2012 – 2013
Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries
Help For The Homeless
Outreach Program
The Instrument:
Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries believes it has obtained and is in the process of implementing a simple (Notice the term used here is “simple” and not “easy”.) hybrid of Servant Evangelism and “Needs Based” Outreach to serve as an introduction to reach a large cross culture population that maintains the state of the person’s relationship with Christ as the primary focus. It is suggested that beginning immediately we will begin to collect articles and make up both “Bible/Blanket” Bags and Baskets to be used as introduction tools to reach the homeless, street culture, battered women and poor of Philadelphia, PA. This is a perpetual effort. Each bag or basket should consist of: 1 waterproof bag (to be used with the homeless backpacks/duffel bags and battered women duffel bags), 1 blanket, a personal hygiene kit consisting of male/female specific items and a Bible as well as a credit card size plastic magnifying lens in case the person receiving the bag has vision problems.
There should be stamped into the inter-cover of the Bible the name and contact information of someone who represents the Church so that the receiving person can get in touch with us should they want to speak, come to Church or to simply have someone to pray with them. A book mark designed for this purpose and inserted into the Bible would also suffice. The purpose of the bag is this: The bag uses the needs of warmth and hygiene to put the Bible in the hands of the person in need. It is also designed to allow us through meeting the need of warmth and hygiene to verbally and relationally say in a moment of compassion that “Christ loves you and we care about your physical and spiritual condition”. It is simply an introduction tool. A way for Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries and those working in the ministry to introduce themselves to the person in need and to encourage the development of relationships. It is through these relationships that the Spirit will be better enabled to work more than anything we could say or do in a 5 minute gorilla evangelism speech.
Bags are to be distributed by hand to homeless people outside of shelters when they are on the street and in need of warmth and hygiene items. Bags should also be distributed by hand if possible to battered women placed in Shelters.
(It must be noted that a relationship should be developed by someone in the Church with area shelters so that we can have someone approved for visitation.)
Bags for young children should also be developed for this purpose as well as homeless families who have children. (Yes, it does happen.) It is suggested that the same items used to make up the duffel bags and back packs can also make up baskets for delivery to shut-ins. These baskets should be hand delivered shortly after realizing the person is shut-in. This gives those making the deliveries the opportunity to begin to develop a relationship in a joyfully surprising and compassionate moment to the person receiving the basket and enables the minister to possibly identify additional needs that may be met by other ministries and organizations in the community.
Again, these are only introduction tools to enable relationships to be begin.
Each relationship requires care and attention. Only those who have a desire to witness Christ to the hopeless and the helpless need participate. This ministry is to be done in an in person, relational nature. We should not assemble bags and then deliver them to other facilities for distribution. The shelters have soap and blankets but they do sometimes run out before the end of the month! It is the people on the street who do not, the women and children in battered women’s shelters who usually have nothing at all when they arrive and it is the shut-in who feels deserted and is often cold. It is these that Christ loves and is these that we should be serving.
The Hope:
The desired result from an effort such as Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries, is that relationships will be started and cultivated to the point that we will see the people we are reaching through those relationships come to Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. It is also hoped that the poor and street culture who see our witness to the homeless will be more readily accepting of our attempts to develop relationships with them. Reaching the homeless on the street will put us in many of the same locations that the areas the poor and street culture frequent.
The Need
Based on the provided information it is estimated that Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries should assemble 200 homeless bags per month for immediate distribution.
The Collection:
The Following are only examples of the potential costs of bag and basket assembly. It should be noted that it is encouraged to seek donations of good serviceable materials from church members, friends and families of members,
co-workers, hotels and other businesses.
Duffel Bags – $3.85 per
Back Packs – $3:49 per
Children’s Back Packs – $3.47 per
Blankets – $3.49 per or $125.64 for a case of 36
Combs – $.03 per or $52.63 for a case of 2160
Hair Brushes – $.80 per or $115.20 for a case of 144
Ladies Razors – $.09 per or $68.40 for a case of 720
Soap – $.05 per or $46.49 for a case of 1000
Shampoo – $.26 per or $24.12 for a case of 96
Alcohol Free Mouthwash – $.33 per or $31.58 for a case of 96
Toothpaste – $.43 per or $61.90 for a case of 144
Toothbrushes – $.06 per or $80.70 for a case of 1440
Feminine Pads – $.06 per or $73.44 for a case of 1152
Men’s Crew Socks – $.52 pair or $193.44 for a case of 372 pairs
Women’s Crew Sock – $.69 pair or $41.40 for a case of 60 pairs
Baskets – $.95 per or 91.20 for a case or 96
Magic Gloves and Hats – $184.80
(This is an assortment of winter Knit Hats and Magic Stretch Gloves.
In this package you will receive 60 Adult Knit Hats, 60 Children’s Knit Hats, 60 pair of Full Size Gloves, and 60 pair of Children’s Gloves.)
All Items listed above are found at “Dollar Days”, or similar sites online.
NKJV Paperback Bibles – $1.49 each at Christian Book Distributors
Magnifier Reading Aid – $313 for a case of 500 available at http://www.specprom.com
An Expectant Future
It is hoped that this ministry might one day see an Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries established in the poorest area of Philadelphia, PA with it’s own Pastor who might see to the needs of the population segments mentioned in this writing. A place souls could call their own and know that a place of ministry and discipleship is available and prepared to meet their spiritual needs. Through this effort it is also hoped that we as members of the Body of Christ will begin to re-learn just what it is we are called to do as faithful believers and that we are all called to serve the “least of these”, as stated in St. Matthew 25:40-46. As this ministry begins to take it’s first steps in the Philadelphia, PA area, it’s success will be an example to all ministries and outreach bodies, and will enable us to provide a model to share with them. Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries was conceived in the network model in which any church, local or abroad; could adapt it’s philosophy in ministry to their own local needs.
A Work In Progress
As of the writing of this document, Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries is in the process of contacting other local ministries, resource agencies, companies, and individuals, here in Philadelphia, PA, seeking further assistance in the acquisition of the resources (ie.. Listed Items, Funds, Location for storage and Distribution, as well as adequate transportation); to accommodate this ongoing effort.
If you or your ministry, business, or organization would like to join in this effort, or would like further information about the activities of this ministry, please feel free to contact us at:
Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries
C/O: Homeless & Shelter Program
mrstjscott@gmail.com
www.refugeofgodmin.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Out-of-A-Pure-Heart-Ministries-Evangelist-Theresa-Scott/326366584047560?fref=ts
Thank you for your time, patience and prayerful support.
In Christ,
Elder Theresa J. Scott
Refuge of God Church Ministries (Founder/Overseer: Bishop Gerald W. Scott)
Out Of A Pure Heart Ministries
Women Broken/Women Whole Ministries
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