The bright yellow linen tablecloth was adorned with festive orange linen napkins. The fine china dishes were covered with turkey, dressing, gravy, mac and cheese, potato salad, desserts and much more. It was in our lovely fellowship hall this past Sunday afternoon, and while one might expect that this feast was prepared for our faithful members, the guests of honor for this elaborate Thanksgiving meal were actually some of our local homeless population.
It goes without saying, I suppose, that the homeless do not “need” fine china, or turkey and dressing for that matter. When people are hungry and hurting, they will, as our homeless ministry director Paul Cash often says, “eat anything and lots of it.”
Need is not the issue, at least not the need of the stomach. The need of the heart, though, that is another matter entirely.
Each and every week for many years now, the workers in our homeless ministry have driven into town with the church van, picked up folks from the local shelter and brought them to church for a meal and a Gospel message. Many of them have come to receive Christ as their Savior through the years; some have gotten drug- and alcohol-free; gotten jobs, homes and are “back on their feet.” All have come to know that Christ and his people love them. And it is that last part that drives two of our ladies each year, Maryann and Melanie, to bring their own fine china, prepare the elaborate meal and serve it to those who have nothing.
Their stomachs would be filled with just the food. Their hearts are filled with all the rest. The message that comes through loudly and clearly to them is, “you are of infinite worth. God has not forgotten you, and neither have his people.”