By the founder of an Alliance-affiliated ministry in a developed country in the Middle East
As time goes by, I become more and more convinced that ministry to the poor, homeless, and addicted is a biblical method of evangelism. For example, in Luke 14 we read the parable of the master who made a feast and invited many guests. However, these guests did not come because they were busy with their chores and needed neither fellowship nor food.
The master then sent his servants to bring in people from the streets, the outcasts of society: the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. He invited these outcasts first and foremost, because these people had nothing (neither fields, nor oxen, nor wives) and secondly, because he knew they would gladly accept good food and fellowship.
From my experience of sharing the good news in a developed country in the Middle East, I have concluded that in this region it is very difficult to invite unbelievers who are absolute strangers to church or evangelistic activities. We’ve organized various meetings, concerts, and film screenings and actively handed out invitations, yet only a few people responded. Like the parable, those who were called to “the feast” did not want to come.
By contrast, since the day we opened our outreach center for drug addicts and the homeless, it has never remained empty. Today about 30 unbelievers attend every day.
Our volunteers welcome them with sincere care and love, serve them delicious homemade food, and fellowship with them by sharing the good news of God’s love and salvation. For the “street people” who are lonely and hungry, this is a real feast. Then some of them go to rehabilitation centers to start a new life.
This is just one method of evangelism, of course, but it is very effective. And it can be used—I am sure—in a big city anywhere.
Hope for the Homeless
Read how a U.S. church is helping addicts find freedom from their addictions through the power of Christ’s love in “Alliance Church Shelters Homeless.” Ormond Beach (Florida) Alliance Church has doubled as a homeless shelter since 2008 for drug addicts, runaways, and veterans.