Jesus For The Homeless

It is through the ministry of food that we must feed those who are both starving for nourishment and starving for more.

Recently I have been blessed enough to be a part of a ministry run by a friend and brother of mine from church Duncan Tang, partnered with other followers.
A ministry with a servant focus "We are a group dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus to the poor and homeless, by providing for their physical and spiritual needs.

We want all those who have been rejected and written off by society, to experience and be transformed by the love of God".

While journeying with these people over the past two weeks I have seen great things had great conversations and met great people (both from the street and the group)
When dealing with people on the street it seems to me many issues arise, issues of safety, fear, stereotypes, pride.
All of these infectious and self perpetuating.
It seems to me the key to breaking these walls down is equality specifically the attitude of friends rather than rescuers.
The admission that we in houses are no better/worse, than those on the streets and that although what we are doing on the streets is service, it is not a job.
It is life, it is relationship, community, it is approaching people whom Jesus both approached and is.
Not from a standpoint of authority nor superiority, but from equality.

Food achieves this, with the majority of street people being maori or pacific islander food is and will continue to be a focal point of their culture, gatherings were always enriched with the beauty of sharing meals and time, it is out of this eating together, seated together, talking together and living together that serving takes place and relationships form.

Meals make homeless people friends, treasured valuable people in our lives whom we care for, laugh with, cry with and love with.

Jesus feeds the five thousand and then leaves across the lake to capernaum and the five thousand follows him when they find him he says this to them.

26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Then in the next chapter we see Jesus describing himself as the bread of life, which he has just given these five thousand in the chapter previous which has fulfilled them.
That is the food we offer, that is the seed we must sow

It is the fulfilment of more than food, it is the questions people ask when we share with them that is the true nourishment "why are they eating with us" "what drives these people" "where is this coming from" and the answer is Jesus.