When we first explain the Family Promise program, this common question arises: “Why aren’t you giving a faith presentation?” Sometimes it is, “Our church would need to share the Gospel if we’re going to host.” I’d like to tell you that on a regular basis, clients beat us to it – the families preach the Gospel and announce God’s kingdom to us.
There are several reasons why we don’t “preach the Gospel” in the way that some congregations might expect. Gospel = good news, and good news can take many forms.
To begin, we are not affiliated directly with a denomination or faith. Though many volunteers and congregations serve from a place of very deep and committed faith, Family Promise as an agency is devoted to the entire community, to bringing groups together from all walks of life for the sake of homeless children and families. Everyone is welcome to participate and invited in to this mission.
Second, we have over 50 faith congregations involved. If each gave YOU a new presentation each week and asked you to commit to their specific denomination or faith’s beliefs, wouldn’t you be exhausted?
Third, we provide services with no expectation of a specific spiritual performance. Families are not required to believe like anyone else. This is the conviction we have chosen to live out, that every child deserves a home and everyone deserves an opportunity. No strings.
I might even say that personally, this is the deepest reflection of God’s kingdom I could ask for.
If you’re not familiar with “the kingdom of God” term, it speaks of the world as it’s designed to be, when things are set right.
“Announcing the kingdom” is telling others that a better world is available, that right relationship with God is possible.
As Carrie, our Founder and President, often says, “In the kingdom of God, every child has a home.”
In the kingdom of God, the poor are blessed and the brokenhearted are comforted.
Faith Talks
Please don’t hear me saying that we don’t get to live our faith. Oh, do we ever. The Family Promise program is a very tangible opportunity to live out our faith and values.
When we love unconditionally, we are sharing our faith. When we cook meals and play games and treat people with dignity, we are sharing our faith.
When families get to know us and begin to trust that we care about their lives, they begin to share their struggles. They might even ask questions and advice. But they get to do it on their terms.
In the middle of a homeless crisis where so much of life is beyond a guest’s control, they get to choose these conversations when they are ready. (In Christian circles we say that God works in hearts, so perhaps it’s he who chooses these conversation times.)
And not only that….
The families announce the kingdom
Now to my favorite reason. We don’t make Gospel presentations because the families are preaching the Gospel and announcing the kingdom to us.
Many of these dear guest friends, who have often been through trauma, abuse, rejection, and now homelessness, have experienced God and learned to trust in ways that most of us volunteers could never dream of.
And many are still choosing faith.
One guest mom wanted so badly to be done with the program, but her employment took some time and she kept going, telling us that something would work out. Another told me her story but also reminded me that I should trust God with my daily life because he has a plan. And a young mom declared to me in almost sermon-like form, in the midst of the health crisis of a child, that God has brought her this far and things will be ok. Sometimes I am shocked at the strong faith of our guest friends.
I have tears in my eyes when these things happen, because I think maybe the dream of equality could be possible. The dream is that everyone gets a seat at the table and has something to teach. The ideal is that we would no longer treat poverty or circumstance as a failure to believe, but an opportunity for God to restore all aspects of a person’s life.
That’s why Jesus came, isn’t it? To restore us to God and to each other.
Restoration may look different than what we think, friends. It may look like giving up our pre-judgements to learn from people different than us. I hope it looks like guest families continuing to preach the Gospel to us, and a volunteer team of humble people, willing to learn and listen.
Next time you volunteer, please pay close attention. The families may be announcing the kingdom and preaching the Gospel to you.
Katy Penner is our Board Secretary and Communications Team chair. She is also a Marketing and Content Strategist. You can reach her at pr@familypromisewichita.org.
Family Promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
