This past Christmas morning, members of Wilson Memorial UMC again went out to deliver warm clothing, hot soup, and God’s love to people experiencing homelessness.
Pastor Jerome Jones at Wilson said that, thanks to the outpouring of love from Community UMC, Fowler UMC, and Wilson Memorial UMC, many lives were touched.
Community UMC and Fowler UMC, he said, really came through to support this needed effort with an outpouring of hats, scarves, gloves, and blankets. A total of 29 gift bags –15 for women and 14 for men — were prepared and filled a large van. Members met early on Christmas morning to begin the search for individuals in need of a blessing.
One encounter, Pastor Jerome said, was notable. A group of volunteers came across a woman who had just been involved in a physical altercation with another homeless woman.
“She was still in a defensive mode, still grasping the stick she had just used to defend herself against the attack,” Pastor Jerome said. “Sister Sandra poured her soup, while Sister Tangela and Sister Sharita gave her some crackers. First Lady, Larraine, gave her a cup, handing it to her with ‘God’s love’, which allowed her to be a bit more at ease and even placing her stick down. The woman began crying tears of joy as she said, ‘God has sent angels my way.’”
The woman then asked for prayer and received a bag full of warm blankets and toiletries, which had been gifted by the Community UMC church family. Before leaving, she showed the group where she had received 20 staples in her shoulder. Pastor Jerome offered her prayer, and she remarked, “God is Real” and smiled.
Pastor Jerome and the members of Wilson Memorial UMC would like to thank all of the church members from Community, Fowlers and Wilson Memorial who partnered, making this such a successful event. We thank the many members who so freely gave, for without you, we could not have blessed so many with the love of God, he said.
