Be servants, not suckers, class leader says

Workshop shows UMs
how to help homeless,
others looking for aid

United Methodist News Service
The woman looks lost and helpless. Tears run down her face. She asks for money to buy food for her children.
Or a man approaches at the mall while you are loaded with Christmas packages.
“I lost my job, and my car broke down,” he says. “I need some money to get home. Any little bit you can spare would help.”
What do you do? Hand over a few dollars? If so, do you walk away feeling like you have just been “taken”?
You are not alone, Beth Templeton says. She has spent 25 years working with homeless and poor people.
She offers a plan to help church members be servants instead of suckers.
Templeton teaches a workshop called “Servant or Sucker” for United Ministries in Greenville, S.C. That’s a faith-based organization of about 100 congregations that aids local people who are homeless, experiencing financial crisis or lacking education or employment skills. The ministry was begun in 1970 by the South Carolina Conference and today involves many faith groups.
The anti-sucker workshop grew out of questions from ministers and church staff asking, “What do we do when people just show up? We feel like we are being taken, but we have no idea what to do.”
She also started and directs “Our Eyes Were Opened,” an outreach program of United Ministries. It targets people with resources who want to reach out to those without resources.
“So many times through the years I’ve seen some people really want to help, but they end up making a bad situation worse,” Templeton said. “Or they get angry at the very people they want to help.
“It’s harder to say ‘no’ in a compassionate way and then help find other resources for somebody. But sometimes when you’re giving money, you’re helping people to get drugs or to buy alcohol or to do things that are not healthy at all, that could actually end up in death.”
In her Servant or Sucker workshop, Templeton offers dos and don’ts for helping someone:
> Give money to vendors instead of the person.
> Verify the story before you pay a bill or help with a financial problem.
> Use a voucher system for food or gas.
Her ABCs of helping are to:
> Acknowledge the person has a problem.
> Don’t believe everything you hear.
> Remember that Christianity isn’t judged by giving people exactly what they want.
She wants people to:
> Learn available resources in your area.
> Explain the reason behind your answer, and don’t apologize.
> Acknowledge the problem.
> Make good referrals.
> Never explain what other agencies’ policies are unless you are absolutely sure. For example, don’t send someone to an agency with the promise of a job, housing, food, etc., unless you know for sure they can provide those things.
When working in the midst of poverty, churches must decide how much they can do, Templeton said. There are levels of involvement.
Most churches are at level one, she said. They deal with the symptoms of poverty by providing soup kitchens, clothing closets, night shelters, etc.
Level two is helping families overcome issues and barriers that prevent them from thriving. These could include assistance with finding employment and education.
Level three is reviewing systems that are barriers to escaping poverty. Is there adequate, safe, afordable housing? Is there adequate transportation to places of work? Why can’t people who work long, hard hours still not afford housing? Is there adequate health care?