Who are the People in your Neighborhood?

"The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy." Prov 14:20,21

Last week I heard that the Kelowna Drop-In center is closing... a refuge for the homeless and struggling where they can find a bar of soap, a cup of coffee, a meal and some support in their day-to-day. Inn From the Cold could be facing a major challenge next year as Tara feels that since we are "serving food to the public" we might be inviolation because the food is prepared in homes instead of in licenced kitchens. If IFTC can no loger have volunteers like me and my friends prepare food in our homes everything will change for that program too. I think I read that 80,000 meals were served by the Kelowna Drop-Inn center, and Inn from the Cold serves about 5,000 meals during the winter.

This last six months or so, God has been doing something new in me, deepening my desire to love and serve the needy. I want to be so open to how He wants to use me in the next six months and beyond, especially now that the holes in services -- and therefore hope-- are getting bigger and bigger in our community.

I think the challenge is for all of us to get an education about this issue, have a heart of compassion and see where God takes us from there... at least I know it's the challenge for me when I read passages like this.