wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Church-hosted tent city helps more than just the homeless

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>This story and photo available online:
>www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09145.htm

Church-hosted tent city helps more than just the homeless

Three-month stay results in 'countless loaves-and-fishes
stories'

>by Bethany Furkin
>Presbyterian News Service

Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of stories
about congregations engaged in significant outreach and
evangelism ministries, reflecting the General Assembly's
commitment to "Grow Christ's Church Deep and Wide." [
www.pcusa.org/deepandwide ] ― Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - Tent City 3, a community for the homeless, set
up camp at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Shoreline, WA, at
the end of November.

Now, three months later, the city is moving on. But the
congregation at Calvin isn't doing the same - the
experiences of working with the city will remain for a long
time.

Church members provided the tent city residents with food,
clothing and fellowship, but the experience has been a
blessing for all involved, said Barb Farden, leader of
Calvin's tent city team.

"The outpouring of love and generosity ... has been beyond
the imagination," she said. "It's been stupefying."

Tent City 3 was set up by SHARE/WHEEL [

www.sharewheel.org/Home ], a grassroots organization made
up of homeless and formerly homeless people in the Seattle
area. In addition to serving as an advocacy and educational
group, SHARE/WHEEL coordinates a shelter network consisting
of tent cities and indoor shelters.

Because of a city ordinance limiting temporary-use permits
to 90 days, the tent cities must pack up and relocate
within three months. After leaving Calvin, Tent City 3 will
head to St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle.

But some members of Calvin plan to keep connections with
residents of the city once they've moved, and plans are
already being made to host Tent City 3 at Calvin again.

That commitment to stay involved reflects the overwhelming
dedication already shown by church members. The past 90
days have been a series of countless "fish and loaves
stories," Farden said.

"There's a situation, and before I even have a chance to
figure it out, it gets solved. God just solves it," she
said.

For example, Calvin decided to host a Christmas party for
the tent city. To feed everyone, people would need to
donate about 40 pounds of potatoes. Instead, they brought
150 pounds. Coordinators estimated they would need 200
cookies for dessert. They ended up with 2,000.

"To me, it's just like the story in the Bible," Farden
said. "God has multiplied the food."

Because of the immense outpouring of donations, the church
was left with more leftovers than it could handle. As
members were trying to figure out what to do with the extra
food, a van pulled up and its drivers asked if they could
have any leftovers to distribute to the homeless in
downtown Seattle. No one had called them; somehow they just
showed up.

These stories aren't limited to the Christmas season. When
wooden pallets in the tents had started to fall apart and
needed to be replaced, Farden heard from a man who offered
to donate as many as they needed before she had even put
the word out.

Another time, she was on the phone trying to coordinate
centerpieces for a dinner when someone stopped by the
church and dropped off the exact centerpieces she was still
discussing.

Calvin planned a Super Bowl party for the tent city, and
Farden was worried that there wouldn't be enough drinks for
everyone. Later, she went to the camp and found a tent full
of cases of soft drinks that had just been donated.

"I've never witnessed anything like this - ever," she said.
"This experience of getting to be team leader has
solidified my faith in God."

The outpouring of generosity has been surprising to Farden,
who expected people to be helpful but never imagined the
kind of reaction she's seen. She has her ideas about the
reasons for the immense support. In addition to God
honoring and lifting up the work of the church members,
Farden also believes America's shaky economy has inspired
the community.

"The economic downturn in this country has really opened up
a lot of eyes that have been closed to the plight of the
homeless," she said, adding that more people are realizing
that they themselves could be just a few paychecks away
from homelessness.

There are an estimated 8,000 homeless people in greater
Seattle, but only 2,500 shelter beds. The tent cities help
provide more shelter but also offer a sense of stability to
residents, who have electricity, water and a place to keep
their belongings. The tent cities operate under a strict
code of conduct, which stipulates that residents be sober
and nonviolent and follow trash, laundry and noise
guidelines.

Before Calvin decided to host the tent city, it went
through months of research and discussion. Members of the
coordinating team met with representatives from
SHARE/WHEEL, hosted community meetings for the
neighborhoods surrounding the church and spoke with
congregations that had hosted tent cities in the past.

That preparation is important for congregations considering
whether to commit to big projects, said Corey
Schlosser-Hall, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of
North Puget Sound [ www.npspresbytery.org/ ], to which
Calvin belongs.

Also important is the realization that such projects can
have more of an impact than perhaps planned. By hosting the
tent city, Calvin took a more active role in the wider
community, putting into action the PC (USA)'s focus on
growing Christ's church deep and wide.

"Churches should think beyond the immediate and consider
how this experience can further their ministry,"
Schlosser-Hall said. "When churches do this, it can be a
really strong catalyst for deeper relationships with people
in the neighborhood. It's the kind of relationship building
the church should be doing anyway."

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