By Ray Marcano

A chance encounter with a homeless man led to a church-based outreach program that helps vulnerable members of society.

The homeless outreach effort, by New Covenant Church in Thomasville, GA, also shows that community connections can be more valuable than cash.

The outreach began by chance. About two years ago, senior pastor Dave Allen and his wife, Alli Allen, joined another man who was going on a “street feed” to take food to the homeless.

The Allens encountered a man living in the woods who had spent time in prison and just been released from a crisis center. They gave him a meal and companionship and talked to him about how he wanted to give himself to the Lord.

The next morning, the man showed up at New Covenant. He had walked to town from the woods, with no shoes and blistered feet. His determination gave the Allens the strength to take a leap of faith. With no money and few connections, the couple decide to start the homeless outreach ministry.

“Our statement is ‘Love, mend, train, send,’ so we love them where they’re at, help with the mending process and do training” to help them improve their lives, Allie Allen, who co-pastors with her husband, said.

Thomasville, with a population of almost 19,000, has its struggles. More than one in five residents live in poverty and it has one of the highest crime rates in the country for a city its size.

Speaking of the area where some of the homeless lived, Allie Allen said, “We didn’t know it was a really bad area. It was a wooded area, a lot of sex trafficking, drugs, violence, murder in the area.” But the Allens pushed forward, convinced of the need for their ministry.

The church board support the effort, as does the small congregation of about 75. But the Allens were still responsible for driving the project, raising money and attracting volunteers to build their vision.

They have rallied the community for in-kind contributions. Local restaurants donate food and Dave Allen drives a van borrowed from another church to shuttle the homeless to and from programs at New Covenant.

But the in-kind donations aren’t enough to sustain the program. So the Allens get small cash donations from family members and friends — $50 here, $200 there — to buy grits, coffee and other items. Local churches also pitch in with a few dollars here and there.

“It’s all about building relationships,” Allie Allen said.

From that one feed two years ago, the program has now grown to include activities and meals two to three days a week. Thursday’s a big day. The attendees can take showers in the church locker room, eat breakfast and lunch, and drop off laundry. Allie and a few volunteers do the cooking and serve upwards of 25 meals on any given day.

The outreach also includes a Bible-based program that helps the homeless understand the challenges they face, which includes addiction. The Allens both have a mental health counseling background, and they use scripture to share the message that, “with God’s help, they can have the power to overcome and get to the root issues of why they’re doing drugs or alcohol or having a non-productive lifestyle,” as Allie put it.

There are risks, and big ones. Some of the homeless have mental health issues, still struggle with drugs, and can be violent.

“I’ve had our front doors ripped off and stuff stolen,” Allie Allen said. “I have a friend in Chicago that did homeless ministry, and he got stabbed. He made it, but barely. Because we get close, there’s always a risk. But I think when you see lives radically changed and true love happen, you take the risk.”

The risk has certainly paid off and made a difference in lives, like the homeless man that Allens first encountered. He moved into a tent on church property, and the Allens helped him get a job. He now helps with the street feed and Dave Allen continues to mentor him. More importantly, he’s reconnected with his mother, an alcoholic who now volunteers two days each week at the church.

The Allens take Matthew 22:37-39 to heart: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”

As Allie Allen said, “We just love people.”