I think these things are great but I do have a question. Is there any attempt to sermonise these charitable acts?

what do you mean by "sermonizing charitable acts"?

I have a very similar passion! I have worked with teenage prostitutes for a while now. Chruchs in Calgary lack any knowledge about teens in the sex trade. I started a small organization call Tricks aren't for kids. I basically am trying to go to different churchs and bring awarness to this growing problem. I focus mostly on how pimps are luring young women into the industry with flase promises, gifts etc and how it occurs in all our malls. People are always shocked but so far the message has been recieved well. Homelessness is another story! I get so angry with people and their ignorant view on homelessness. My community for example has the privalage of starting a temporary shelter for the brutal winter here, and almost everyon was aganist it and angry and scared. It just makes me so frustrated that people just don't try to understand and the just treat this fellow community members like garbage! Sorry ranting :) The Mustard Seed is an excellent oragnization helping homeless people!

alicia

As for sermonizing the outreaches.....I am not sure if I understand what you mean by that. Any of the outreaches I have been involved in we have found the homeless down by the river, given them blankets brought them coffee, talked to the m and tried to get them in out of the cold. I have served soup and sandwhiches and coffee outside in sub zero weather while handing out warm clothing. I have driven people fresh out of detox to treatment centres out of town because they were homeless or without cash to get themselves there. I have advocated on behalf of women who have been sexually assaulted on the streets and were afraid to speak to the police about it. and the list goes on.....in a nutshell it is loving on people with genuiness, unconditional positive regard and respect.....just like Jesus!

Alicia,
I love the Tricks aren't for kids....what an awesome thing to do. I am a former sex trade worker. I was dragged into it as a runaway teenager many many years ago. KUDOS to you!
I currently am involved in the addictions field and work as a counsellor in a detox centre. My frustrations lie in the gap we have between services and the red tape layed out by the Ministry of Health who governs us. I have clients who voluntarily come in to clean up from crack, meth, alcohol, opiates etc.....we clean them up, do a provincial assessment and make a referral to a treatment centre and then.....send them back out the door to wait 8 weeks or more on their own accord, without the tools, to get into a residential treatment centre. Many are homeless to boot. Many are sex trade workers who hit the streets again or have their pimps checking in to pull the girls back out. We are so desperatley in need of half way houses and mentors and other supports to help keep these people on track.

HeidiWholeness,

Wow, I would love to hear more about your story sometime, if you feel like sharing. I am always looking for real like examples (no mention of names of course) to tell people that this problem is real!

What city do you work in? I agree with you that there is a huge lack of help for people in the in between stages. It is like here there is such a crazy boom right now that housing is ridacoulously priced. So not only was there little low income housing before but no there is none. So families move here, men and women come for work and find there is no place to live and end up on the streets with no where to go. It is so frustrating.

Have you ever heard of Joyce Heron? She is a role model/hero of mine. She started Jacobs Well in Vancouver and she has given her life to it. It is for recovering addicts, homeless etc, a place for them to detox and find some life skills but all through ministry, so they are learning about God through it all! SO awesome.

wow! i, personally, wish i had a passion for street outreach but i am not gifted in that capacity. but have you heard of the jesus guy?? he apparently does street outreach with a twist--he does it barefoot and clothed in just a robe! check out this website: www.thejesusguy.com --> amen for his passion.