Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
James 2:15-16
If you've followed my blog in the past, you know that homelessness is a problem I care very much about. As much as I enjoy the snow and cool weather, my heart aches for those with no shelter as I watch those first winter flakes drift downward. There is another group for whom I feel equal, if not more, compassion... teenagers in foster care. I never thought about how those two groups are linked... until our church was visited by Pastor Ryan from Shelter Church, and he told us about New Family Tree ministry.
Did you know that 60% of teens in foster care end up homeless when they turn eighteen? Did you know that one out of four homeless adults spent time in the foster system? These are local statistics, but I'm fairly certain they are similar in other areas of the U.S.
Pastor Ryan is attempting to draw attention to this problem, and raise funds for a solution! For the month of January, he is living in a van in Dayton, Ohio. He is twittering his experience, as well as doing a daily vlog entry. You can follow Ryan on facebook, or on his website 30dayshomeless. He is hoping to raise funds to help support the New Family Tree ministry that will provide housing and guidance for those teens 'aging out' of the foster system. His hope is to help these kids adjust to life in the adult world, enroll in college, find jobs, and provide shelter during this transitional time in their lives.
Please, take the time to watch his vlog and read the webpages. Share this event with others. If you feel the call to do something, your reward will be great. Think what a difference you could make in the life of a young person... a person with no one else to turn to...
