The Gospel and the Gathering

What does the Gospel have to do with the Gathering?

It’s a little harder to answer that question this year than in previous years, when UGM’s annual event was mostly dedicated to sharing stories of what God is doing in people’s lives at our facilities.

Those stories haven’t stopped. Just check out the latest Mission News for another life transformed by the love and power of the Gospel.

But this year, knowing homelessness has reached a crisis point in Spokane, we didn’t want to restrict the Gathering to our “UGM bubble.” Homelessness is a problem we want to end; when it’s clearly not ending right here in our city, we wanted to take an honest look at why.

That’s the massive question addressed at the event. I won’t even try to do it here.

But especially during the Easter season when we celebrate the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we want to make sure to keep that at the center of how we think and act in relation to our special calling to care for the poor. What difference does the Gospel make?

I’ll put it this way: We don’t have all the answers, but in the Gospel we do have the answer to everything.

An example

Even for those of us who aren’t homeless, Christians understand that we live in a broken world. Because humanity is fallen, sin and suffering affect everything: our environment, every relationship we have, and even our own minds. Homelessness stems out of the consequences of that brokenness: family breakdown, addiction, trauma, mental illness, and the list goes on.

Consider Jeff, the man at the top of UGM’s homepage right now.

Jeff was working, not wealthy but holding his life together: a law-abiding, contributing member of society. Then a chain of tragic events outside his control came down all at once and he spiraled: Difficult circumstances led to a few bad choices of his own, which led to more difficulties, which led to more bad choices … “a complete meltdown.”

It finally came to a day when Jeff knew he would be sleeping in the park that night if he didn’t find shelter. He had no family or friends left to turn to. He had “run the course all the way to zero.”

Jeff called another shelter to see if he could spend the night. He explained his situation, how he had lost everything but was getting sober and wanted to turn his life around.

Their response was, “You don’t want to come here. You need to go to UGM.”

They didn’t say that because they were full or not wanting to help Jeff. They just knew that someone like Jeff, who knew he was broken and wanted to change his life, needed more than a bed and a roof over his head.

Jeff needed the safe, relational environment found at UGM. He needed time away from the destructive temptations of drugs and alcohol, so that his mind could get some stability to plan for the future. And he needed answers to deeper questions – not just Where will I sleep? and What will I eat?  but What am I living for? How will I deal with all the horrible things that happened to me and move forward?

Both by hearing the gospel at UGM and through relationships he built at Life Center (“They loved me into that church”), Jeff came to the hopeful mindset he has now: “I'm absolutely 100% willing to give my entire life to Christ. The full meal deal, not like where it's a separate entity, going-to-church type of thing. Like live and breathe. … I came to a place where I wasn't willing to continue living the way I was living at all.”

Ultimately, the answers to Jeff’s deeper questions came in relationships with Jesus Christ and his Body, the church. Jeff’s turnaround needed to start with his heart: not centered on UGM, but on the Gospel. In fact, if Jeff’s transformation were based solely on being at UGM, it wouldn’t last once he moved out. In order to sustain his new life, Jeff needs to be a God-dependent, contributing member of society, living in the freedom of Christ in a community of love, acceptance and support.

Jeff is now working at UGM Thrift Stores, which will help him with many of the details he needs to sustain his new life: A solid work history to get a long-term job. Safe housing. The ability to pay his bills. Those are important. But if you ask Jeff, he will tell you those things aren’t what changed his life.

The answer to everything

Jeff’s is just one story. His success doesn’t end homelessness as an issue in Spokane. We offer his story to show the importance of the heart, the soul, the mind – the unseen brokenness at the root of homelessness.

Meals, blankets, coats, and even housing won’t touch those. Jesus does that. And when he changes hearts and desires, the self-destructive behaviors that tend to perpetuate homelessness change too.

We care deeply about our city, but UGM doesn’t claim to have all the legal and political answers to the problems associated with homelessness here. We do know none of the solutions we try will accomplish lasting change unless they address individuals on a deeper level – underneath the visible needs for food, shelter, and clothing.

And we do know that on the individual level, the Gospel answers every need, from the heart, soul, and mind all the way up to the physical needs we provide for one another in the Body of Christ.

That’s why UGM invites each person to surrender to Christ, to come to Him for a second chance at life, with the power of the Holy Spirit to help. UGM’s other services, and many other resources available to people who are homeless, are an expression of His grace to give them the “hand up” they need to overcome all the other obstacles.

We know not everyone will accept the invitation; no one has to believe in Jesus to receive our services. But we can only proclaim, from 68 years of experience, the reliability of God’s Word and the biblical principles on which our approach to homelessness is based:

• Each person is created by God in his own image and is therefore valuable.
• Change is possible even in the darkest of circumstances.
• By God’s design, humans flourish when they have responsibility, accountability and the opportunity to contribute to their community. We are created for a greater purpose than merely pleasing ourselves for the moment.
• Poverty is as much spiritual and relational as physical; only healthy, authentic relationships can end spiritual poverty.

Even without faith in Christ, these principles can change lives when they’re applied. But with faith, we’ve pretty much seen mountains move. The Gospel of Jesus is certainly good news!

 Thanks to all who joined us for the Gathering. May our community discussion of homelessness continue to be filled with truth, grace and love for the poor, who are precious to Him.