Homeless Outreach: 9 Tips for Preaching to the Unhoused
Meet them where they are — spiritually, mentally, and physically
I’ve been staying at a shelter for the homeless most nights the past three months. We have dinner at 5:00 p.m., followed by chapel at 6:00, seven days a week.
We have in-house pastors, but most days, members of churches from around the community come in and deliver the sermon.
It’s a tremendous opportunity. Many who stay in that shelter are searching for something deeper than money or a home. Many have never been told about God, at least not in terms they can relate to.
It’s also an audience that’s vastly different from the typical crowd that shows up for church on Sundays — much more on edge, much more alone, possibly battling addictions.
I’m a presenter myself — I spent five years teaching math and computer literacy to college students. So long ago, I developed a knack for spotting what works and what bombs with an audience.
Here’s my take on what works and what bombs with a homeless audience.
Don’t ask the audience to stand or kneel
If you look out over a homeless audience, you will probably see a number of wheelchairs, walkers, and…
