In the fall of 2022, one of Lifeline’s church partners in Georgia hosted Families Count. The class participants were all self-referred after receiving a recommendation from the homeless student liaison at a local school. Three families came the first week – four parents and 13 kids, ranging from 1st – 12th grade. Many of the kids in attendance had never entered a church before. There was food, a basketball court, rooms full of toys, and adults waiting to play card games with the teens. Halfway through the first night, one of the little guys asked, “Are you open every day? Because I want to come back!” With all their kids begging to come back weekly, the parents’ trust quickly expanded.
Families from the church who volunteered at Families Count had the privilege of transporting families each week, which led to more opportunities for conversations and learning each family’s unique needs. “One mom and her six kids had easy chemistry with myself and my family,” a Families Count volunteer said, “and a friendship between our families blossomed.”
This family had been living in one motel room for almost a year, and their needs were abundant.
Their kids are in school together, so relationships outside of Families Count nights grew quickly. “About three weeks into class, this family started attending church with us,” the Families Count volunteer said. “I didn’t think they would come back after the first week! I kept thinking to myself, ‘Surely this mama who has just finished a 12-hour overnight shift and these four teenage boys and their sisters are not interested in this stuff?’” However, this sweet mom would text every Saturday night to make sure her family would have a ride to church the next morning.
By week six of class, both moms worked together to secure an apartment for the family in need, and the church completely furnished the apartment. Men and their sons hauled huge pieces of furniture up three flights of stairs, assembled beds, and hooked up washing machines. Women went to Target and bought brand new bedding for all seven beds.
It was the first time in a year that this family of seven had more than one bed to sleep in.
Families Count was not an immediate solution to this family’s struggles and all their circumstances didn’t change. But this family is not alone anymore. They have a village of people who know their names, birthdays, favorite foods and colors, struggles, fears, and challenges. So now, when the school calls to tell mom her child is struggling, she has a friend to call for a ride and for prayer. When one of the teens found out his biological dad was killed, he had a man in the church to go to dinner with and talk to about losing a parent. When the food stamps office wouldn’t call back, mom had someone willing to go sit in the office with her and make sure all her paperwork was done correctly.
“It’s all the normal things you and I do with each other – living in community,” the Families Count volunteer said. “A few months ago, a dentist in our church did an emergency tooth extraction at no cost for this mom, who was in extreme pain. Afterwards, the mom got in my car and asked me, ‘Why? Why do you all care about us?’ Because dear mom, I was once without hope and without God in this world. But now in Christ Jesus, I who was once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He Himself is our peace, and He has reconciled us to God and given us access in one Spirit to the Father. So then there are no longer strangers, but fellow citizens and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:12-20).
Families Count provides an on-ramp for families. It brings in the outsider and connects people in need with communities. It makes the church a safe place of refuge.
*The family pictured in this email is neither family mentioned in the story