Sunday night a week ago, our own FUMC Youth Group came over to our First Street Methodist Mission for a mission project.
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Jesus dedicated Himself to those who were poor, sick, homeless, outcast, and excluded from the good things in life. Jesus has called us to follow Him and to do the same — starting in our own communities.
I attended a funeral this past Saturday at another United Methodist Church in the Fort Worth area. It was a Celebration of Life for the mother/grandmother of a family that I became very close with at the first church I served as a minister.
We have started a wonderful new ministry at the Mission in which younger church members deliver groceries to guests with transportation issues.
Room in the Inn (RITI) is a life-changing ministry for both our guests and our volunteers. RITI is more than just a hot meal, a hot shower, and clean sheets for our unsheltered guests — although those things are pretty awesome when you have no home.
You and I are called to do great things! As I reflect on my dad’s passing and his obituary last week, I am inspired and feel called to work harder to make a positive difference in our world. I will honor Dad with my service to our family and others in need.
I attended a symposium about “Aging Well: Body, Mind and Spirit” last week. One of the presentations was about the Blue Zones project that is currently happening in Ft. Worth. The “Blue Zones” are longevity spots around the globe where there are clusters of peopleliving past 100 years old — Sardinia Italy, Okinawa Japan, Loma Linda California, Ikaria Greece, and Nocoya Costa Rica.
I LOVE working at First Street Mission! But the work that the staff and volunteers do together is difficult much of the time. We would like to help or to “fix” the people during their short visit us, but we see that major life solutions will take time and need the cooperation of the individual and the whole community working together. It has been true in my life and I am grateful for those who shared my journey with me through the hard spots and on to better places. What we are able to do is be present with someone for those few moments and offer genuine concern and try to encourage, along with the lunch or groceries or clothes that we can give to them.
Loving others is the most powerful expression of our own relationship with God.
We are so excited to have started our Summer Season for Room in the Inn this last Thursday, July 2! We had a festive “red, white, and blue” night with hamburgers, great homemade desserts, movies and more.