Union Gospel Mission, a Christian organization where we have volunteered that provides housing and other services to homeless persons, is in need of our help. Because of the tremendous need of residents and guests from the streets at Christmas, this project seeks the participation of children and parents to help get started on Christmas — in July. Cash donations can be received and earmarked “Christmas in July,” or donations in kind. Items donated must be new and unwrapped. Needs are: Men and women’s underwear, twin sheets/pillow cases, men and women’s socks, women’s bath robes, men’s long underwear, baby and toddler items like crib sheets/pads/toys/clothes/baby bottles. For further information, contact Chaplain Stanley Maneikis at 817-334-0894 or Lanni Boyd at 817-338-8402.
I would just like to encourage you to donate to this very worthy organization in order to give hope to the poor.
“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, ….” Matthew 25: 35
“Before Almighty God and my sisters and brothers in faith, I enter into this Holy Covenant to heed Jesus’ call to ‘make disciples of all nations’ by extending the hand of Christian witness to at least two people each week until God calls me from this life. Amen.”
“What this covenant requires is that we find two people in our midst, anywhere, and ask if they have a church home,” suggests Joel Robbins, pastor at Mooreville United Methodist Church, where 60 percent of their steady growth over the past five years has been on professions of faith. Robbins attributes this growth to the actions of the church’s laypeople.
“This is a lifetime commitment,” he says, noting that once entered into, “radical hospitality becomes a way of life. Simply asking if a person has a church home opens the opportunity to show radical (or what some call real, Christ-like) hospitality. And there’s no telling where the Holy Spirit might lead that person.”
“Spiritual hunger is at an all time high in America,” states Bishop Mike Lowry. “People are ready, eager to respond to those who will reach out and offer the friendship of Christ. I believe the Lord of the Great Commission challenges us to be people of radical hospitality.”
So what about you? Are you ready to be hospitable to others in a radical way? Will you invite at least 2 people to a church event this week? What’s stopping you?