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
Last Chance to Serve at Room in the Inn
Monday & Tuesday, March 9 & 10
Room in the Inn is a ministry to our homeless neighbors - 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. Needs: a male overnight host on Monday night; clean-up help on Wednesday morning; $10 Burger King and Phone cards; Inexpensive watches.
What is Room in the Inn
Lake Forest Church is entering its ninth season of partnership with Urban Ministry Center to host Room in the Inn, a ministry to the homeless, our neighbors. This year we will house guests in our own building the second Monday night of January and the second Monday AND THE SECOND TUESDAY NIGHT of the month, February 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.
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 (November 9, 16, 23) in the lobby at the display table or email Julie Elliott at missions@lakeforest.org with the month and jobs in which you would like to serve.
After you sign-up you will be contacted by Regina Singletary or 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 - you can place these in Jean pocket or bring to main office in envelope marked RITI.
- Donate a $10 phone card (any company)- you can place these in Jean pocket or bring to main office in envelope marked RITI.
- Donate an inexpensive, gift-wrapped watch ($5-$10)- you can place these in Jean pocket or bring to main office in envelope marked RITI.
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 to church that evening.
- 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 afternoon or Monday evening.
- Drive guests to Charlotte -
- Play the keyboard
- Cut and style hair
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.
- Transport Laundry to Hope Haven on Tuesday - Drop off sheets and blankets to Hope Haven Laundromat then collect later in week and return to storage at Lake Forest .