Church Blog

January 16 2009 at 1:16 pm

Thinking Ahead about Helping the Homeless

2 Comments

Here’s an inspiring e-mail I received from B.J. Thomas (the Covenant Life member, not the singer of “Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”):

Hi Joshua,

Thank you for serving us so well in the two-part series about “The Good Recession.”  Your message today inspired me to see what other ways I can help the poor and needy in our midst.

I wanted to share something my daughter and I created and have been passing out the past seven years to help the homeless.

Driving around Montgomery County, I frequently came to an intersection where a homeless person was standing with a sign. Wanting to help, we started collecting toiletries (travel-size toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, combs, etc.) bottled water, individually wrapped packages of cookies and crackers, tracts, the gospel of John and a print out of all the homeless shelters and soup kitchens in Montgomery County (found at www.dhr.state.md.us). We put all the items in a gallon sized zip lock bag along with two one-dollar bills.

We keep them in the front seat of our car, and now when we drive up to an intersection and someone approaches, we joyfully roll down our window and hand them a packet. As we drive away, we pray for that person and ask God to protect and provide for them. The packets can be made fairly inexpensively and have allowed us to help in a small way those who we might not otherwise have the opportunity to serve.

Our hope is that others can find creative ways to serve the needy in our community.

—B.J. Thomas

(B.J. is pictured above with daughter, Sarah Jane.)





BJ, thank you for sharing.  What an example for your daughter, showing compassion and love for those in need. I pray the Lord continues to open my eyes to the needs of those I come into contact with. With love, a fellow graduate of Peary High School.

By Mary Baker on 01/21/2009

BJ, this is a great idea. Maybe we can also add a Two Ways to Live track and information about Covenant Life Church in the plastic bags.

By Caroline Khan on 02/02/2009
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