Don’t go to church
I have been planning for sometime now to introduce you to Hugh Hollowell who heads up Love Wins Ministry in Raleigh, N.C. I’d planned an interview with Hugh and I will get around to that, but he’s been swamped with a wedding — his own, which is taking place this coming weekend.I met Hugh during the course of conducting research for the forthcoming Doublewide book.
I’m not going to say any more about that here, you can read all about it come 2010. But Hugh sent out a letter the other day and I asked him if I could share it with you all.
Hugh asks some important questions in this letter. I’d like for you to consider those questions — the ones he asks outright — and the unspoken ones. Then tell me what you think.It’s not a matter of what would Jesus do, but rather, what would you do, if you were Hugh? If you were one of these pastors
“Dear Friends:
Several weeks ago I sat in a room full of pastors from downtown churches in a forum called by the Raleigh Police Department. Ostensibly, it was to talk about how faith communities can properly secure their premises, especially in light of Martha’s murder a few months ago. The gist of the presentation was about church security – having your facilities well lit, etc. And then, they started talking about the homeless.We saw pictures of dangerous criminals (their words), all but one of whom were black, as examples of the sort of people we should be watching out for. (Of course, most of the folks in the audience were white, so this played with their stereotypes perfectly.) Then they presented us all with trespass letters, which, if signed and placed on file with the police, would give them permission to arrest folks found on their property after hours. The entire presentation built to this, and you got the feeling this was the whole reason for the meeting. There aren’t near enough shelter beds. If you are unhoused and needed a safe place, you might think about going to sit out of the rain under the awning at the corner church. Especially since the church is closed so you won’t scare any of the rich white people who attend there. If you thought this way you wouldn’t be alone. There are several churches downtown where friends of mine sleep – behind their dumpsters, in the shrubs, under the awning. Because it is well lit, clean and generally safe. The police work for the city, which makes revenue from developers, who sell houses to rich people who do not like seeing homeless people. So the police are under a lot of pressure to “clean up” the homeless problem. The police are frustrated by the churches that have allowed people to sleep on their grounds. So, the police scare the daylights out of the church leaders, throw Martha’s death in the mix, show some scary pictures of black men and convince a goodly number of the downtown churches to put up no tresspassing signs, enabeling the police to act on those tresspass letters they wanted us to sign. The presenters assured us they did not want to interfere with our mission – they just wanted us to help them keep us ’safe’. I was the only one who stood up and said that our mission does not call for us to be safe – it calls for us to show extreme love and radical hospitality. I asked the people, preachers and police alike, the following question: If you are tired and hungry and alone and have no home and no hope – if you cannot go to the church, where should you go? No one had any answers to that. The police officer told me he understood, but that was not his job. But it is my job. It is our job. To extend grace and love to the other. Not to put up signs to keep people who don’t look like us away. So I have spent the last few weeks telling my friends who sleep outside that churches are not safe places anymore. That the No Tresspassing signs mean they will be arrested. And when they ask me where they are supposed to go if they can’t go to church, I tell them I don’t know. And when they leave, I cry.
Love Wins. Always.
Hugh Hollowell http://lovewins.info
There used to be an old saying, the church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. It appears that in this present day and age, that is not so true. What should I personally do about that?? I need to think… I guess if we all felt the responsibility for each other, there wouldn’t be so many homeless people out there. I admit that I don’t think I’m as compassionate as I should be.
Reminds me of an old song by the Five Band Electrical Band . . .
“if God was here, He’d tell you to your face, ‘man, you’re some kind of sinner!’ signs, signs, everywhere signs….”
I have to tell you that one of the worst times I had as a minister was when I got into the pulpit of our good, mission-minded church and preached a sermon telling them that they should start a community garden on our property so poor people could work with us in raising their own food. They absolutely loved the idea, so long as this happened on the other side of town, but were outraged that I would suggest that they actually meet, and possibly touch, those people. Some were very specific in telling me that they did not want to see “them” hanging around on church grounds, and I had no right to act as if there was anything wrong with that attitude.
David: I wish I could say I’m surprised by that. I ought to be shocked by it. But I’m not. Those of us who lived in the south during the years of segregation can remember in hot detail many similar stories, sadly. When I was in high school my youth pastor started a reading program for the projects and he got hell for it, inviting kids from the project to come into our church and read a book with white kids. Imagine what it would lead to.
I’ll tell you what it led to — one of the cities largest and most vibrant churches falling into a decline from which it still has not recovered. At one time it was the City Church of its day. But when they refused to minister to the neighborhood in which they were located, they sealed their own terrible fate.
Diane: I’m convinced that it’s not lack of compassion that we have — but a lack of education. I think most of us just don’t know what to do to help. We’re scared. As one homeless man told me, “White people don’t know what to do when they see a black man running.” (He was running to get a cup of coffee on a cold day.)
It is this type of hypocritical behavior that also keeps a lot of folks from visiting a church; people like me, who are not homeless, but in fact quite blessed, who find more compassion for strangers and those down on their luck at a Phish show than a church. People who may call folks brother and sister and treat each other as if that is truly the case – because they have realized that it IS the case. Church is not a building, but the haven that is created by truly kind and open people is. We are our brothers keeper . . .
Kelly:
Since I grew up in the Bible Belt, I was predisposed to thinking that only Christians truly cared for others. I know that’s not true, now, and often is all too untrue. However, there is a lot that I do get from church and my church family that I do not find in the work place (especially since when I’m not in a newsroom my work place is this laptop) and that I don’t find in at literary events or at the local coffee shop.
I love my church. I love the people in it. I love that I know that they care about me. I don’t have family nearby. They are my family in this community.
There are a lot of problems within the church, true, but there are a lot of really wonderful things going on there as well with some really amazing people.
Bert: I knew I could count on you to come up with a terrific song.
Is the pastor being required by law to put up the no trespassing signs? Or does he have a choice?
He has a choice.
Thanks Karen, I did go back and reread this and noticed that they could sign a form and file it with the police and then the police could arrest trespassers.
I cry with your friend. I cry for me too – I am not sure I could offer a homeless man/woman that I didn’t know a room in my house. I have heard that sometimes it is whole families that are lining up at shelters or sleeping wherever they can find shelter. It is just a mess.
Karen: Glad lots of folks have responded. Here’s mine.
You asked what I would do if I were Hugh or one of the others. Since my heart is with Hugh, not the others, I’ll go with the former. First thing, I’d have led a prayer of repentance. People don’t usually walk out when you’re doing that. Like most things, there are short-term and long-term responses. In the short term, I’d look to get a some city leaders to spend some time with me, then find a newspaper columnist to write about it. Long term, attitudes will only change very slowly; and I’d be investing heavily in expanding whatever base of volunteers Hugh has. I think that’s one of the best side benefits of the Sunday night worship I lead in Portland’s downtown. Our volunteers now know people they otherwise would never have met. Homeless folks are now human and real to them. People with face-to-face experience have the only thing that can replace people’s fear. A little humor and enjoyment is always nice, too. I love the hopeful and pertinent scenes at the end of Dan Merchant’s film “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers.” Now finally in theatrical release, the film may break some ice. I hope most Christians see it and talk about it. Please do. Buy the DVD for your church.
People on the streets nearly always have multiple problems: troubled pasts, substance problems, health problems, mental health problems, sustained bad experiences and broken relationships in life. Add to that all the other difficulties of their previous 24 hours, and getting through another day can be pretty grim. For a hopeful note of what’s being done by one small ministry here in Portland, go to: http://www.operationnightwatch.org/dirmessn-d09.html
Most people in churches will never go near the present-day problems of homelessness, but many could be directed into prevention of homelessness without realizing what they were doing. Such as: mentoring kids, tutoring kids and volunteering in schools, leading youth activities and sports, helping troubled families find jobs and stay in housing, helping people quit smoking or gambling–horrifically expensive habits. Jesus reiterated the inseparability of loving God and loving our neighbors. But we can’t love people we don’t know. We can write checks and feel guilty or hopeless, but we can’t love until we know someone who becomes real to us. It all comes down to hospitality and relationship. Always has, always will.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by roryking: http://bit.ly/2X0RiP – Raleigh Police Department: “Don’t go to church”…
Roger:
I’m hardly one to point fingers as I not only manage to avoid the homeless but just about anybody. A writer’s life is insulatory by its very nature. I hole up and write. Sometimes I get away from this laptop but not often enough. I know some of my neighbors but if we have homeless people here in my neighborhood and I am sure we must, I don’t know a single one.
Debbie: Yes. The problem is significant. I think where I became aware of it was when my son moved across country for a job. It takes nearly $3,000 plus to get into a rental these days by the time you pay first and last and deposits. What are people who have no support system to help them supposed to do? We keep yapping about the health care issue, nobody is talking about the homeless issue. You know why don’t you? People without means in this society are ignored. Children. Elderly. The Homeless. If you think it’s scary to befriend a homeless person, think of how scary it is to be a homeless person.
Karen: I think you have Agape Ministries there in Hermiston. They were on the radio this AM. We often feel guilty about not offering homeless people shelter in our own digs, but they very often need specialized services we are not equipped to provide. That takes a network of faith-based and government services working in harmony and mutual support. And there’s a big role for ordinary folks in the role of hospitality ministries. Here’s the thing to remember: We NEVER save money by underfunding human services. We end up using the county jail and the ER for detox and the criminal justice system for mental health care, ambulances for shelters and drug treatment centers. I’ll mail you Chapter 8 from Craig Rennebohm’s book Souls In The Hands of a Tender God. It’s stunning what community-based mental health care has been doing in Belgium for centuries. Real eye-opener. Housing, housing, housing. Crying need.
But DO see Dan Merchant’s film. He’s a Christian, not a Bill Maher ditto-head. It’s heartening and hope-filled. If you don’t dig it, I’ll refund your money. How’s that?
R.
I have been ‘homeless’ before. Twelve years ago when my boyfriend kicked me out because his friend touched me while I was sleeping – long sorry story. I was pregnant and had my four year old son as well.
It was tough – pack your bags and leave he said – right now!
I stayed with one girlfriend overnight and took a train to my Dad’s who I hadn’t lived with since I was little. I then came back here as I wanted the baby to have some sort of relationship with the father. Another friend offered for me to stay with them, as long as it took to organise myself into my own place. I began working on that straight away and then three nights later her husband tore into me about what a worthless lowlife person I was – it was horrible – there may have been some truth in what he said yet now I had to stay in a place where I felt so not welcome.
By the end of the week, with the help of my country’s fabulous welfare system and the St Vincent de Paul charity I was in my own apartment. I woke the next morning with a bladder retention problem – no car – no phone – and I couldn’t walk. I had to send my little boy out in a thunderstorm to try and get help from neighbours.
While he was gone I prayed to a God I wasn’t sure was there and I heard ‘Be still and know that I am God’ – By this point I thought I had lost my mind completely. I then felt a flood of warmth flow through my body and the intensity of the pain left me and I could walk. I went to a doctor who didn’t pick up the problem, sent me home with antibiotics and told me to drink loads of water.
Eight days later I was booked for my first ultrasound and was told to go straight to hospital – they catherterized me and drained 2 litres of urine – I was close to kidney failure and my bladder bursting like a water balloon.
In that moment I recalled the words I had heard and was stunned with the thought that maybe God had touched my body and had carried me until I arrived at the hospital. I went to the chapel and got a Bible and read the Gospel of John right through and broke down on that bed and asked God to forgive me.
Two months later while reading the Psalms I found ‘Be still..’
The thing that has bothered me lately is how little I appreciate what the Lord has done for me or how easily I forget and how little I reach out to a world that needs new hearts and new natures that God longs to grant them.
Because the Holy Spirit seems to be spotlighting this in me I do believe He is changing this in me and I will do my best to allow the surgery to take place in my own heart.
I am blessed to live in a country that has systems in place to help people like me and yet I am disturbed more and more by how we are becoming more reliant on the government to look after the downtrodden and abdicating the churches role in God’s Story to the government.
Does that make sense?
I see you understood my last paragraph Roger, I didn’t see your post as I was posting mine. I will read Craig’s book as well – I have a heart to find solutions.
Christ comes a a begger and is stoped at the door and we wonder why God doesn’t move anymore
Debbie: Praise God for your being a survivor and for not giving up! God is continuing to do good things through you. It does take a network of faith-based, civic and government helpers to make the community work. Government should never be our only tool, but it is a powerful tool in our toolbox. It’s stupid to fiddle with pliers when sometimes we ought to use the good socket wrenches available to us. But every now and then, a pliers is the right tool also.
Here in Oregon, we got the bright idea back in the 80’s that government should be less involved in mental health “collectives”, so we decided to close state run facilities and put people into communities where they would receive treatment and services funded by dollars redirected by the state to those local services. Well, the people got dumped, alright–into communities where the services didn’t exist. And guess what? Those state dollars never came either. People with serious mental illnesses were literally put on buses with $10 in their pockets and one change of clothing and sent to communities where they were complete strangers and no one was prepared to receive them. We’ve been playing catch-up ever since–and we ended up spending many more dollars than if we had made no change at all. Duh!
Several months ago, I attended a homeless issues community listening post in downtown Portland, organized by two city council members, the newest of which was psych nurse at OHSU for 25 years. That’s a hopeful turn. During a small group session there, a local business owner said she was struggling to stay open because customers were driven away by the aggressive young panhandlers on the street outside her door. They are a very diifferent group of people from the folks who come to our Sunday worship right around the corner from her store. Still, I told her what I firmly believe. Although the meeting was called by city government, I said that if local churches were doing all that was within their ability do do, there would never have been a need for the meeting. All I said above about tools notwithstanding, I found myself wondering why the meeting wasn’t called by the faith community instead of two city councilors. Abdication was your diagnosis, and I think you are correct.
You’ll be deeply moved by Rennebohm’s book. Time and again the saying is true, “If only we knew this person’s story they would look so different to us.” If only. R.
Debbie, your story highlights for me the very thing that startled me when I spent some time with the homeless while working on Doublewide. And that is the realization that without a support system in place — without friends, family or church family to help — any of us could end up homeless at any given time. This has become even more real to me this past year. Pick any city and read through Craig’s List sometime. See the number of people on there looking for a rental. How desperate they are to find affordable housing — or even just a couch to sleep on.
Affordable housing is one more facet of the homelessness issue.
I am fortunate. I have family that would never let me fall through the cracks.
So many people don’t have that option. They don’t have a family that will undergird them. The church, as Hugh illustrates so worrisome here, often become more concerned about itself, than others.
I’m glad you had somebody to fall back on, even if for a short while. I remember an interview I did several years ago with a Senator’s wife. She arrived home from school one day when she was a teenager to find her mother dead. Liver failure. Her mother had a drinking problem. Her father, a LA cop, couldn’t deal with it. But a woman in a church came along and took this girl under her wing, nurtured her, and became a mother figure to this young girl.
That, she told me, was how she happened to become a Mormon. Because of the influence of this one woman upon her life during a time when she really needed it.
My own mother told me that in the chaos of my father’s death she started drinking and hanging at the bar, etc. because at that time those people were the ones who threw her the life preserver.
We are going to grab hold of something when we are drowning.
What we grab ahold of depends mostly not on rationale thought but upon what’s available in the midst of our panic.
The question, the one Hugh poses here, is are we positioning ourselves to help rescue others? Or are we more concerned about our own safety?
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