a sandwich. I purchased the sandwich along with a drink for him and one for myself. After giving him the food and drink and returning to my car a watched him walk into the 7-11, pull a bottle of beer from the fridge and try to change exchange the sandwich for it. I immediately got out of my car, returned to the store, went to the counter and took back the sandwich I purchased; then walked back out.

Ever since then I stick to my policy – no money.

Now days, I do not encounter homeless in my area very often. When I do, typically they are on the median in the street asking for money from drivers as they are stopped at a red light. I will often pull through a drive through, buy some food, swing back to the light and give it to the person. I will also hand them a card or piece a paper with name, address and telephone information for them to contact a place for some long term and real help. There are several organizations in my area that provide some terrific help for the homeless.

Matthew 25:39-41 (New International Version)

39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - @la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - 

Oh, I totally know where you are coming from, I have definitely seen my share of Christians like that as well.  I guess I just wanted to point out that Christians are not perfect, because a lot of people seem to think that they are supposed to act like that, or that they really are (such as the Christians in question).  And we aren't.  Heck, I do more stupid crap every day...anyways, that's why I also wrote in that post that we Christians need to quit freaking judging everyone left and right, like we have the right to do so.

Great way to make a point, but "surrounded by syringes" somewhat defeats the point.  If someone is surrounded by multiple syringes, someone might move on by them out of fear.  That's pretty hardcore drug use for a homeless man.  Not to mention expensive.

Aside from that, excellent exercise in making people feel rightly guilty.

I was in Chicago once, and their were some performers and beggers. Some of them didn't look like they really needed money, but my mom just walked on by. There was once homeless man sleeping on the streets, and it was cold, and I looked at her and she just ignored them all. I felt terrible and disappointed of her.

I live in a small town, he would have been helped. We get a lot of people coming to our chruch for help and we give it to them. Or we find someone how can help them. He never would a have been ignore. He would not have tried that here

What the minister found was a wide spread cultural problem. People in urban areas ignore each other. The mentally ill and addicted are left to die, they are ignored. It is "somebody else's" job to help them. In towns like mind, there is no "somebody else"  we will help them. And that is why you don't see them on the street in smaller towns. Do you really think we don't have the mentally ill, drug addicts, and drunks in small towns?

@la_faerie_joyeuse@xanga - Awesome. We're totally like 15 miles from each other. I go to Oglethorpe University, just south of Ashford Dunwoody.

There's a really good church down in Atlanta off Ellis that I used to attend. Different churches come in and hold services in a parking lot on a nightly basis for homeless folks. I would go there to pray, enjoy the service, and work. To my knowledge, and this is from one of the churches that would do this, they also bring food and passes to various shelters. ... hmmm.  I'll find some others. Are you on facebook?

i never talk to anyone new at church or basically anywhere including work and school just because im shy... im very unshy once you get to know me... but beforehand... i just never know what to say to people i dont know... i probably wouldve ignored him... but not because hes poor... id have ignored a rich lady too...

I belong to a church called Gracepointe.  I consider our name to mean a point of grace.  A place where all are welcome, no matter if you have one penny to your name or millions.  We are a place where you come as you are-blue jeans or a really nice three piece suit.  It doesn't matter.  We have built a place of worship where we are able to help people that come in.  I know in my heart that if there was a homeless man sitting on our doorstep, we would bring him in, feed him some coffee and donuts (we have coffee and donuts every Sunday morning) and offer him a box of food-because we have a food bank-we also have a clothes bank-so we could clothe him, the reason I know that we would do this is because we have.  There is this man his name is Richard.  He walks around our town and has been poor for a long time.  At one point he didn't have a job, food or clothing.  So, one day our pastor saw him walking around down, so he picked him up and fed him, and brought him to church.  Since then Richard is doing good, he still comes to church and is fed, and he is helping others.  There is also a food program that we do through our church, it is called www.angelfoodministries.com  you can go to this site and check it out.  Our church distributes food every month.  You can get a box of food for $25.00, and it will feed a family of four.  It is a great way to witness too.  If you know of a family that needs help with food, you can buy one for your family and another for another family and so on.  There are so many reasons to help others- and maybe just maybe we should recongnize that it is what GOD CALLS US TO DO!!!!!!!  So, God Bless you on your journey.  God Bless all those that need help.   Just remember the parable of the Good Samaritin.

@Renee M - My apologies for the typos.  I really should get in the habit of proofing my comment before hitting send! :)