According to a recent article in my Missouri hometown newspaper, homeless shelters are near capacity. With record cold temps hitting most of the US, it's going to be tough for many homeless folks to find adequate shelter and I fear mass deaths.
But, here's a solution (I'm certain it's not original): There are hundreds if not thousands of churches in my hometown--from small to large -- why not open them up to accomodate the homeless? Many have kitchens, bathrooms and fellowship halls with plenty room to house the homeless or at least get them out of the cold for a spell.
Afterall, isn't this the time of year when a homeless family found shelter in a manger?
What's the deal with vacant churches --6 of the 7 days of the week they're empty and not being used. Seems a big waste of space and potential for good.
I know dealing with the homeless is challenging and sometimes, well many times, safety is an issue, but giving them at least a few more options other than the street and freezing to death seems the Christian thing to do, doesn't it? And hey, it's not just Christian churches with space to spare, but also Synagogues and Mosques.
Is giving to the Salvation Army and plopping a dollar in the church donation basket this time of year an attempt to pay off our collective guilt by letting others take care of the problem?
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