The bitter cold of the last weeks of 2000 and the early weeks of 2001 have provided an opportunity for mission and ministry in our own neighborhoods. The many people who do not have warm homes to return to in the evenings and are living on the streets or in shelters often find that the responses from other people are colder than the temperature. Consider planning a time with older children to visit in a homeless shelter.
Some cities now have homeless shelters especially for families.
Here is a list of some of the things that you can do to make this a fulfilling and meaningful experience for you and your family. Contact the shelter to determine its policies. Some will not allow anyone under 16 in the shelter when the clients are in residence or have restrictions on what may be given to the clients. Preparing the children will help them understand what they are experiencing and will help them be more capable of ministering. Assure them that there will be a time after the visit to also discuss what they have seen.