Church responds to “homelessness epidemic”

The Spirit leading a church toward something new sounds exciting, even if a bit daunting. For 25-member St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, a calling to emergency housing ministry may seem beyond their means, but God is providing in amazing ways.

 

The game room in the John Meeks Center provides inspirational artwork and an opportunity to relax. Photo courtesy of Pastor Kimberlynn Alexander

“There is an epidemic of homelessness and the church needs to respond,” said Pastor Kimberlynn Alexander. “We are doing Matthew 25: feed, clothe and shelter.”

St. Matthew’s UMC had space, but they lacked other necessary resources, so they connected with church and community partners to fill the gaps. The collaborative ministry has grown and is bringing together a variety of talents and gifts that are all vital as the effort gains momentum.

A new vision for missions

The John Meeks Center, the church’s housing facility originally intended for mission teams, is now a shelter for short-term stays. Women and children are often present – some are escaping domestic violence, while others are without affordable housing. Guests can expect a hot meal, a shower, toys for the little ones, and spaces to relax and sleep.

“We have to do something different in order to serve the needs of the community,” shared Alexander. “The whole congregation is plugged in.”

Terrence Ryans, lay leader of St. Matthew’s UMC, is trained in trauma response to best serve the guests. Alexander explained, “Homelessness is trauma.”

Ryans uses the Triumph Over Trauma curriculum to help guests boost their self-awareness and understand the stress they carry in their mind and body. He explained, “This helps them identify what triggers them so that they can make positive choices going forward.”

The church also offers visits to Mission Row – a series of large closets – to guests and the wider community. Visitors find clothing, hygiene and personal care items, food, bedding and household supplies. At least 30 people gather items from Mission Row each week.

“We want to be able to serve the poorest population and know that God has done it. There’s no way we could have done it without him,” Alexander said.

God provides partners

 

Volunteers from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church visit weekly to stock and organize Mission Row. The ministry volunteers are a close-knit community. Volunteer Frances Lawson (center) said, “We care about each other, not just the ministry. We’ve all connected.” Photo courtesy of Pastor Kimberlynn Alexander

St. Paul’s UMC, a suburban church 25 miles away, quickly became a ministry partner and a sister congregation. Every week, volunteers accept and sort donations, provide hot meals and do laundry.

Volunteers also provide fellowship and personalized help for many of the guests, ensuring that each person has exactly what they need before they leave. Throughout the year, the congregation completes construction projects and hosts toy, food and clothing drives to ensure Mission Row is always fully stocked.

“We are a missional church. If we know the needs, we are good at responding. Within a week of starting our first clothing drive, we had more donations than we knew what to do with,” said Frances Lawson, member at St. Paul’s UMC and housing ministry volunteer. “We can give, but we also have people who want to do hands-on work.”

At least once each month, the Gleaners from Collierville UMC deliver 500-1,000 pounds of perishable food from restaurants and grocery stores for distribution. The ministry’s overnight guests, community members and a Hispanic congregation that meets in St. Matthew’s building all benefit from the donation.

We are all in it together – the crisis of serving one person at a time. – Pastor Kimberlynn Alexander

Through a partnership with the Juvenile Court, Ryans is mentoring young men who are completing volunteer service hours by working on projects at the center. He said, “We love them, we don’t judge them. We listen to them, spend time with them. It’s meaningful ministry to be able to pour into the youth and build up the community.”

Continued change brings growth

 
Ministry renovations began in the summer of 2023, with the Service Over Self nonprofit organization removing wooden bunk beds. Volunteers reused some of the lumber to repair roofs for senior citizens in the area. Photo courtesy of Terrence Ryans

Fundraising and construction are underway in order to turn the emergency housing ministry into a 24-hour transitional housing center for women and children. The facility will have ten fully furnished sleeping rooms, each for an individual family.

St. Matthew’s UMC also plans to add additional partners, paid staff persons and increased security. Each element will help create a safe and loving space for families as they build their lives on a stronger foundation.

The ministry’s dedicated volunteers and the congregation’s resilient spirit seem to guarantee the work won’t slow down anytime soon. As Ryans said, “God is doing this.”

Laura Buchanan works for UMC.org at United Methodist Communications. Contact her by email.

This story was published on July 18, 2023.