CHRISTIAN COMMENT: Spare a thought for those without a home
PART of my role is to go out into the community and talk to people about our charity and also to explain about how and why people become homeless.
During the months of September and October we do many talks in local schools and churches meeting a whole variety of wonderful people.
During one visit at a school for children aged eight-11, one of the pupils asked: "Why do you do your job?"
Of course my initial answer was: "Because I am a Christian, and because in The Bible we are told to help those less fortunate than ourselves' quoting the passage in Matthew, chapter 25, verse 31 onwards.
It tells how the King, when he comes again in all his glory, will separate the righteous from the unrighteous.
To the righteous he will offer his kingdom which has been prepared for them, because when he was hungry, sick, in prison, without shelter or clothing they helped him.
They then ask: "But Lord when did we see you in such need and help you?" and he replies: "Whenever you helped the least of these brothers of mine you did it for me".
Once I had returned home I sat and reflected on this question.
I love my job, I find it demanding, fun, informative and fulfilling.
I am fortunate to be able to see the work that the staff at Worthing Churches Homeless Projects do with our clients, taking them from being frightened, hostile and alone, to being independent, open and friendly.
Many people ask if I don't think this is something that the government should be doing?
Isn't that the case with most charities?
Where would we be without the RNLI, Cancer Research, NSPCC and other organisations like them?
At WCHP we work with around 450 individuals every year.
Many are homeless through breakdown of relationships, loss of jobs or a lifetime in care.
What a world it would be if we turned our back on these people and weren't there to help them?
Charity is a strange thing, many of us support charities, but which of us would like to admit that we accept help from a charity?
Not many I am sure.
So please spare a thought for those who find themselves without a roof over the heads, not only do they have to suffer sleeping rough, with their confidence at an all time low, they then have to admit they need help and come to our day centre.
What courage that must take!
Worthing Churches Homeless Projects would be unable to provide the support and care they do without the generosity of so many local people.
So on behalf of our clients, staff and volunteers, I would like to say a huge thank you and would ask you to take some time to think about what I have said.
If you do think that you could possibly help a bit more, in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Sue can be contacted by email – sue.stevens@wchp.org.uk or telephone 01903 227828.
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Weather for Worthing
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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