On March 24th, 2016 five of us from Wichita, KS ventured to Lawrence, KS to learn all we could about assisting homeless families get back on their feet and in their own homes with the help of a Family Promise (FP) Affiliate. Our expectations were high since they have been in operation for seven years and in that length of time they would have surely straightened out many curves and smoothed out all the rough places. We were not disappointed. While I cannot speak for everyone, I will say that I experienced revelation, inspiration, and illumination.
Six FP Board members each spent more than an hour with us explaining their roles and describing the pathway, which led them to that position. All of them first became involved by serving in one of the 13 host churches that have banded together to house and feed their homeless guests as long as it takes. (Usually 30-60 days) In the Lawrence community these men and women are influential, respected and quite busy people. In God’s Kingdom they were revealed to be humble servants quietly working behind the scenes assisting truly the most needy among us.
We all were inspired by the FP Day Center Director, case managers, van drivers, cot movers, cooks, servers, overnight sleepers as they shared their stories and expressed the joy that they experienced by just doing their “little” part. I can hardly wait to be a part of helping those families with small children in Wichita that have no place to call home.
Finally, the highpoint of this very long day was when the spotlight focused on four graduates and their children as they shared their journey with us. Their stories were unique, but they all came to FP with gut wrenching numbing, depressed lows with no hope. Gradually, with plenty of good food, a safe warm place to sleep, and kind counseling by loving servants, their darkest nights were shattered with a ray of sunshine. Light from the one who is the Light of the World and who has made it clear to me that I must to be a part of Family Promise of Greater Wichita.
-Charlie Mullen
