Church provides sanctuary for the homeless

St. Paul AME church feeds 25 to 30 people every Wednesday at noon following the daily sermon.Photo by Danny Bull

One Wednesday morning church service in the Village West community typically caters to about 70 people who show up each week to nourish their souls as well as their bodies.

At 11 a.m., they are seated on the crimson-carpeted wooden benches at Greater St. Paul AME Church, 3680 Thomas Ave., where they listen to the Rev. Jesse Harvin. The congregation – all of them homeless – sings hymns and recites Bible verses.

Many, including “Jimmy,” a self-proclaimed former crack cocaine user – speak about their daily hardships.

“I’m doing all that I can to stay out of trouble,” he announced at a recent service. “I’m staying out of the hood,” he said of his former Village West neighborhood.

Harvin encourages his flock to know that his church is there to help.

“Our hope is that you will be fed physically and spiritually,” Harvin said recently to the churchgoers seated inside the white-painted chapel.

By noon, volunteers begin serving up turkey, chicken with gravy, rice, veggies and chocolate-frosted vanilla cake or some other home-cooked meals that have been donated by sponsors or prepared by the church’s Women’s Missionary Society.

The weekly ritual represents a special fellowship that has been going on at the church for years. Economic downturns have produced more Wednesday worshipers, said Rosa Williams, the church’s office manager.

“I have definitely seen an increase of homeless people in the area, and in the summer time there are more young children that attend because that is when school isn’t in session,” Williams said.

Although some of the homeless, such as “Jimmy,” are regulars, others may come out on a Wednesday and not return for a while.

“They are so transient,” Harvin said. “Sometimes I don’t see some for months. They go to jail or go downtown,” he said referring to where the city’s larger homeless population congregates in and around the Camillus House, a nonprofit organization that caters to the poor and homeless.

Camillus House also contributes to the Greater St. Paul’s homeless effort. The organization sends food every Friday over to the church. Panera Bread and independent donors also donate bread, pastries and other items needed for the meal.

While the homeless worshipers may not show up every week, several of the long-serving volunteers do.

“I have been doing this for 40 years; I just love it,” said Mamie Jordan, a regular along with Lou Ellen Washington, Camilla Frost, Loucetta Fair and Marie Singletary. The ladies boast that their soup kitchen offers the best meals in Miami because most of it is comes from their kitchens.

In addition to receiving meals, the needy also are offered use of a shower facility the church set up across the street. Donated clothing is available to the homeless, and volunteers offer to clean their clothes.

Harvin also tries to bring some medical services to the weekly gatherings.

“We offer AIDS testing, eye testing on certain days. Some agencies check on sores to give them some medical attention,” Harvin said, adding that the church also helps to find referrals that will lead to a permanent place for the homeless to live.

Harvin said there is no reason for a person to be unable to find a place to live.

“There are rescue places out there that will help get these people back into a housed environment,” the pastor said. “Our goal is to get them back into mainstream America.”