Homeless camps in Dothan

A homeless camp in Dothan, Ala.

Many people in Dothan, Ala., would be surprised to know there are people living in tents in the woods throughout the city. It's true. It's reality.

The reasons why people are homeless are varied. Some can't find consistent work, while others deal with mental issues and addictions. Some have been down for so long they think living a homeless lifestyle is their lot in life.

It's heartbreaking to see people living like that. But most of the ones living in tents don't complain. They live day-to-day surviving the best they can.

When I see homeless people, I see people who have lost their dreams; people who never planned on being homeless, but somewhere along life's journey they got knocked down and have never been able to get back up.

These are precious people. They need to know they are loved. We all want to be loved. Imagine thinking nobody loved or cared about you. The homeless need to know they are loved by Almighty God and by the people of God.

That's what we try to do at Love In Action. We show the homeless the love of Jesus Christ. It doesn't take most of them long to know we are genuine in our love for them. They know they are welcome at our ministry center. They come to worship, study God's Word, eat, take showers, get food, have their clothes washed, and to just hang out and talk.

We are also welcome in their homes - their camps. It's an honor when a homeless person welcomes you to their camp. That means they trust you. They don't trust many people, not even other homeless people, so earning their trust is the first step to leading them to Jesus and helping them see that God has more for them.

Please pray for the homeless. Pray they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ if they haven't already, and that they will realize God loves them and has great plans for them like He promises all of us in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to reach out to the "least of these." And, when we say "least" we aren't talking about people who are not important. Everyone is important to God. We all have great value to Him. That's why God gave His only Son for us.

I like what Bishop Paul Leeland of the United Methodist Church Alabama-West Florida Conference said about the "lost." Have you ever heard anyone say they've lost a bag of garbage? No. When you lose something it is something of value.

When any of us don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we are lost. God doesn't want us to be lost. He wants us to be found, found in Him through His son Jesus Christ. That includes the homeless. They are not bums. They are people like you and me who need Jesus in their lives.

Pray that they will see they are of great value to God and to us.