The Benedictine Rule, written in the 6th century as a book of precepts for new monastic communities in Western Europe, specifies that monks were supposed to show hospitality to all travelers and strangers. They showed such generous hospitality because according to Jesus’ discourse in Matthew 25: when Christians show hospitality to strangers in need we are showing hospitality to Jesus himself. We can find many passages in Scripture that call upon the faithful to help the poor, those who have no family to care for them like widows and orphans, the sick, and the outcast.

The question for 21st-century Christians living in Santa Monica and Los Angeles isn’t whether or not we should engage in ministry to the homeless. The question is rather: how can we minister effectively with the homeless in our communities?

Since the fall, Mt. Olive has seen an increased number of persons in need of shelter, food, medical and mental health care coming to our doors seeking help. For many months, the staff—especially our office coordinator Cristine Ackel, and lay leaders on and off council, have been trying to educate ourselves about best practices for ministering to the homeless in our area. And by trial and error we have been developing a policy for outreach to the homeless who come to our campus.

The policy has three parts: hospitality, relationship, and referral.

When homeless persons come to our door, we invite them to participate in our regular, supervised church activities such as Sunday worship, Sunday fellowship, movie nights and meals. In some cases, when there is a short-term critical need, we will offer food cards redeemable at Bob’s Market which may only be used to purchase food and personal items, no alcohol or cigarettes. Or we may provide clean socks. On the rare occasion and at the pastor’s discretion, we will pay a night’s hotel stay for someone in dire need. Extending short-term help and hospitality to a homeless person is the first and effective step toward building a relationship with this person—the second step. We can get to know a person’s name, their story, and their needs. It is the relationship of honesty, care and trust that makes the third step in our homeless ministry possible: referring a homeless person who comes to us to the social service and care providers that can help a homeless person move off the streets into the housing and care the homeless person needs.

Ministry to the homeless is not just the work of Church staff and elected leaders It is a ministry of the whole church for the whole community. I invite you to join me at a very important and rare community educational forum that Mt. Olive is hosting on June 11 from 11a.m.-1p.m.: “How can faith communities better engage in the battle to combat homelessness?” All faith communities as well as all homeless service providers on the Westside are invited to gather and learn from one another about how to work together to engage in effective ministry to the homeless. See the announcement in this newsletter for more information about speakers.

Your sister in Christ,
Pastor Stephanie