WELS Ministry to the Homeless

Abstract

When traveling through large cities in the United States, it is not hard to find a group of homeless people congregated together. A question that can arise in a pastor’s mind might be: “Is it possible to have a ministry plan to help them?” The Bible does not give a specific instruction for the church to care for the homeless, yet it also does not condemn any church that has a ministry to support the homeless. This thesis seeks to help a pastor find programs that are appropriate for any situation. The thesis will look at the historical perspective that the church had on compassion ministry for the homeless. It will then evaluate different Bible passages that describe how to care for the needy. This thesis will describe the work that different pastors are doing in the field of compassion ministry. Finally, this thesis will provide a sample compassion ministry plan.