"For I was poor and living in a motel, and ye kicked me out"

[_Runtu]

The Salvation Army is, in fact, an evangelical Christian denomination and a church. It has ordained ministers and missionaries just like any other church.

Wow, even I knew that. Where has SK been?

I think there's something really great about religious movements that are more geared to charity than anything else. I know the SA has its own EV dogma and all that, but they are known for their focus on charity.

[_zeezrom]

A friend of mine said there is a good chance the seller knew about the deal long before the tenants were given the notice. Maybe the seller withheld the notice to keep the tenants in there paying rent as long as possible. Thoughts?

[_Runtu]

A friend of mine said there is a good chance the seller knew about the deal long before the tenants were given the notice. Maybe the seller withheld the notice to keep the tenants in there paying rent as long as possible. Thoughts?

That's probably the case. The church looks bad because it looks like they're kicking these poor people out on the street right before Christmas, but it's probably the previous owner trying to get the last dime out of the tenants. That said, you would think the church is smart enough to inquire about the tenants, if nothing else to make sure they don't get this kind of bad publicity.

If they were smart or compassionate, they'd just fork out a few thousand bucks to put these people up somewhere else temporarily. That would be a lot better than being seen as heartless bastards at Christmas time.

[_Jason Bourne]

I've said a few things on this thread that were not compassionate, and I shouldn't have. For that I apologize. I would not want anyone to get kicked out of their home without having the means to find a new one. These people are fellow Human beings, and it is important for all of us to extend a helpful hand to each one of them.

I was attempting to point out that it is nothing new for this type of thing to happen to people. When the freeway was being built in Utah (in the 60s I believe), my grandmother and her family got kicked out of their home because it was in the path of construction. Of course, the government offered them what they considered fair market value for their home, but it was quite a bit below what the home was worth. The difference, of course, is my grandmother had the resources to find temporary living conditions until she could purchase a new home. These people probably do not have such resources.

In addition to the Church, the seller of the property must take some of the responsibility here for helping these people find new places to live, in my opinion.

But is should not happen to people by the Church that claims to be Christ's. At least the church could have helped them find alternative shelter and even provided some funds to do so. But all we hear is that the Church understood the people were given sufficient notice. Really this is just bad form.

[_Joseph]

"heartless bastards at Christmas time"

They are what they are, no doubt about it.

[_Jason Bourne]

What bugs me is, with all of the church's wealth, we operate no shelters, no food kitchens, or no food banks. We don't encourage our members to support these organizations with money, products, or time. We leave those sorts of direct services to others. Shame on us.

The Church does maintain food banks. They are called Bishop Storehouses. There is one in my town and it serves 7 stakes. And its food can be used for non members as well if a bishop approves it.

Members are encouraged to support other good charities. The two stakes in my area just partnered with another denomination to build a Habitat for Humanity Home. We raised $48,000 in about three months and also provided four to six workers five days a week for 8 plus weeks. The Church we partnered with said they had never worked with a group that had been as successful in raising the required money and providing the willing labor. They want to do another home with us and I think we will do so.

[_Runtu]

The Church does maintain food banks. They are called Bishop Storehouses. There is one in my town and it serves 7 stakes. And its food can be used for non members as well if a bishop approves it.

I think it's misguided to criticize the church's charitable work. I've seen a lot of people receive all kinds of help, from cleanup after two hurricanes, a flood, and mudslides, to food, clothing, and shelter when it was needed. And I've seen countless acts of individual charity from church members.

Back in 2003, I was laid off from my job. I had money in the bank and owed money only on my house, so we were in pretty good shape and I wasn't worried.

That Sunday, my wife mentioned my job loss to a friend, and immediately word got out. That afternoon, the bishop showed up on my door and said, "I want you to meet with the Relief Society President and fill out a food order for the Bishop's Storehouse."

I was speechless. Food orders were for the poor, not for me. I told him No several times. "I don't need it. We have enough."

He finally said, "You need to swallow your pride and listen to me. You have enough money now, but what happens when the money is gone and you don't have enough to pay your mortgage? Take the food order, and put the money you would have spent on food in savings so that if you need it for the mortgage, you haven't already spent it on food."

I did some soul-searching and prayer, and my wife and I decided to swallow our pride. We got two food orders, and then I got a new job within a few weeks.

A week later, I volunteered to work at the Bishop's Storehouse in Houston, and I was surprised that there were people you wouldn't expect. Sure, there were people obviously struggling, but there was a guy my age with six kids (I have six kids), and he worked in the software industry (as did I). His company was struggling, and they hadn't paid him in a couple of months. He was nearly in tears because he couldn't believe he was in this situation. It was nice to be able to tell him that I had been in the same place a week before.

Criticize the church all you want, but I appreciate their charitable efforts, especially since I've been on the receiving end.

[_Baker]

That's an inspiring story, Runtu. However, the existence of a quantum of charitable giving by the church does not preclude anyone from measuring that amount as a percentage of gross revenues, and then concluding that the percentage is tiny for a church that bears the Lord's name.

[_Runtu]

That's an inspiring story, Runtu. However, the existence of a quantum of charitable giving by the church does not preclude anyone from measuring that amount as a percentage of gross revenues, and then concluding that the percentage is tiny for a church that bears the Lord's name.

I have no problem with that, but it's not right to say the church doesn't give, doesn't help people. It may not give as much as people would like, but that doesn't make it a soulless corporation that doesn't help anyone in need.

Just saying.

[_Spurven Ten Sing]

Could you say the church is a soulless corporation that helps people when it's in its own interest?