12 episodes
Homeless But Human Christ in the City
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- Society & Culture
Welcome to Homeless but Human, a Christ in the City Podcast, where we talk about how to step out of your comfort zone and serve the poor wherever you live. Along the way, you will hear directly from our homeless friends as they embrace this platform to share their stories.
Mother Teresa said, "Many people talk about the homeless, but few talk to them." Our desire is to empower even more people to understand the complexity of homelessness and to discover practical and relational solutions for real change. Join us as we answer common questions and hesitations about serving the poor. You’ll also have an opportunity to listen to the homeless and have a window into their lives.
Our experience has proven that the deepest poverty of homelessness is sown in the heart long before someone becomes homeless. It’s an all-encompassing experience of being unknown, unloved, and unwanted. Society typically provides shelter, food, and other important, basic needs, but even these resources don’t seem to be enough to solve the deeper issue of homelessness. It’s not ONLY a problem of not having a house, money, or clean clothes. The root of the homelessness is ruptured relationships.
Because of this, Christ in the City missionaries walk regular street routes to encounter the homeless. They spend time learning people’s names and stories and return day after day. Over time, these encounters lead to genuine friendships, and trust is built. The disarming power of eye contact and a genuine smile could be all it takes to restore someone's hope in humanity and begin their journey toward healing.
We know it’s not comfortable to initiate a conversation with a homeless person you don’t know, especially at first. But you shouldn’t have to feel uncomfortable or confused about how to help.
That’s why, each year, the Christ in the City team reaches tens of thousands of people across the country with an approach that gets people out of the pews and into the streets to encounter their fellow man, seeing a person to be loved not a problem to be fixed. In that way, we can treat the root cause of homelessness, recognizing the deeper crisis of relationship, and treating it with the love and hope that comes from meaningful encounters and intentional friendships. What the homeless actually need is you.
Just imagine— the impact it would make if that homeless person you pass had even just one friend who knew them by name and cared about them beyond just a passing handout. What difference would that make to that person, to you, and to your local community? And if more people joined together in this mission— what difference would we make to the world?
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Confronting Mental Health: Where to Begin?
Confronting Mental Health: Where to Begin?
with special guest Senite Sahlezghi LPC
In this episode we discuss:
The importance of showing up for the people in your life and what that can look like
None of us are entitled to each other's stories or time
How to foster deeper relationships that are not transactional -
Should I Give Money to the Homeless?
When someone experiencing homelessness asks for money, it can be hard not to wonder:
Am I getting scammed?
Would I be contributing to an addiction?
What are they really going to use it for?
In today's episode, we're back with Sam Schultz, our Director of Homeless Outreach, to discuss another common question we get asked: what do you do when a homeless person asks for money? -
Day in the Life of a Missionary
Today we're joined by two of our missionaries, Chas and Stephanie, to walk us through a normal average day, which you'll learn quickly isn't normal or average at Christ in the City.
In this episode we'll discuss:
Cook teams and getting creative with donated food
What it's like living with 34 other people and where missionaries find rest
Steph’s yo-yo and other creative ways missionaries break the ice in conversations
The complementarity of having both men and women on street teams together
How do missionaries have the energy to keep going every day -
Invisible Humans: Jessica's Story
Jessica is the mama to sweet, curly haired Nora and a total superwoman. She's spunky, hardworking, and has a sweet tooth for milkshakes.
In God's providence, Jessica's path crossed with CIC's "house mom", Betty, when she was working as a case manager at Samaritan House homeless shelter. Betty joins us today to share about the special role she has gotten to play in Jessica and Nora's story.
In this episode you'll hear:
What it was like being homeless as an expectant mother
How important friendship was through housing rejections and doubts about being a mom
The need for both emotional support (missionaries' friendship) and social service support (a case worker) -
Why Don't the Homeless Just Get a Job
This is one of the most common questions we get asked at Christ in the City. In this episode, we're joined by Sam Schultz, Christ in the City's Director of Homeless Outreach to discuss:
The reality of what it takes to get a job while homeless, from facing practical roadblocks to deeper spiritual wounds
Why would we help someone who doesn't appear to be helping themselves?
How can we approach this question with more empathy? -
Invisible Humans: Ron's Story
When Ron met Christ in the City in 2015, he was on the streets and doing his best to stay away from people.
He shares what it was like to be distant from all of humanity. You'll get a window into his experience on the streets and hear what a simple hello and invitation did for him.
Join us as we hear Ron's story and start to understand what a small encounter can do for someone else’s life. Everyone has a story to tell and we are fortunate to be a part of Ron's!
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