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Even though the U.S. government knew that the homelessness crisis grew exponentially during the pandemic, it became difficult to accurately register the numbers of those without shelter until late last year.

After two years with limited data, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released its first comprehensive Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR).

According to its findings, 582,462 individuals were registered as experiencing homelessness in America in December 2022.

According to the latest Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) findings, 582,462 individuals were registered as experiencing homelessness in America in December 2022. @ajc #homelessness
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Even though the data reveals a slight increase from the 2020 census (by about 2,000 people), some demographics and data changed significantly.

For instance, 30% of the people without a home have experienced homelessness for more than 12 months, indicating “chronic patterns of homelessness.”In another finding, the report indicates that homelessness among women and children has increased by 5%. Likewise, the pandemic shifted the data concerning families, as a quarter of homeless individuals were families with children. Fortunately, the data also revealed that those in family groups had greater access to assistance. Nearly nine in 10 unhoused people with children found shelter, a one-third decrease since 2012.

God has put a burden in my heart for the homeless for several years, and our ministry had planned to start a women’s shelter program before the pandemic hit. Naturally, we had to postpone it, but we are now excited to have identified two facilities to partner with for what we have named the “Agape Shelter Program” starting this February.“

Agape” is one of several Greek words that translate as “love.”

The English language is very generic regarding the word. We use the same verb to denote our love for ice cream as we do for romantic or brotherly love, and therefore the depth of one “love” compared to another is naturally not carried out in the words we use to express it.

In contrast, the Greek language is very particular concerning words denoting feelings. Every time “Agape” appears in the original text of the New Testament, it refers to pure, selfless and sacrificial love that intentionally works toward another’s good.

Every time “Agape” appears in the original text of the New Testament, it refers to pure, selfless and sacrificial love that intentionally works toward another’s good.
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As the highest form of love, “agape” is given as a choice, not out of attraction or duty. This type of love is beautifully described in the well-known words found in the thirteenth chapter of the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church:

“Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Agape Love and steadfast faith are the themes of a movie called “No Vacancy” released in May 2022 by Kingstone Studios and based on the true story of First Baptist Church Leesburg, in Florida. Led by senior pastor Cliff Lea, the church took extraordinary steps of faith during the 2008 recession to purchase a motel and turn it into a homeless shelter.

The recession had deeply impacted the church’s budget, creating a $200,000 deficit; therefore, the church committee suggested layoffs. Instead, the pastor believed God was calling them to spend close to a million dollars to buy and fix a broken-down motel to serve the community. The idea met significant opposition and challenges.

The Impact

Watching the movie and talking to the producer, Art Ayris, has challenged me deeply, deepening my desire to serve the homeless in our city. Ayris is also on staff as one of the pastors at the church, so the story is personal and close to his heart.

There is undoubtedly great significance in serving and giving to the poorest people in the world in developing countries. But our churches should be challenged by First Baptist Leesburg’s example of sacrificial love to our neighboring communities.

There is undoubtedly great significance in serving and giving to the poorest people in the world in developing countries. But our churches should be challenged by First Baptist Leesburg’s example of sacrificial love to our neighboring…
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The numbers do not lie. We do not have to fly overseas to extend God’s love to those who need it most. Showing this movie to your church may just be what propels its members to start a wave of Agape Love to sweep over your community.

Find out more at novacancymovie.com/. To get involved in the Agape Homeless Ministry of Soaring with Him Ministries in Atlanta, visit: soaringwithhim.com/agape/

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, February 25th, 2023. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

LINKUP PARTY opens on March 1 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! This week, I share about the homelessness crisis in America and how you can get involved. Share your blog!
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The post LINKUP! Offering Agape Love to the Homeless {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” The apostle Paul, I Corinthians, Chapter 13.

While browsing the aisles at the local grocery store, I found them at every corner: Happy Mother’s Day balloons, cards and flower bouquets of every color and variety graced the end of several corridors as I passed by. Indeed, Mother’s Day is the next big commercial holiday once Easter decorations are moved to the clearance bins.

“I Love You, Mom.”

I stared at the humongous card displayed at the end of an aisle and thought about the joy I feel when my children express their love in writing on Mother’s Day or birthday cards. Few things in life bring me more joy than feeling my children’s love and reading about their appreciation for me.

Loving words are precious because the sentiment often gets lost in the mundane nature of our days. It is not as nurtured once our children grow up, and hugs and kisses become less and less frequent. It takes backstage when our teenager argues, rebels, or adult children need us less each day. The love and affection translated into borderline adoration when they were little, become less evident as they grow up, while a mother’s love remains as steady and strong as it was on the days when they rushed to our laps every 10 minutes.

Loving words are precious because the sentiment often gets lost in the mundane nature of our days. @AJC #MothersDay #Mother
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Life’s cycle is full of bittersweet lessons. And motherhood is undoubtedly one of the greatest. It takes being a mother to understand your mother and empathize with her joys and hurts, weaknesses and strengths. And today, with older children and an aging mother, I find myself longing to receive and learn how to give the type of love the apostle Paul described in his letter to the Corinthian church.

The Greek word that the apostle uses for love is “agape,” which means love that sacrifices for the good of others. It is God’s love for us – a love that is undeserving, always selfless, full of grace and enduring.

In the previous chapter of the same epistle, he talks about spiritual gifts and their emptiness and meaninglessness without love. In other words, all the sacrifices we make, gifts we give and words we utter amount to nothing without sacrificial love. Oh, how we long for that type of love. But are we willing to give it?

We long to receive Agape (sacrificial) love. But are we willing to give it? @AJC #MothersDay #Mother
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We want our children to be patient and kind. But are we patient and kind with them and with our mothers? Does love rise above pettiness, and is it generous in how we treat each other?

We want our children and mothers to be humble and not arrogant, insisting that their way is the only way. But are we ready to offer the same humility, empathy and understanding?

We wish our children and mothers not to be irritable or resentful, but do we strive to hold our temper when they grate on our nerves and forgive them when they fail?

Indeed, agape love is not easy, but it’s the longing of every heart.

May the call to agape love challenge us this Mother’s Day. More than three words in a card, or flowers that will perish within a week, may “I love you, Mom” mean that we are willing to sacrifice our time, our will, and even our ways, offering our mothers patience and kindness, forgiveness and understanding. That’s a gift that will not perish or be forgotten.

And believe me, more than anything you can purchase, it’s what mom truly wants on Mother’s Day and beyond.

May 'I love you, Mom' mean that we are willing to sacrifice our time, our will, and even our ways, offering our mothers patience and kindness, forgiveness and understanding. @AJC #MothersDay #Mother
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This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, July 7th, 2022. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website. Subscribe to her podcast God-Sized Stories.

On the newest episode of the God-Sized stories podcast:

Authors Blythe Daniels and Helen McIntosh’s debut book “Mended – Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters” is a must-read for moms and daughters who need guidance to restore or strengthen their relationships.

And now, this mother-daughter duo released their new book “I Love You Mom,” a beautiful interactive book that helps you express your love and gratitude for the moms in your life.

Listen to our conversation about the significance of this book and purchase your copy as a very special Mother’s Day gift!

The post Give Mom Agape Love {The Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Several weeks ago, I wrote a column about how true friendships are tested in times of trouble. Later that week I ran across an amusing quote from an unknown author, which reminded me of the message conveyed in my article. The quote said: “Do you want to find out how many friends you have? Throw a party. Now if you want to find out how many true friends you have, simply get sick.”

It is unquestionably true that faithful friends reach out to help us during times of great sorrow and loss. But today I want to discuss another gauge by which one can measure the sincerity of their friendships.

I recently watched an online video by professor Dr. Leandro Karnal, where he addressed the test of a true friendship from a different perspective. He said that if one needs to find out who their true friends are, they should not disclose their burdens. “After all,” he said, “most human beings are able to offer empathy for the sick and hurting.”

He then shared a comical story of how he supposedly invited some of his best friends for dinner, where he shared the wonderful things that were happening in his life. His professional success, financial abundance, and the blessings of a great marriage and children were among the subjects he bluntly bragged about. While sharing the good news, he carefully watched his friends’ reactions.

According to his testimony, several friends seemed genuinely happy while listening to his story. But others didn’t have the same response. He witnessed fake smiles, uncomfortable silence, and even contempt. One of his friends went as far as saying: “It’s a shame your success won’t last long.”

Whether Karnal’s “Friendship Test” actually happened or it was meant as a illustration, the sad truth is that many of us have had the same experience of finding out that a friend, whom we genuinely loved, resented our success. Not long ago, that factor became a new paradigm by which I measure the depth of my friends’ loyalty.

I am not famous, by any means. My sphere of influence is small compared to many writers and speakers in the growing market of Christian influencers in America and in the world. However, in the past few years, my ministry has gained increasing exposure in both secular and Christian environments.

As God started blessing my professional efforts, I have certainly experienced both sides of the friendship spectrum. Several of my friends continually cheer me on, excited to see what God is doing in my life. But unfortunately, I have also witnessed the very opposite reaction, as some people I thought were my true friends clearly resented, diminished, ignored, and even mocked my accomplishments.

Although realizing that some people we love are not our true friends is certainly a hurtful process, it nevertheless brings forth a valuable lesson that we should teach our children and guard in our hearts with zeal.

And the lesson is this: Jealousy and true friendship are the pinnacle of contradiction. As King Solomon recorded in the book of Proverbs: “A true friend loves at all times.” And true love was best described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church: Among other things, love does not envy and is not self-seeking. True friends reach out when we are hurting, but also rejoice when we succeed. Anything less than that is counterfeit friendship, and we are better off without.

Jealousy and true friendship are the pinnacle of contradiction.
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Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author, blogger and International speaker. Her Book Twelve Inches is on sale at Barnes & Nobles, Amazon and retailers worldwide. Visit her website www.soaringwithHim.com. Email pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com

The post Friendship & Envy – The Pinnacle of Contradiction {Atlanta Journal Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.