IHN Program - St. Mark United Methodist Church

This is a two-fold ministry that St. Mark offers to it's members and friends. Every calendar quarter, St. Mark hosts from three to five families through the INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK, (IHN). These families are temporarily without a home. They either have jobs or are seriously looking for one. They all have been screened during this time. Our guests are trying to save enough money to move into their own homes. Several churches give them a safe home and good meals for one week at a time. Those of us who have worked with these guests witness the tragedy of homelessness and develop relationships with guests based on mutual respect. Host volunteers are needed in several different areas. Those whose talents and expertise is in cooking may want to participate in preparing the evening meal. We usually have two volunteers who work together for only one evening, and you can decide what evening will best suit you. Different volunteers are needed for different evenings. All that is required is preparing and serving the meal. Our dinner hosts can stay and share the meal with our guests or leave, as we also have two other hosts that volunteer to eat and share with them. Maybe you would like to eat a home cooked meal, while making new friends. This is a great time to get to know our guests and visit with the children to make them feel like guests in our home. The dinner hosts are with them from approximately 5:45 pm until 7:30 pm.

Our overnight hosts arrive around 8:30 pm to spend the night. This is when our guests are beginning to settle down for the night, especially the children. Some of the older children and adults watch television or play games with the overnight hosts before lights out at 10:00 pm. Overnight hosts either sleep on the sofa's in the Youth Room or use air mattresses on the floor, provided by IHN. It is usually an uneventful night, when all get their rest for the following day.

Guests are up early, dressed and eating a light breakfast of cereal or fruit and toast, as the IHN van arrives promptly at 7:00 am to get them to their jobs and schools. Those who have their own vehicle also leave at this time. Everyone vacates the Lawshae Building by 7:00 am until our guests return for their evening meal.

Those who have been hosts feel privileged to have these guests use our facilities as their home for seven days, and to have grown to know them and become friends. These are people like us, who are temporarily without a home due to job layoff or other unforeseen circumstances. This is one of the teachings of Jesus, to love and serve our neighbors. Just as Jesus was a guest in others homes, we should do no less for our brothers and sisters. It is a great opportunity our church has been offered. Won't you come and enjoy our guests? We will be looking for you to sign up on the IHN board which is located in the narthex. God is counting on you!

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Sunday School 8:45 am Sunday Worship Service 10:00 am
		Would You Like to Help Others Who Are Trying to Help Themselves?
		This is a two-fold ministry that St. Mark offers to it's members and friends. Every calendar quarter, St. Mark hosts from three to five families through the INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK, (IHN). These families are temporarily without a home. They either have jobs or are seriously looking for one. They all have been screened during this time. Our guests are trying to save enough money to move into their own homes. Several churches give them a safe home and good meals for one week at a time. Those of us who have worked with these guests witness the tragedy of homelessness and develop relationships with guests based on mutual respect. Host volunteers are needed in several different areas. Those whose talents and expertise is in cooking may want to participate in preparing the evening meal. We usually have two volunteers who work together for only one evening, and you can decide what evening will best suit you. Different volunteers are needed for different evenings. All that is required is preparing and serving the meal. Our dinner hosts can stay and share the meal with our guests or leave, as we also have two other hosts that volunteer to eat and share with them. Maybe you would like to eat a home cooked meal, while making new friends. This is a great time to get to know our guests and visit with the children to make them feel like guests in our home. The dinner hosts are with them from approximately 5:45 pm until 7:30 pm. Our overnight hosts arrive around 8:30 pm to spend the night. This is when our guests are beginning to settle down for the night, especially the children. Some of the older children and adults watch television or play games with the overnight hosts before lights out at 10:00 pm. Overnight hosts either sleep on the sofa's in the Youth Room or use air mattresses on the floor, provided by IHN. It is usually an uneventful night, when all get their rest for the following day. Guests are up early, dressed and eating a light breakfast of cereal or fruit and toast, as the IHN van arrives promptly at 7:00 am to get them to their jobs and schools. Those who have their own vehicle also leave at this time. Everyone vacates the Lawshae Building by 7:00 am until our guests return for their evening meal. Those who have been hosts feel privileged to have these guests use our facilities as their home for seven days, and to have grown to know them and become friends. These are people like us, who are temporarily without a home due to job layoff or other unforeseen circumstances. This is one of the teachings of Jesus, to love and serve our neighbors. Just as Jesus was a guest in others homes, we should do no less for our brothers and sisters. It is a great opportunity our church has been offered. Won't you come and enjoy our guests? We will be looking for you to sign up on the IHN board which is located in the narthex. God is counting on you! Home \| Staff \| Ministries \| UMW