Friends of the Carpenter

Mission Statement of Friends of the Carpenter :

Inviting the Homeless to:

C - ommunity

H - ope

R - enewal

I - nspiration

S - elf-esteem

T - ruth

Through Friendships.

Guiding Principles for Friends of the Carpenter

• Empower the Participants : those who are homeless often feel powerless. Because of a broken spirit and burdens bigger than can be handled alone, often one who is homeless gives in or gives up. A renewed spirit refreshes the body, restores hope and empowers the person to press on.

• Engage the Volunteers : people of faith generally pursue ways to exercise their discipleship. However more often than not, sincere servants mostly meet and work with each other, rather than personally reaching out to the oppressed and outcast whom Jesus commissioned His followers to serve. The FOC program provides a safe and supervised setting for genuine friendships to be formed and faith to be shared between persons from a wide diversity of life situations. Jesus said, “As you do it to one of the least of these ….” In ministry we meet and nurture “The Christ” that dwells in each person.

• Equip the Churches : building up the body – the Body of Christ – and welcoming all people is the task of the church. Sadly, those who are homeless seldom feel that they “fit in” or would be welcomed. Sometimes it’s a self-perceived perspective; but other times it is projected upon them by parishioners who feel awkward, uncomfortable and reluctant towards a stranger in their midst, even a stranger in the sanctuary. It is right to be careful and even cautious, but wrong to be unwelcoming. The FOC program produces friendships of accountability, examples and encouragement to be responsible, and advocates who help break down barriers and build a bridge into the church family.

• Maintain the Facility & Program : FOC is blessed to have the Friendship Center . This ordinary office/warehouse complex, much like any cathedral or temple, is a holy place. Though there are no pews, pipe organ or rehearsed choir, people gather in the Center with praises to God and the Spirit’s presence filling all the space. Though we have powerful shop tools and current computer equipment, the Prayer Room (in the center of the Center) is the most powerful tool in the building for transforming people’s lives. It is critical to maintain the structure, to insure safety and to develop the premises for the FOC program.

Vision For Friends of the Carpenter

October 2008 will be the 10 th anniversary of Friends of the Carpenter. Though much has been accomplished and set in place from the initial vision, it is clear that God is not finished with the force and formation of this ministry. The personal interactions that occur during the FOC activities and events create a cause and effect reality where friendships are formed and lives are transformed. This transformation not only affects individuals but causes previous friendships and families that have been fractured to believe and behave better. Rather than giving up, participants and volunteers see a better way to make a way to recovery, repair and renewal. Dispensing and accessing assistance and support from church families, social agencies and charity is more likely to be done responsibly, with accountability and producing positive results. Friendships in faith become the force that empowers the participants, engages the volunteers and equips the churches to make the miracles of transformation occur. As we face the future, Friends of the Carpenter will increase the program and enlist more volunteers which will allow more participants to be involved. The Friendship Center will become more and more of an magnetic activity center attracting both participants and volunteers who stand on the fringe, frightened to take a chance but seeing and sensing a welcome and results that they want in their life and faith. The Psalmist said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’.” (Psalm 122) The vision of Friends of the Carpenter is to create an authentic mission outreach to the poor and outcast by people of faith who truly exhibit Christ’s commission to do unto others as you would want done unto yourself, experiencing that as we serve the least of these, we actually serve Christ Himself.