I was thirsty and you gave Me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave Me a room,
I was shivering and you gave Me clothes…”
“…I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me — you did it to Me.”
Matthew 25:36, 40
What is Room in the Inn
Lake Forest Church is entering its eighth season of partnership with Urban Ministry Center to host , a ministry to the homeless, our neighbors. This year we will house guests in our own building the second Monday night of the month, December through March.
Our simple goal is to keep homeless people from freezing on cold winter nights. Our greater goal is to provide a loving relationship to our guests, at least for a night.
Updated list of needs - 1/4/08
Bring items to the church office during the week (Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm) or drop items in the Room in the Inn bin on Sunday mornings.
- $10 phone cards & $10 Burger King Gift Cards - drop these in the bags at the lobby display on Sundays
- inexpensive watches ($3-$5) - drop these in the bags at the lobby display on Sundays
- New womans underwear sizes 7,8,9,&10
- New Men’s white t-shirts large and extra large
- Gently used Twin or Full Fitted and Flat sheets.
- Gently used mens or womans sweat suits all sizes.
- New or gently used woman’s Robes and/or sweat suits
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Used novels or Christian books
- Individually wrapped bags of chips
- People willing to be on a snow team if we have inclement weather.
How to Get Involved
There are many ways listed below for individuals and community groups of Lake Forest to serve in this ministry, both directly and indirectly. You can sign up on Sundays in the lobby at the display or email Julie Elliott at mission@lakeforest.org.
After you sign-up you will be contacted by Julie Elliott or another task coordinator and given helpful guidelines to ensure our neighbors are welcomed.
For questions, call Julie Elliott at 704-948-1760 or email her at missions@lakeforest.org.
Help Prepare for Our Guests
- Prepare beds, rooms & dining area. Set up tables, chairs, bedding, curtains, etc. This would be done on Sunday afternoon or evening. A coordinator will be available to coach and support the group.
- Prepare the house, decorate, stock supplies on Sunday or Monday by noon. Create a warm and sometimes festive (season-appropriate) environment in the lobby as well as decorate the dining tables. Decorations need not be extravagant, just special for our guests.
- Donate a $10 Burger King gift card
- Donate a $10 phone card (any company)
- Donate an inexpensive, gift-wrapped watch ($3-$5)
Be With Our Guests
- Prepare dinner - Prepare elements of dinner (appetizers, meat, cooked vegetables, salad, desserts) and bring it to the church to serve our homeless neighbors. You will eat dinner with them and help them know they are welcome guests.
- Serve dinner - Work in the kitchen and serve our guests, stay and eat with them.
- Be an overnight host - Spend the night with our guests and support Regina with hosting them.
- Launder guest clothing - pick up guests laundry on Monday evening, launder, return items on Tuesday morning.
- Pick-up guests in Charlotte - These positions are already filled.
- Make breakfast - Prepare breakfast at the church or bring breakfast in for our guests, very early on Tuesday morning. Hot breakfasts are greatly appreciated.
- Make lunches - Provide a bag lunch for each of our guests to take with them. These should be pre-assembled and dropped off at the church office Monday night or very early Tuesday morning.
- Drive guests to Charlotte - These positions are already filled.
Clean-Up After Guests Leave
- Tear-down on Tuesday morning - Come in on Tuesday following our hosting. A coach will direct this team at the church.
- Linen laundry on Tuesday - Work with a team of people to take the bedding to a laundromat and wash, dry, and fold the linens. A coordinator will help set up shifts if necessary.