Worship Arts

Being Neighbors – First B Cares at Egan Warming Centers

Posted Thursday, November 17,2011

By Dave Evarts, 1st Baptist member and volunteer site leader at the Egan Warming Center youth site.
….he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest…passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite…passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:29- 37
            In the winter of 2008, a retired soldier, Major Thomas Egan and several other homeless members of our community froze to death sleeping outdoors. In response, the Egan Warming Shelter Coalition was formed to provide a warm place for people to sleep when overnight temperatures dip below thirty-one degrees. The shelters are housed in several area churches and staffed through the help of hundreds of volunteers. This year in Lane County, our neighbors will include hundreds of people who would not have a warm room in which to sleep for a predicted 25-30 nights. The Eugene Police Department has warned us that up to 50% more people will be in need of emergency shelter this winter than in past years.
            This is where you come in. As winter approaches, I find myself thankful for our First Baptist Church family. We continue to “go and do likewise.” One of the ways that many of us in the church have found to show mercy to hurting neighbors over the last few years is through serving shifts at Egan Warming Shelter sites and providing each site with a first aid box. I have been blessed to volunteer for the past two years as a site leader at the Hosea Youth Services site for homeless teenagers and young adults. I have seen young combat veterans, members of hard-working families who have been living in their cars, run-away and throw-away teens, unemployed people, and youth dealing with addictions and mental illness, find shelter. It has been a privilege to witness members of our church offer these folks a bowl of hot soup, a warm place to sleep, and a listening ear. Often, after spending a night at an Egan shelter, the other volunteers and I have gone home or to work tired. The weariness has been a pleasure. There is joy in serving our neighbors. It is good to know that we have not passed by on the other side of the road.
            If you’d like to help us this winter, there are several options. You do not need experience or special qualifications to help other than to attend a training. Simply sign up at http://eganwarmingcenter.com/. If you’d especially like to help at the youth site, contact me (davidevartsiiatyahoo [dot] com or 541-344-3370).