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The local rag printed a letter from a resident who is a coordinator of his church's efforts hosting PADS. The writer bemoans the fact that he often has difficulty rounding up enough volunteers to help them run the shelter. Says even his calls to other churches often go unanswered.
Gee, why might this be? Let's think hard here... Could it possibly be that the community does not support your efforts, and does not appreciate the blight you choose to invite to our town?
The writer says he works at home, and describes folks waiting for the shelter to open as simply trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Here's a solution! Since you're at home anyway, why not invite your friends over to hang at your house? And as long as they are kicking back at your crib waiting for the shelter to open, why not let them sleep over as well?
Sounds like a win/win to me. You will be able to care for whomever you choose to invite to town, and the rest of us will not need to put up with what we consider the undesirable and considerable external costs you choose to impose on us.
Dins-I read the same article and thought the same thing. This guy lives in a Pollyanna world and just because he doesn't see a problem, doesn't mean that others don't. I do think that the difficulties they have had recruiting volunteers is related to the communities concerns. My guess is that church leaders are hearing from their congregations that helping the homeless is fine, but GE seems to be doing much more than it's fair share when it comes to PADS nights.
All I really want from PADS is to engage the community and understand the concerns people have. To ignore the repeated attempts that GE community members have made to discuss concerns about PADS business model appears to be arrogance to me. If PADS wants the community to buy into what they are doing, ignoring peoples concerns seems counter productive.
"Everyone thinks their opinion matters. Don't argue with a nobody. A farmer doesn't bother telling a pig his breath smells like s***."
The letter writer signed it in the capacity of his business. Google reveals that he seems to be a headhunter. Maybe if he were any good at his chosen profession PADS might not have so many clients!
(Contact info at his site also lists what appears to be a home address in town, just in case PADS clients need somewhere to kick back and perhaps shower while waiting for the church doors to open.)
Jombl-You are spot on, as I've always said-Follow the money. Imagine if PADS managers actually had to measure their perfomance and be held accountable.
Dins-LMAO, so true.
"Everyone thinks their opinion matters. Don't argue with a nobody. A farmer doesn't bother telling a pig his breath smells like s***."
A competent recruiter might also have more luck finding churches willing to participate in the program.
Also, no offense to Mr. Whiting, but I have been working in the Loop for nearly 25 years. In that time I have never..... never.....seen a rat. Dead or alive. Nobody I tell that to believes me. Yet I know that rats exist in the Loop. I admire his work with the homeless, but his powers of observation are either weak or fraught with denial.
He did take a swipe at the now-silent anti-GE Homeless group...so he can't be all bad.
Posts: 9128 | Location: CLEA | Registered: November 04, 2004
Is it true that there is a group of people who loiter? Who are rude? Who use the “F” word? Who blow smoke in your face? Who walk deliberately slowly in front of cars? Who create a nuisance in our town? Absolutely. They are our teenagers, and we are raising them.
This is clever... though weak.
I see that she didn't include "Who rape 10-year-old girls", but then she couldn't have used the "teenagers" analogy.
Also, find it very interesting that this is another example of someone who doesn't live near the churches chiming in. Pretty conveinent!
Lemming? Hardly in my case and I'm sure few others in this Congregation of leaders, not followers.
I was involved with PADS on some level long before I took the time and energy to get my lazy a** over to FCC-GE and hear one of the most intelligent, insightful Pastors in the Midwest, if not our Country.
Lillian has inspired me in so many ways, has showed me different angles on tough subjects, helped me to appreciate and respect who I was as a person. She, and the good people of this Congregation are the reasons I decided to be baptized into this faith community just a little over a year ago and become an active member.
Fan, truly you are going to be missing out. For you to say that this one sermon that you don't agree with is the reason you wouldn't give this church a try is just a cop-out. Do I agree with every word that comes out of this fine Pastor's mouth? No. The reason I enjoy Lillian's sermons is because they are more than just Bible quotes and 'follow-the-leader' mantra, as I found too often 'shopping' many different churches and faiths in our area. Her sermons are cerebral and make me think and explore.
Why take this opportunity away from your family/children just because you feel slighted? This is really just selfish reasoning on your part, Fan.
I made the mistake yesterday afternoon in taking junior IMJ to the library to check out a book, now that he is an active reader.
It was homeless city as they were all escaping the rain before PADS sight opened up. As they were all blocking the door, they looked at me like I was crazy for saying excuse me to get in the library.
People changing clothes, laying on the ground, smoking, and one panhandler. I said to the librarian as I was checking out a book, "kind of makes me feel like I was at a greyhound bus station." She was like, try working her on Thursdays....
Hiding??? I did recently try to help Clam get rid of his bag worms. Sheesh! Hardly been hiding, just too busy these days.
I did re-read your message, and my response was to highlight that this particular Congregation really doesn't have too many of the 'Lemming' type of worshiper. That's another reason I chose it.
All right, so I need to get a message to Mrs. Fan to get your a** over to hear Lillian some Sunday. Remember, you did enjoy her The Outlaw sermon I posted on here several months ago.
That reminds me Fan, More people were killed (shot to death) in Chicago between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year than were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
I'm just glad that FCC isn't a congregation that seeks to force it's morals down other people's throat like those kooky judgmental Evangeli-.....oh wait......wait a minute.....strike that.
Posts: 1957 | Location: Posh YMCA District | Registered: June 04, 2003
"There are towns in the Chicago area that have figured this out that would satisfy this small group of e-mailers and letter-writers. There are towns – and you know which ones they are – where you do not see any homeless people. That is not an accident. They have a police force and a plan that keeps those people out. "
Does anyone, beside me, have a major problem with such communities? C'mon, in this day and age, just how do they get away with this???!! I am specifically refering to the fact that the names of these communities are kept secret, and deliberately so! Why, The full and fearsome wrath of my real estate agent, tearing through the MLS for me, would be un-leashed upon them in an instant if I only knew! Please, I beg of you, just tell me, please!!!!!!
