A Warm Place

We have been saved and we have been sent - Jesus has made us right with God, having been born again, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the will of God - called and chosen. Ephesians 2 contains these words:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Now that Jesus inhabits our hearts, He calls us to draw closer to Him, to grow as disciples and to follow His direction.  We are to not only be obedient in our personal spiritual walk, but part of that includes bearing fruit for His Kingdom.  That means we are to be sensitive to the people around us, so that Christ may be exalted through our faithfulness.  We can confidently walk in the love of the Lord and be willing to share it consistently.

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Yesterday, I shared a passage of Scripture from James chapter 2 about partiality and how the Church should be willing to reach out to people, regardless of outward appearance or perceived background. Later in the chapter, James writes:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

During this time of freezing temperatures, the coldest conditions of this season so far, we can remember those who do not have adequate shelter, and be thankful for ministries and other organizations who reach out to those without a home. 

Chris Avell is the Pastor of a church called Dad's Place in Bryan, Ohio.  He has a heart for the homeless in his city, and keeps his church building open around the clock in order to serve the community.

For that, he has been arrested; The Christian Post reports that Avell "...was arraigned in municipal court on Thursday after being slapped with 18 zoning law violation charges related to keeping his church open around the clock to house the homeless." Avell pled not guilty, and his attorney, Jeremy Dys, Senior Counsel at First Liberty, said: “Yesterday, the city of Bryan, Ohio, arraigned Pastor Chris on criminal charges for having his church open 24/7," adding, "He pled 'not guilty,' as any pastor should who is simply doing what churches throughout history have done: care for those who walk through their doors no matter the time of day."

The police chief "forwarded a Dec. 13 press release from the police department explaining that the city's zoning and engineering department 'received a complaint in regards to people living' at Dad's Place on Nov. 3."  The Christian Post relates that "A court filing states that because Dad's Place is zoned as Central Business, the building is prohibited from allowing people to eat, wash clothes, or sleep on the property." There were allegedly fire code violations at the building, as well.

The story goes on to say:

According to First Liberty Institute, Avell decided last March to keep his church open all the time because the neighboring local homeless shelter was often full, forcing some of the town's homeless to stay outside. He claimed his church has since been able to help at least 100 people who are struggling with homelessness.

The director of operations at the Sanctuary of Williams County Homeless Shelter supports what Avell's church is doing, according to First Liberty Institute.

"The city, churches and community in general should work together. We need to work together to help people in need," the director said. "There is nowhere else for these people in Williams County to go. We have to turn away around 600 people every year."

In an Fox News interview, Avell said, "I was spiritually homeless, and God provided a home for me in Heaven," adding, "He’s put a burden on my heart for them. Many of these people have been rejected by their families and cast aside by their communities. So, if the church isn’t willing to lay down her life for them, who will? This is what we’re called to do."

Local churches can demonstrate the love of Christ by being sensitive to needs in their communities, to reach out to people around them, whom God has strategically placed in order to encounter His love.  That's all Chris Avell desires to do; but his compassion has caused him to run afoul of the city and could result in criminal penalties. He's decided that he will continue obey God to minister to the people who are sent his way. 

I have to agree with Jeremy, who has been a guest on The Meeting House numerous times, who said that Pastor Chris "...is simply doing what churches throughout history have done: care for those who walk through their doors no matter the time of day."  The local homeless shelter director stressed the importance of working together.  Certainly there are many wonderful service agencies in our communities that do excellent work; but we should always make sure we see the role of the Church in bringing light to people in need - that includes not only physical needs, but spiritual, as well, recognizing the meeting of physical needs can provide a door through which spiritual needs can be addressed through Christ.