“They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for want of shelter.” Job 24:7-8
“The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and
because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. ” Acts 28:2
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As the days grow shorter and the longer nights grow colder, we can all become more mindful of
the conditions that our unhoused sisters and brothers endure out on the streets. While it is a
grueling existence out there under any conditions, the cold and sometimes wet winter months
can be especially challenging.
One of the very best ways that you can offer support and care for your unhoused neighbors is
to give financial support to one of the many local agencies who provide direct services. The
United Way, Salvation Army, ST. David’s Episcopal Trinity Center, The Front Steps Program at
Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH), and any number of local churches do a
wonderful job of providing direct aid to many of the folks living on Austin streets.
Here at Central Christian, while we do not have a large outreach program serving the unhoused,
we do have several ways that we provide care and support. Our Petite Pantry offers additional
food besides the meals provided elsewhere at certain hours. Pastor Heidi and I also maintain a
small closet of clothing to share with those who ask for it. (We don’t advertise this as an official
ministry program of the church because we are not prepared to handle a large volume of
people needing assistance.) When anyone donates clothing to us, before we send it along to
partnering agencies, we set aside those items that we know we can readily hand out here.
Blankets, jackets, and socks are always in demand in the colder months.
As you are driving about the city and see panhandlers at intersections and in the medians, one
of the things that you might consider carrying in your car to give them is a pair of warm, dry
socks. A bottle of water in the heat of summer and a pair of dry socks in the winter are agape
gifts of charity that can be given with none of the worries that might accompany gifts of cash.
And, as at any time of the year, making eye contact and acknowledging the humanity of those
on the street is a bare minimum act of agape love that each of us can give in every interaction
that we have. Averting our gaze because we wish to avoid feeling the many feelings that might
arise in us is an avoidance strategy that I can’t imagine Jesus condones. I believe that, at the
very least, Jesus would have us look fully into the eyes of our unhoused neighbors so that we
might more fully empathize with them and imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes.
“He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a
curse.” Proverbs 28:27
Peace,
Pastor Layne