11:53pm - Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003
The Big Day.
What a day!
Our second annual Open House BBQ for the homeless is finally over. And it went swimmingly. Last year, we had about 300 people from Modesto's homeless community come out. This year, we estimate that number to have been between 400 and 500. It was a lot of fun.
It was really cool to see New Hope Church come together on this thing. Here we are, this backwards little group of 50 or so Christians, having the audacity to think we can pull off a huge community event. But we did! Everybody helped out. Josiah and Mike on the barby, the ladies serving food, other folks running the free thrift store. Then there was Chris and the band playing the blues.
People really had a good time, and once again, I am proud to say that it was hard to tell the homeless from the New Hopers.
We also had the oppurtinity to get some folks together to talk about how the homeless of Modesto can start to get their voices heard in the City Council. Out of that, a date was decided on to get together, organize, and go to City Council. If you go to the meeting, they have to hear what you have to say for three full minutes. Times that by 20 homeless people, and they've had to put up with 'em for an hour! I think this could be a big step for the homeless of Modesto getting the city to look long and hard at its treatment of the homeless.
So all in all, it was a really good day. A whole lotta work went into it, and it paid off nicely. Thanks to a generous, unknown donor, we were able to serve some beautiful tri-tip steak again. We set the bar pretty high last year, so it felt good to give these guys a real treat.
People were surprised that they could have as much as they wanted, and that there were no strings attached. They didn't have to sit through a service in order to get food. They didn't have to fill out any forms. It was just a big, fun party. One that we'll be hearing about for the next several months, I'm sure.
I'm glad it went so well, and it did my heart good to see my church making meaningful connections with this city's poor. Makes me think that maybe it's possible for even the most backwards and retarded Christians to actually do what God told us to do! Actually, I have a suspicion that it's almost always the backwards, retarded Christians who do get it right.
Anyhoo, I'm rambling now. Time to fold up the old Mac and turn in.
Thanks, Lord, for an excellent day.
