Dirty, outcast, hungry, abused, forsaken, reviled, needy.  While he may be homeless there is never any reason to use these to call him or describe him.  That is why the first thing Orthodox Workers do is learn their name, the name their mother gave them at birth.  And we use that name.  And often, we hear from him that he has not been called by his mother-given name for many years.   We then shut up and just listen.  

Being listened to is also something else that he has not been.  Really listen.  Too often what folks do is listen as a way to prepare how to answer or argue back.  that is not listening.  

If you listen, you will hear what the problem is.  And you will also hear the solution.   And listening is how Orthodox Workers determine what we do and how we do it.  And they join in getting the job done.    Mutual Aid.  

The Monastery of the Holy Martyrs and Orthodox Workers serves the homeless and the near homeless, the disenfranchised and marginalized, the poorest of the poor, the unseen, the unheard, and the unwanted. All those on the fringes of society.  Sounds like all the same folks, Christ had dinner with.

The monastery relies upon your financial support to do all of this. and your mighty unceasing prayers for those served and those doing the serving!  Please keep all in your prayers.  And here is the link you can use to support the mission:  https://givebutter.com/sNSoWF  

The folks serving here and the outreach teams share Christ’s Love Through Food, Clothes, and Essentials. And many times we just listen. Fellowship. Community. None of the projects are religious. We do not try to convert or evangelize anyone. And we serve not just Christians, but also Muslims, Jews, Atheists, and even those with no faith. 

And He said to His disciples, "For this reason, I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these."

Luke 12:22-23, 27

We do not just sit here in the monastery and wait for folks to come here. We and many others are led by Christ to travel the streets to find and meet folks who live on the streets or who have been forgotten and ignored by society. The disenfranchised and marginalized. the homeless and the near homeless. Those unseen, unheard, and unwanted. Those on the margins of society, the needy and the powerless, those that too many have been turned aside.   

The monastery and Orthodox Workers know that they are far more than just human.  We know that all are created equals, but we also know that God does much more.   God creates all a s true icones of Christ.