Imagine LA–A city where no child sleeps on the street
May 25, 2009 • Off the Cuff •
I just attended a fundraiser for this orgainzation Imagine LA. The concept is simple: 8000 homeless kids in greater LA + 8000 faith communities in greater LA =no kids sleeping on the streets. The strategy is hard work, but they are making good success in their pilot projects. This concept is very similar to what we are launching in Simi, what we so far have called Circles of Support, (see circle-of-support).
I am wonderfully amazed that people from a variety of faith communites and religious beliefs are coming together around the issue of homelessness. Even some more doctrinally rigorous evangelicals who often do not join hands unless theological issues are squared away, are coming together around this issue. It seems that reaching out to the marginalized, which touches the Lord’s heart, draws people together.
if your city is involved in the One City, One Book program, encourage those who organize this to use The Soloist by Steve Lopez as a discussion book. It will be very helpful in promoting issues related to reducing and preventing homelessness.
Here is a great article on the proactive stance of faith communities to the homelessness issues. It describes Imagine LA…and has a few quotes from me as well.christianity-today-imagine-la
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
Mike McCartney, M.Div '78
It’s exciting to see Kingdom involvement in human lives, be they homeless or home-equipped, but we need to not lose sight of the fact that God likely has no desire whatsoever to eliminate homelessness (or poverty or middle-class-ness or wealthy-class-ness or any other western socio-economic class.)
Jesus was, Himself, homeless, and apparently very content being so, and NEVER attempted to shift folks from one socio-economic class to another.
In our extensive work with the homeless in our community, to be sure there is a percentage of folks who would RATHER climb the socio-economic ladder. But there is a huge percentage that either (a) merely WISHES they were un-homeless but refuse to do what’s necessary to climb out, or (b) CHOOSES to remain homeless, avoiding the unwanted trappings of materialism — mortgage payments, insurance payments, car payments, etc.
So here’s to being careful with a title like, “Imagine LA–A city where no child sleeps on the street” or “Imagine LA–A city where no child sleeps on a bed” or “Imagine LA–A city where no child sleeps on a middle-class mattress.”
We’re foolish to think that we are (or ought to be) the norm for all peoples.
Blessings !!
May 25th, 2009
Ryan Bell
Hey Kurt, good to see you today. We just joined forces with Imagine LA and we are very excited to about this partnership. Thanks for your witness!
Jun 16th, 2009
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