Lima Rescue Mission: Giving with confidence
Giving with confidence
From Nathan Branim, Director of Men's Ministry
Most people hold a romantic view of ministry (mission ministry included). Why even before I was involved in ministering to the homeless, the problems and solutions of homelessness seemed pretty cut and dry! We conjure up images of TV shows like “Little House on the Prairie,” where life threatening problems are completely solved, never to return again, in one hour. (I wish it were that easy!)
Furthermore, we like to think that when we give the homeless man on the street a dollar, that he really does go and spend that on his needs, rather than his addiction. But ministering at the Mission for over 8 years now has sharpened my perception, as it would for most I assume; and it’s plain to see that homeless men need more than just a dollar bill and a few kind words!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we should be so pessimistic about the homeless that we don’t show compassion to the guy holding up a sign on the street corner. But what I am saying, is that we need to become wise as serpents with how we spend the resources God blesses us with on the less fortunate! (For more tips on how to really help the homeless, check out our website under How to help/Helping the homeless.)
But quite contrary to my introduction, Ken is a man that you could probably give a dollar to on the streets and be confident that he wouldn’t squander it! (See, I told you, we don’t have to be pessimistic!) Matter of fact, you would be hard pressed to even guess Ken was homeless if you just had a casual encounter with him.
Ken, like a lot of the guys at the Mission, battles with some mental issues and they have interfered with his life enough that he lost his job and was kicked out of his apartment. The Mission was his only resort! Since being here Ken has set some good goals for himself, including getting a job and continuing to play music!
Finally, we want you to know that when you give to the Mission, you support Ken in a way that you can be confident in! You even support the guys that you shouldn’t give money to on the streets in the best way possible! There’s no guess work! There’s no wondering if what you have given is being spent on alcohol or drugs or any other useless thing. And we pray that the Lord will bless you for it!
Most people hold a romantic view of ministry (mission ministry included). Why even before I was involved in ministering to the homeless, the problems and solutions of homelessness seemed pretty cut and dry! We conjure up images of TV shows like “Little House on the Prairie,” where life threatening problems are completely solved, never to return again, in one hour. (I wish it were that easy!)
Furthermore, we like to think that when we give the homeless man on the street a dollar, that he really does go and spend that on his needs, rather than his addiction. But ministering at the Mission for over 8 years now has sharpened my perception, as it would for most I assume; and it’s plain to see that homeless men need more than just a dollar bill and a few kind words!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we should be so pessimistic about the homeless that we don’t show compassion to the guy holding up a sign on the street corner. But what I am saying, is that we need to become wise as serpents with how we spend the resources God blesses us with on the less fortunate! (For more tips on how to really help the homeless, check out our website under How to help/Helping the homeless.)
But quite contrary to my introduction, Ken is a man that you could probably give a dollar to on the streets and be confident that he wouldn’t squander it! (See, I told you, we don’t have to be pessimistic!) Matter of fact, you would be hard pressed to even guess Ken was homeless if you just had a casual encounter with him.
Ken, like a lot of the guys at the Mission, battles with some mental issues and they have interfered with his life enough that he lost his job and was kicked out of his apartment. The Mission was his only resort! Since being here Ken has set some good goals for himself, including getting a job and continuing to play music!
Finally, we want you to know that when you give to the Mission, you support Ken in a way that you can be confident in! You even support the guys that you shouldn’t give money to on the streets in the best way possible! There’s no guess work! There’s no wondering if what you have given is being spent on alcohol or drugs or any other useless thing. And we pray that the Lord will bless you for it!