Every now and then we hear something or see something that just puts everything into perspective. I came across a story the other day of a homeless person that was begging for change not for himself but for a single mom who came upon some hard times. Fox News aired an interview about this story and in the interview the person interviewing the homeless man quipped “but you have nothing yourself.” To which the homeless man replied without hesitation, “Oh but I have God, I am one of the richest men on this earth because I have God.” Now I don’t know this man personally but what a profound statement. We overlook people like this man every day in our high paced world but his testimony puts many of us to shame. To see the interview click on the following link:

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/homeless-chicago-man-curtis-jackson-donates-thousands-to-sandy-lost-job-son-truck-hotel-20110511

We recently were asked to submit an article to the Alliance Life Magazine speaking about what we do at Family Empowerment Centers.  Below is an excerpt from that article.

The answer to the question of how to live as Christ followers in Rogers Park is simple: laying aside the things that make us most comfortable, we (me, my wife, my family and other leaders) incarnate ourselves into the community. We weave ourselves into the fabric of the neighborhood in much the same way that our international workers embed themselves into their new communities. We take the time to sit with people regardless of their financial position, the color of their skin or the language they speak, and we pay attention to them. We notice them. We embrace them as valuable. We care for them the way Christ cares for us.

To read the entire article follow this link:

http://www.alliancelife.org/article.php?id=597

Malvin and I had a conversation the other day regarding poverty and I found it interesting that although we come from different parts of the world many of the issues of poverty are the same, especially as it relates to the mental struggles of those living in poverty.

One of the commonalities that we spoke about was regarding how those who have less resource often spend what they do have on things which will give them the appearance of wealth. For instance in Zimbabwe, Malvin remarked that although people will live in small shacks they might drive a fancy car. Likewise, in our poorer urban communities you might find a family struggling to pay the bills yet they may have expensive sneakers, cable TV, or a car with fancy rims.  One may want to remark or dismiss this as irresponsible but the root of why this happens runs deeper than just money management.  As we address issues of poverty in our community we wrestle not only with the economics of poverty but also psychological and spiritual components of it as well.

This reminds me of a comment that I read from Mother Teresa in which she stated that poverty in the South Bronx was worse than the poverty in Calcutta.  When I read that I had to pause and re read it as I could not believe what I was hearing. The writers of the book in which she was quoted (Urban Ministry, by Harvie Conn and Manuel Ortiz) went on to explain that her reason for making the statement was that the poor living in the South Bronx (or any of our American cities for that matter) come face to face with the reality of their poverty as they live alongside some of the riches people in the world creating a greater mental despair associated with their poverty than those in Calcutta.

This week we are looking at this idea of the community of faith being inclusive rather than exclusive. Now before we get too far ahead of ourselves the context of this has to do with the fact that we create these cliques or clubs that isolate some as outsiders and others as insiders. In Jesus day the “in club” contained the religious elite, the Israelite. Jesus always seemed to cut across the grain of the club mentality as he engaged the woman at the well (the Samaritan), the tax collector, the leper, the paralytic, the blind beggar, and others offering them freely forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion and love.

This has made me think about Family Empowerment Centers and the fact that we live life with our neighbors (neighbor defined as any individual who we come into contact with regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, language, etc…) in ways no one else does so that Christ is glorified, they feel valued and accepted, and their lives take on new meaning and purpose. And even now as I write this, I am faced with the reality of this.

Mike just came to the door of the Center and informed me that his brother had died on Monday of a drug overdose. Mike struggles to keep his life on the straight, we speak of Christ often but life is what it is for him. He asked if I had any way to help him get some nice clothes so he can go to the wake and funeral on Saturday. I had to pause. We don’t have a clothing closet at the Center. Yet, what does it mean for me to be a friend to my neighbor? What would I want to be done for me if I were in his shoes? What are the thoughts going through his mind regarding his value and worth? What would it mean for him to show up at the funeral with clean clothes? I wonder also, where else has he gone? What have others said to him? Who will be willing to help him? Who will live life with him in the context of this situation?

My conversation with Mike is not complete yet but he is here at the Center, I have the opportunity to respond, will I respond like Christ? Will I value him as one who is “in the club”? I must, we must.

I read an article today on-line regarding plans by Governor Quinn to eliminate funding for all drug treatment and prevention programs which translates into tens of thousands of people losing much needed help in overcoming their addictions.   Our focus at the Center is not geared toward drug treatment and prevention programs but urban families with greater needs.  The trickle down is that many of our families are touched in one way or another by drug and alcohol abuse.  

We also have a large number of individuals who recognize us as a safe place to receive encouragement, a warm place to rest their heads, and at times a meal.  These neighbors of ours are almost always struggling with a drug and/or alcohol related addiction and receive services from many of the organizations that will close as a result of this lost funding. 

The closing of their doors will greatly increase the burden on us, as a representation of the Church, to do more.  The question is how can we as the representation of the Church do more when we too have less economic resources available?  At the same time we, the Church, have a great opportunity to shine by pulling together and sharing resources so that we can meet the increasing needs in people’s lives and fulfilling scriptures such as Matthew 5:16. 

Below are news articles regarding this development.

http://www.wsiltv.com/p/news_details.php?newsID=12497&type=top
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/20/quinn-budget-cuts-drug-treatment_n_825693.html