Room in the Inn

By Michael Kast

One of the Christmas traditions many families enjoy is to read or tell the Biblical Christmas story. These familiar words transport us to a place where we can see Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary traveling back to Bethlehem to be counted in the compulsory census. The tension builds when they realize that the city’s available rooms have already been taken by the hundreds of travelers who have already arrived. Joseph ends up finding a place for them to stay in a stable, and there Jesus is born. After His birth, everything is resolved in one simple sentence: Mary “...wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7 NIV®)

But for many people today, this tension isn’t resolved—it’s a daily struggle for food and shelter. There is no one-sentence solution to their situation. They have to rely on the goodness of others or the generosity of benevolent agencies just to get by.

MAKING ROOM

Before the Winter of 2014/2015, your options were limited if you were homeless in Hardin County. Once the temperature got below 10 degrees, the local community center would open to receive those who didn’t have a place to stay warm.

It was a good plan, but it had a couple of issues that needed to be worked through. How do you get the word out to people who don’t have a permanent address or a phone number? And how can people get to the center if they don’t have transportation?

Seeing the need, several churches in Elizabethtown came together in 2014 to discuss how they could develop a program that would more effectively serve the homeless. Their goal was to see if there was a way for those who have nowhere to live, nothing to eat, and no place to sleep could be provided with those things during the Winter.

Soon a plan began to develop. Not only was it a simple plan, but it brought together many of the area’s local churches. Working together during the coldest months of the year—December, January, and February—seven local churches partnered together to provide shelter for those who are homeless in Hardin County. Each church chose one night of the week throughout that three-month season to host guests and provide them with dinner and breakfast, a shower, a safe place to sleep, and a sack lunch to take with them.

This idea, called Room in the Inn (RITI), didn’t originate in Elizabethtown. It was modeled after a similar program in Nashville, Tennessee, which was established in 1986. But more fundamentally, that program was inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth. The goal of the program is that the homeless of Hardin County will never hear the words that rang in Joseph and Mary’s ears all those years ago:

“I’m sorry, but there’s no room for you here.”

WELCOMED IN

Many ask the question, “Is Room in the Inn working to solve the homeless problem in Elizabethtown?” Last Winter, 1,625 beds were used by guests who had nowhere else to sleep. Over 4,800 dinners and breakfasts were served to the RITI guests. As a result of the program, 11 guests secured employment and 13 were able to obtain permanent housing. Every guest was shown honor, dignity, and the love of Christ. So, is Room in the Inn working? The answer is a resounding yes!

Daryl Pepper, who serves on the RITI board, shared the story of a gentleman who we’ll call Stan. Stan found himself homeless when he was in his 50s. He made the decision that he didn’t want his life to be stuck in this season, so he decided to do something about it. Stan stayed with Room in the Inn almost every night last Winter. Each morning, he would get up and walk to his job, all the while putting money aside so that he could, one day, have enough for a deposit and rent for an apartment. Because of the support, encouragement, and prayers the volunteers of RITI gave to Stan, he was eventually able to rent an apartment! And, because of his discipline in saving, he was also able to purchase a car so he wouldn’t have to walk back and forth to work.

The impact of this program has been dramatic and measurable in the lives of those in need. And others have felt that impact as well. Many hold to a stereotype about people who are homeless—that they are dangerous, on drugs, or just lazy. But those who serve with Room in the Inn have come to realize that those stereotypes are rarely true.

Most people without homes are victims of hardship and challenging life circumstances. They are real people with real stories, really loved by the God who sent His Son to be born in a stable, live as a homeless preacher with “...nowhere to lay his head...” (Luke 9:58 NIV), bear the sins of the world, and have His broken body laid in a borrowed tomb.

At the Elizabethtown Campus, we’re excited to be involved in the stories God is writing this Winter, loving where we are through programs like Room in the Inn. We can’t wait to meet our neighbors at the door, welcome them in, and say, “There’s room for you here.”

The next time your family gathers to read the Christmas story, just remember Jesus, born in a stable with no place to call His own. And ask yourself, how can I make a difference in my community?

For more information about Room in the Inn, visit roomintheinnetown.com.