In an effort to provide an advocacy for our local churches to reclaim a theology and practice for missional service to the homeless and disadvantaged in our communities, I will be posting a series of blogs. These will be somewhat a compilation of several papers and discussions over the last few years. I hope they will generate discussion in your sphere of influence and in our churches.
Reclaiming Missional Service with a View of Rescue Missions
~ © by Rev. Jim Lewis
Examination of Change
Reclaiming Missional Service with a View of Rescue Missions
~ © by Rev. Jim Lewis
Examination of Change
Given Rescue Mission ministry and services are rooted in biblical foundations, what can we change? I believe rather than directing our attention solely on salvation outcomes, the focus of our service must become more relational and come from a desire to live out Jesus in view of those we serve. If we enact a relational model, our gift of hospitality will not be directed simply as social service, but an extension of our own relationship with Christ, and thus we will empower those whom we serve, not treat them as “clients or recipients” (2003b, 108). One of my staff stated it succinctly, “Are we reflecting the love of God when we make someone an object of our charity?”
Making this connection between our hospitality and creating a relational community is critical, as it is my experience leading two Rescue Missions, that exercising non-reciprocal hospitality without some expectation of responsibility on the part of the recipient can quickly become enabling; the ministry will, unfortunately, be reduced to mere social service. Often, we see our guests responding to the level of expectation we have for them; not in a manner of forcing people to respond to our hospitality, but they recognize our underlining purpose is creating an environment of community in which they can feel safe and receive emotional and spiritual healing (2007, 52). Christine Pohl offers a critical connection between hospitality provided in Christian communities and the response to it:
Making this connection between our hospitality and creating a relational community is critical, as it is my experience leading two Rescue Missions, that exercising non-reciprocal hospitality without some expectation of responsibility on the part of the recipient can quickly become enabling; the ministry will, unfortunately, be reduced to mere social service. Often, we see our guests responding to the level of expectation we have for them; not in a manner of forcing people to respond to our hospitality, but they recognize our underlining purpose is creating an environment of community in which they can feel safe and receive emotional and spiritual healing (2007, 52). Christine Pohl offers a critical connection between hospitality provided in Christian communities and the response to it:
Hospitality . . . demonstrates that important healing takes place within community. Reclaiming hospitality is an attempt to bring back the relational dimension to social service, and to highlight concern for empowerment and partnership with those who need assistance” (1999a, 162).
As Long Beach Rescue Mission becomes that community, we will learn that stewardship of our hospitality is not merely a matter of distributing resources but an actual life-practice of the people of God. This stewardship needs to become the model in our local churches as well.
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