A word from Madelyn Sutton, Director of the Christian Caring Center
Matthew 8:20 “...Foxes have dens and birds of the air have
nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
This was Jesus’s response to a scribe that wanted to follow Jesus and become a
disciple. Jesus, our Lord, was functionally homeless. He and His disciples stayed
in the homes of those who would take them in. At the Christian Caring Center we
call this couch surfing. When a person or family becomes homeless, at first
people are usually sympathetic and let them couch surf, but that is only for a
certain time. Jesus could identify with the homeless in His ministry. He was born
in a stable, during his ministry he had no home, and even the last night before His
crucifixion, He was outside in the garden. God expects His people to help support
those who are poor. There are so many verses in the old and new testaments that have specific instructions for us. The Christian Caring Center has had 14 declared Code Blue nights in November and we have helped
20 unduplicated guests. Each one has an individual story and some are dealing with issues of
mental illness, medical illness, addictions, one with dementia, one working but has maxed out her
credit cards and student loans after a divorce, etc. Code Blue is not declared because it is
extremely uncomfortable in the cold but is declared as a health emergency by the Burlington
County Health Department Office of Human Services at 32 degrees or colder because that is the
mark that could cause frostbite or even death. This is such a privilege to minister to the homeless
people and a life saving important work. But we could never do it without all of you! I have been
doing a personal study of ordinary people who gave and contributed to bringing Jesus into the
world so the Gospel could be completed. The Innkeeper was one of them. He thought he didn’t
have anything to give but he gave the only place he had, and the Lord was born in a stable. Our
Code Blue and the other 2 shelters in the County are all in the basements of the churches. In my
church, they don’t use the basement for anything else. When I came to them, they opened the doors
and lives are physically, spiritually and emotionally being saved! Three men were able to be
placed in our Men’s Shelter for 90 days from Code Blue. All 3 of them have found jobs and one is
coming to church with me now. One mentally challenged young man has been interviewed by
mental health agencies and they are trying to help him. One couple had a construction business
right before Covid hit. They lost everything when everything shut down. Someone gave him a
possible job. God is in the miracle business. You might think your donation is too small to make a
difference, but that is not true. When the “church body” comes together and does what the Lord
presents to them and you give what you can, we see the miracle of the 2 fishes and 5 loaves come
alive again and Jesus provides!
Whether it’s the homeless or my seniors on a fixed income facing whether to choose to eat or heat
their homes, single parents facing the same choice or choosing to stay home with a sick child or go
to work because they won’t get paid if they stay home, the list goes on and on. These are the
bumpy roads of today, but we are still choosing to trust God. We are promised that everything has
meaning in God’s plan! He will guide you and provide all you need.
Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don’t think you need
extraordinary qualifications or a lot of money; He accepts you as you are. Thank you for sharing
your prayers, time, and financial gifts to spread this wonderful Gospel to the people we serve at the
Christian Caring Center.
Abiding in Him,
Madelyn Sutton
Executive Director
Source:
https://dailyverse.knowing jesus.com/luke 2 10
