Creating a Hospitable Community for Homeless Families by Anna H. Bedford

When the Session of First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock was faced with the challenge of turning our church basement into a day center for homeless families assigned to the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), we were more than a tad nervous.

Located downtown, we knew we were the best place for the experiment. We are close to support agencies, businesses and semi-affordable housing. We would be more familiar territory for our guests than the uncharted suburbs where the eight congregations that had each signed up to house and entertain a family for seven nights were located. It made sense that after dinner, bed and breakfast in the suburbs, the guest families should pile into an IHN van and travel to our spacious, rambling 1950s-style education building.

Our church building is busy all week long. We see our space as a resource to share with the community, and we’re accustomed to constant traffic in and out by the many not-for-profits that have free office space on our second and third floors. Ecumenical volunteers for our weekday hot lunch program for downtown people who are transient or homeless constantly flow in and out, too.

But what would it be like to share our church school space on Sundays? Give up the comfortable, if underused, youth lounge with its carpet and sofas that we fondly call “The Trough”? That was something else. How would our families with young children and our frail, elderly members react on Sunday mornings?

To us, it felt a bit like the corny joke in which the pig and the chicken discuss the relative value of their gifts of bacon and eggs. The pig trumps the chicken, saying, “You make a contribution, but I make a commitment!”

Fortunately, our visionary pastor, Howard “Flash” Gordon, walked us through all the possibilities with patience and humor. We said, “Yes!” and we’ve never looked back.

Anna H. Bedford is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, and a former member of the Horizons editorial committee.

Photo courtesy of the Interfaith Hospitality Network

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How did the Interfaith Hospitality Network work out in First Presbyterian Church? Is this a mission your church could take on? Find out by reading the full text of this article in the November/ December 2006 issue of Horizons.	Creating a Hospitable Community for Homeless Families by Anna H. Bedford When the Session of First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock was faced with the challenge of turning our church basement into a day center for homeless families assigned to the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), we were more than a tad nervous. Located downtown, we knew we were the best place for the experiment. We are close to support agencies, businesses and semi-affordable housing. We would be more familiar territory for our guests than the uncharted suburbs where the eight congregations that had each signed up to house and entertain a family for seven nights were located. It made sense that after dinner, bed and breakfast in the suburbs, the guest families should pile into an IHN van and travel to our spacious, rambling 1950s-style education building. Our church building is busy all week long. We see our space as a resource to share with the community, and we’re accustomed to constant traffic in and out by the many not-for-profits that have free office space on our second and third floors. Ecumenical volunteers for our weekday hot lunch program for downtown people who are transient or homeless constantly flow in and out, too. But what would it be like to share our church school space on Sundays? Give up the comfortable, if underused, youth lounge with its carpet and sofas that we fondly call “The Trough”? That was something else. How would our families with young children and our frail, elderly members react on Sunday mornings? To us, it felt a bit like the corny joke in which the pig and the chicken discuss the relative value of their gifts of bacon and eggs. The pig trumps the chicken, saying, “You make a contribution, but I make a commitment!” Fortunately, our visionary pastor, Howard “Flash” Gordon, walked us through all the possibilities with patience and humor. We said, “Yes!” and we’ve never looked back. Anna H. Bedford is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Little Rock, Arkansas, and a former member of the Horizons editorial committee. Photo courtesy of the Interfaith Hospitality Network Other Articles Online This Issue Until Every Need Is Met Of the People, For the People Rebuilding Hope: One House at a Time Creating a Hospitable Community for Homeless Families Presbyterians and Gender Justice Faithful Food: Social Justice and Food Production Fellowship of the Least Coin 2006 Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Nurturing Our Faith Supporting Mission Health Connections Strengthening the PC(USA)	Current Issue Nov/Dec 2006 About This Issue Features PW Resources Departments FREE Resource Nov/Dec Index How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the November/December 2006 (HZN-06-250) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call 800/524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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