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Ekklesia Participates in 4 Homeless Committees
4 Ways We are the "Hands and Feet of Jesus"
Ekklesia is a mission church in South Kitsap county that is dedicated to serving the poor, hungry and homeless in our community. We believe strongly that all believers have been commanded by God to serve the poor. The words of God to Isaiah detail God's own calling to all believers, which is: "to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter." (Isaiah 58:7) We have received God's calling to respond to the needs of others. Because of this calling we have been participating in numerous local committees that make a significant impact on the homeless population. Once a month these committees meet locally and Ekklesia members are typically involved. In order to help our many supporters understand our involvement in the community, each committee will be described.
1- Kitsap County- Grant Recommendation Committee- Tim Blair has participated in this committee since 2013. Each year over 30 human service organizations across Kitsap County submit grant applications for funding that will support their work with the poor and homeless. Tim represents Commissioner Garrido's office and the South Kitsap area on this board. Over one million dollars of federal and state money is divided among the many service providers and Tim participates in the process of reading their grant proposals and interviewing their directors each September. This has provided a wealth of information about all the organizations that serve the needy in Kitsap County.
2- Project Share- This is an alliance of Port Orchard churches that are focused upon the development of services for the poor and homeless. We developed the South Kitsap Severe Weather Shelter last year and have worked together to build over eight tiny houses for the new Santana Village for the homeless.
3- Port Orchard Homeless Committee- This committee is chaired by Mayor Putannsuu and has several city council members. This committee is a partnership of several local directors and organizations that serve the poor in South Kitsap, like the South Kitsap Helpline Food Bank, Kitsap Community Resources (KCR), West Sound Treatment director, Housing Kitsap (Housing Authority) and numerous church pastors. We have worked on the development of the Severe Weather Shelter, the tiny house village project and a new hotel voucher program. Several Ekklesia members have attended their meetings.
4- Homes For All committee- This committee is chaired by South Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido. It is a partnership of local county staff members and department heads, service organizations, churches and interested individuals. Tim has led the construction committee on this group in the building of many tiny houses for the new homeless village.
It is Ekklesia's belief that the church should be on the forefront of local issues, participating and leading in many of these efforts to serve the poor, feed the hungry and shelter the homeless. This is our calling from God and Jesus' own calling while ministering here on earth. Let us all seek ways to become the "Hands and Feet of Jesus" in our community!
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