Friday Night Outreach

The homeless people who come to Friday night outreach come from all walks of life,
men and women. Their ages vary from teenagers to those who are well in their 70’s.
They come from every ethnic group. They come hungry, needing clothing, medical
attention and even such basic needs as a haircut. Some come angry, some under the
influence, but most are thankful for what UGM brings, that of hope, hope that tomorrow
may be a better day. Spokane has an estimated 1200 homeless people; tonight we will
serve about 100 of them.

The piano in the church gym where we set up to serve had recently been tuned. So even
before he ate Matthew sat down to play and sing. His rich baritone voice and music
soon filled the auditorium with his own style of gospel/blues. People gathered around to
listen and applaud, as his fingers used the full range of keys. He played and sang from his
heart and the life experiences of his 70 plus years. Gospel songs that spoke to his own
brokenness and needs.

Once again one of our own men ministers to the needs of a homeless person who has
large sores on his feet. His act of kindness of washing and dressing the homeless man’s
feet flow from a heart of thankfulness for blessings he has received through the mission.

We have celebrated Good Friday, because we knew Sunday was coming! We have once
again looked at the ‘cross’ knowing that the price that was paid there was because of our
(my) sins.

Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the form of a servant, being born in the
likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Friday Night Outreach: A Servant’s Heart

John 13:12-14,16: When he ( Jesus) had washed their feet and he put on his outer
garment and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have
done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord and you are right, for so I am. If I then,
your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s
feet. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master.

In New Testament times it was the job of the lowest servant to wash the feet of the guests
who entered his master’s home. Travelers and visitors would enter the home with dirty
dusty feet so as an act of hospitality they had their feet washed. Jesus assumed the role of
a servant by washing his disciples’ feet just prior to his being crucified.

Foot hygiene is a constant problem with the homeless, and they frequently suffer from
various foot health issues. Many have sores because of the unavailability of proper foot
hygiene.

God laid it on the heart of Dean, one of the men nearing completion of the ‘recovery
program’ at UGM, to demonstrate God’s love in a very tangible way, by offering to
wash the feet of the homeless. So it was at this Friday Night Outreach. He brought wash
basins, soap, towels, and put it into practice. As he washed the feet of the homeless he
offered a prayer on their behalf. As they left he gave them a pair of clean socks.

One man had a huge sore on his foot which was causing him great discomfort; treatment
was given to help soothe the pain. Others didn’t quite know how to respond, but all were
treated with love and dignity.

Once again I received a lesson in demonstrated love and humility. The question I
ask, “Am I willing to wash another’s feet?” and perhaps even a greater question, “Am I
willing to let someone else wash my feet?”

If you would like to join the group for a taste of Friday Night Outreach and see love in
action, you can call UGM to arrange for an appropriate evening.

Hair, Nails and Hope

Most names have been changed.

Ellen comes out of the improvised hair and nail salon at Friday Night Outreach. Her beautiful flowing hair has been washed and trimmed. She is beaming from ear to ear andher step has a new spring to it. Her husband has been patiently waiting and you can seethe pleased look on his face. Ellen is just one of several women who have had their hairwashed and trimmed this evening. Others have enjoyed having their nails done. Every other Friday night a mother and her daughter come to FNO and help give both men andwomen a new sense of dignity by having their hair cut and washed. The room is filled as we serve over 125 men and women a warm meal and a chance to sitaround a table to eat. Volunteers who come to serve and minister join many of them attables; engage them in conversation, and offer them hope that their lives can be changed. Candy, who formerly lived on the streets and is now leading a productive life for Christ, engages a young woman in conversation for more than twenty minutes. Together theylay out a plan for her to come to the Crisis Shelter and the possibility of going to Anna Ogden Hall. Volunteers in the clothing room often have a chance to engage those living on the streetin conversation as they hand out a blanket, a pair of socks, or a much needed coat, gently nudging them to consider a changed life.About a year ago the Mission started feeding the homeless in an alley near the I-90Freeway. Those who came were at times hostile, only too sure that the real reason theMission came was to ‘jam God” down their throats. Tonight before a time of playing bingo for some ‘life on the streets’ necessities, Dean (his real name) offers a prayerasking God’s blessing on the evening. Most remove their caps and at the end of the prayer and there are many hearty amen’s.“What difference do it make?” that we go each Friday night. Denver Moore, formerlyhomeless, from the book he co-authored by this title raised that question. The difference in my view is a step in the direction of a changed life offered freely to all who come.

A mosiac view of Christ!

It is Friday night on the streets of Spokane! The room fills with faces of over 100 men and women. Their faces are marked by addiction and hopelessness. It is easy to have this picture in one’s mind as one sees those who come to be fed, and to get a coat or a pair of socks, and yes, even a request for a roll of toilet paper. But if you look closer, if you really look, you begin to see a beautiful mosaic of the face of Christ made of precious stones. Yes, a picture made up of over 100 such stones, each etched with the face of a homeless person. The picture you begin to see is that of Christ sitting and overlooking the city of Spokane, saying, “For this reason I came to die.” If you look carefully, set aside your many prejudices, and look with a heart of compassion, your eyes begin to be opened to that beautiful mosaic.Those that come to serve each week have their own stories to tell as well, and form their own beautiful mosaic picture of Christ.
There is Dave who knows most of the people in line as just a short time ago he lived in their world. But today, after just 46 days of sobriety, he has come back to minister to the community he knows so well. He tells of being encouraged as he sees husbands and boyfriends that are sober tonight knowing that perhaps for this night, at least, their wife or girlfriends will not suffer from their hands of abuse. He offers a prayer of heartfelt thanksgiving for his life now being changed. There is James who comes not only with a heart for the homeless but also has a deep concern for a brother “in Christ” who has relapsed. He knows only too well his own continuing road to recovery and sobriety. There is Anna who comes regularly to serve. Her son lives at the mission and this is her way to give back. She shares her son’s struggles with a sense of real hope. In Proverbs it says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another”. Too often I feel, we as so called mature Christians, look to our own economic and social status peers to provide this sharpening when in reality Christ can sometimes more readily use those thatwe call ‘weak’ in the faith to make us into a part of a beautiful mosaic picture of Him. Yes, we can begin to see a mosaic picture of Christ made of valuable stones even in those who come asking for such basics as a “roll of toilet paper”.

What Difference Does it Make?

What difference does it make? This is the title of the book by Ron Hall, a wealthy art dealer, and Denver Moore, a former homeless person who lived in the alleys and behind dumpsters until they met at the mission in Fort Worth Texas where God radically changed both of their lives. Denver Moore says, “If folks like me had the ability to do what folks like you be tellin' us to do, we’d a’ already done it.” Does investing in the lives of the homeless people on Friday night outreach really ‘make a difference'? Don’t we see many of the same people each week? Aren’t we just enabling them to remain on the street? What difference do it make? It was cold and damp this Friday night. Many of the homeless were all ready waiting when we arrived. Because of unforeseen circumstances, we didn’t have the key to getinto the church to setup. I begin think about going and sitting in the UGM van where it was warm, wimpy I know, but the thought did cross my mind. As I begin to mingle among the homeless, one of our men came alongside me and said, “I’ll go with you fo ryour safety”. I hadn’t felt any fear until that point. The key arrived to unlock the church door arrives and we did our usual setup, the serving line was long for a Friday night this early in the month. We serve the usual soup, sandwiches, hot dogs, fresh fruit and hot drinks. Coats, blankets, socks, back packs and toiletries were in brisk demand. But still the question, What difference do it make? Then it struck home! That one big difference was occurring in my life! Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. I came to impact others lives, and suddenly realized it was my life that was being changed. I was beginning to see the homeless through eyes of compassion, and the men from UGM were helping me to focus on things ‘eternal’. It was my life that was being ‘sharpened." I was no longer just the one ‘giving’, but also the one ‘receiving’. Yes, I could still interact with many of the homeless and encourage them to get a pla nfor their lives which could start by coming to the Mission. I still had the opportunity to encourage them to make changes, to help fill an empty stomach and give out a warm coat. Yes, through God’s intervention and those who come to serve, lives are being impacted on Friday night.But at least on this Friday night the biggest difference was being made in me.

Invisible Refugees

Spokane has over 25,000 refugees within its borders. They come from Nepal, Myanmar,Bhutan, Iraq, Cuba, Congo, Eritrea, Somalia and more. 400-500 more are coming to Spokane each year. They are Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Hindus; they are a mission field right in our backyard. We spend countless dollars to send missionaries overseas to share the Gospel with these same people groups which may very well be fine. But, for the most part, the refugees in our midst remain “invisible’ to most Christians even when they venture into our churches. It is my observation that it is much easier to ‘give money then to be involved in the lives of those we profess we want to hear the Gospel message.Many of these refugees are open to hearing the Gospel if we first become their friends. If you are able, invest in their lives with your time and friendship.