Homeless in Freezing Temps

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

This week it was again our honor to work with other churches and agencies to house the homeless in sub-freezing weather.

As with the past few winters, we’ve been using our KPUMC van this winter to drive around Dallas, find our unhoused neighbors and try to get them to shelter. I must admit, we were not able to get out these past few days when Dallas was covered in ice. We made the decision that, unlike the pure *snow* of previous years, this ice was too treacherous to navigate. Which does indeed break our hearts a little.

That said, I hope you are again proud of your Church for making the commitment to engage in this ministry as we safely can.

At the start, I want to note just how many Methodists are involved in these efforts. Of course, Oak Lawn UMC opens their shelter. But this year, Warren UMC is also opening up in the Fair Park area. And we are driving our van.

I saw pastors from FUMC, Dallas delivering food to the shelter on Monday. And Daniel Roby, who runs Austin Street Center, grew up in the United Methodist Church I served as a young man. (He was just a junior high kid, back then…very proud of who he has become…)

I share this previous paragraph to say:

There is much wrong with the institutional church. But our United Methodist “connection” can sometimes do remarkable things for the world. It is clear that United Methodists are the lead congregations in this effort in Dallas. In the midst of our ongoing church split, while much of that news is tragic, this news is very good.

That said, the stories are also heartbreaking.

On Monday night Andrew McGregor and I drove our “usual” routes around Oak Cliff and Oak Lawn. We are both hesitant to disclose actual locations of these camps, even as I am sharing a few pictures with you today.

Acting on tips from some of you (One of you actually went to check on some houseless neighbors in your own cars!) we were able to get a houseless neighbor off the streets. He was very near our church building. He told us that he’s an Oak Cliff neighbor and we talked about his love for the area.

Then he confidentially shared with us the location of *another* encampment we’d never seen before; one that is also very near our church.

This is one of the humbling things Andrew and I are seeing…that houseless neighbors have an implicit trust of us. They see the sign on the side of our van, they see my clergy collar, and they are willing to talk with us in a way we’re very confident they would not talk to folks from the government or police. And we, in turn, act so as to be worthy of their trust.

This is the power of Christ’s real ministry in God’s world.

The picture of this tent, as I said, was taken near our church at a “new-to-us” camp we’d never seen before. It’s one that I seriously doubt many folks know about.

The folks there did *not* want to come with us. But I’m glad we checked on them.

Later that night, we found a guy under a freeway underpass in a spot we also had never checked before. He did come with us and was incredibly grateful to our Church. Another gentleman was found from a tip we got at the Oak Lawn UMC shelter. He came with us. But his friends under their bridge did not. Before he left them, he threw more wood on the small fire pictured here, so his friends would hopefully stay warm.

I wanted you to see these pictures because I immediately recognized that tent from the first camp we found. It’s the exact same model I use every year at the folk festival. It’s rated for summer, not sub-freezing. And this small fire, burning under a bridge in our city, it’s surely no match for the cold of the past few days.

We must honor the choices of those who do not want our help. That’s their fundamental autonomy as humans. But these stories stay with us too. And given what you’ve experienced in your own homes the past few days, what we all have, I know you’ll join me in special prayer for those who choose to “stay out.”

Our Gospel lesson this Sunday says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

This verse has always made me incredibly uncomfortable, because it feels like too many Christians use it as an excuse to say “Look at me! Look at how righteous I am!”

I think what Jesus had more in mind is that we show these very kinds of “good works;” not in a bragging or boastful way, but in the gratitude that God allows us to so serve our Oak Cliff community.

Jesus doesn’t want us to “brag” about our “good works.” But in this verse, I do think Jesus is trying to remind us —as we have all experienced this week— that the world is a cold, dark place. And so, any chance that we can be “light” to the world, that’s a good thing.

When we spread compassion, it sows the seeds for the compassion of others to grow, too. When we become a light to others, others will react with the light and love of God, shining out from them, too.

So, today, I’m proud of our church, but not boastful…how about you?