Over the weekend we were notified that the police department had demanded that a 10 person encampment under a bridge in downtown Nashville be vacated. They say there’s been complaints about the camp. I visited the camp and met the folks and it is the most organized and clean camp that I’ve ever seen!! True, the people living there are trespassing. But they have nowhere else to go. They don’t want to go to Tent City because of the size and the chaos. I can’t really blame them after visiting their camp.
The police indicated they had to vacate by this morning or they would be arrested and their personal possessions thrown away – just like they’ve done at other camps. We started making calls over the weekend and finally got in touch with enough people that we’ve been given 30 days to help find them alternative locations or housing. The problem is that when the police arbitrarily target an encampment (they’ve since refused to allow us to see the “complaint” they claim had been filed but have now said they had the problem with the camp) they change the priorities of all the work being done in case management with other folks. This is not to say that these folks don’t need and want housing but they are not in as critical shape as others.
So for the next week or so the focus will be on finding housing or another location for these folks and efforts will be diverted from Tent City. If anyone reading this email wants to help with the funding necessary to pay deposits and rent please consider making a donation to Amos House (http://amoshouse.wordpress.com/) and they will make sure it goes to help these good folks.
Please keep the homeless AND the police in your prayers. I know there’s evil in this world and I know there are rules under which society must operate. But the way that the homeless are being targeted when they have virtually no alternatives is heartless and cruel. We are told by Jesus not to judge but to be peacemakers. So I’ll refrain from judging the actions of some of the leaders of our law enforcement but I can say with certainty that the person I follow would not be taking this course of action when faced with issues of poverty and homelessness. He’d be working to resolve the hurt with compassion and kindness. Let’s work together to follow that path..
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About Me
- Doug
- After 27 years in the business world I was blessed to be “called” into ministry and even more blessed to be able to serve at Otter Creek church. I spend part of my days working in roles that support the “institution” and our congregation. I spend the other part of my time working as a “street” minister – reaching out to those in poverty, single moms, people struggling with addictions, homelessness, in jail, etc (see Matt. 25). My calling is to blend these 2 areas of work so that I can lead and walk with others who want to experience serving Christ in a real and tangible way. I believe I must walk the walk before I can talk the talk. The path I’m trying to blaze for our church looks a little different than most. It seeks to connect the desire to serve Jesus with real life ways to be His hands and feet that make a difference in people’s lives. I’m convinced that those of us serving are more significantly affected than those we serve.
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