“Living between the lines”
Below is a recent article that highlights the work of Degage Ministries in providing
shelter to people without a warm place to be during the day on Saturday and Sundays.
Pastor Jay Schrimpf is also quoted in the article. If you read the article closely, you will
understand that HNCP, the Heartside Neighborhood Collaboration Project, was key if
finding a solution to this identified warming issue. It was Pastor Jay who brought over
30 community leaders together (including city commissioners and the police chief) to
meet and discuss the problem. And in bringing all the stakeholders together to identify
the issue, he was able to guide the discussion to find an efficient and effective solution.
This story is something for Bethlehem to celebrate! The truth of the matter is that
HNCP would have never come in to existence without the support of the congregation
and your faithful witness born out in the move to the Heartside neighborhood. You—
individually and collectively—made HNCP possible. And because of your faithfulness,
your desire to walk with and serve the poor, people will literally not be left out in the
cold this winter. God is doing great work through HNCP, and we rejoice that God is
using us to bring good news to the poor.
The article doesn’t mention Bethlehem by name, and frankly, we don’t need the media
to acknowledge the good things we are up to. Our commitment is not to good press,
but to good work. Read between the lines of the article and you will see our story.
It’s okay to feel good about it—let us celebrate God’s work through Bethlehem in the
neighborhood!
Grace and peace, Pastor Cheryl
Degage expands hours to combat cold weather
Submitted by Christopher Morse, Community Web Producer, WZZM13
Sunday, January 1st, 2012, 5:00am
To meet the needs of our city’s homeless population, Dégagé Ministries has expanded their
hours. Identifying a gap in the community, local social service and municipal agencies have
struggled to know where to direct our city’s homeless population during the afternoon hours so
they can “warm up” and get off the street. Dégagé was grateful to answer the call and recently
expanded its Dining Room services by 5 ½ hours each afternoon. It is now open seven days
a week from 7:00 am-8:00 pm. Men and women staying in local missions must leave their
facilities by 7:00 am and often have no place to go during these hours.
Jay Schrimpf, head
of the Heartside Neighborhood Collaboration Project, states, “This is a great example of the
community coming together in collaboration to respond to a community need. The need for
a winter warming site was made know, the Heartside Neighborhood Collaboration Project
invited stakeholders to the table to define the problem and look for solutions. Two meetings
later a solution was identified and put into place. We are thankful for all who participated in
the process, especially Degage Ministries for stepping forward as the warming center for
weekends as well as the organizations (mainly churches) who helped provide funding for
Degage to open on Saturdays and Sundays through the winter.”
Police Chief Kevin Belk was
also concerned about the problem and is pleased with Dégagé’s new hours. He says, “We are
grateful to Dégagé Ministries for working with the community to fill this need.”
The need for
the “warm up” center is evident by the number of people who have utilized Dégagé’s Dining
Room during the expanded hours. So far, an average of 75 people take advantage of the
opportunity in the afternoon.
Bethlehem Church welcomes