“If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:11-13)
In the passage cited above, our Lord drew attention to the three most elementary yearnings of man, namely hunger, thirst and hope. To die of starvation or thirst is to experience the most terrifying, excruciating agony of body and mind. To be in this condition and ask a father for bread…only to be rewarded with a stone, is cruel beyond measure. To substitute a venomous serpent for a fish, would be appalling. Could it be possible that a son would ask an egg of his father and be offered a stinging scorpion instead? These are the most natural requests and the most improbable answers possible.
Divine Favour endeavors to remain true to our goals, mission and evangelist heartbeat. We are always challenging our team, leaders and supporters to go beyond the four walls in efforts to promulgate the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to reach out to unbelievers. We have declared 2011 to be our year where we target homelessness in our community and world. Statistically, more U.S. Vets and Single Mothers are considered among the thousands of homeless that live in cities across our nation. In fact, a few months ago when I attended a fellowship of churches, they were charged with the task of going in the woods near the metro area to chart the number of people who live in the woods. The numbers were astounding!
Is it possible to imagine in this millineum that there are entire families with school age children living in the woods because they cannot afford a home? Well, its real and thriving in nearly every corner of the United States. According to the Metro Atlanta Task Force for Homelessness…….
The fastest growing group of homeless people is children under 9 years of age.
Atlanta is the poorest city in the U.S. for children – more children in Atlanta live in poverty than in any other city.
48% of all the children in Atlanta in poverty live in families with annual incomes of less than $15,000 a year.
For children under age 6 living in female-headed families with no spouse present, the poverty rate is 58.8%.
Children ages 6-17 living in female-headed families with no spouse present have a poverty rate of 44.9%.
Current welfare (TANF) benefits are $282 a month for a woman with two children. Could you find an apartment to rent on $282 a month?
Fewer than 20% of those women and children living on welfare get any kind of housing subsidy.
98 million children in the U.S. have no health insurance. Eight million of those children without health insurance live in working families.
Did you know that 40% – 60% of homeless people work?
Minimum wage in Georgia is $5.85 per hour, which yields $12,168 per year, before taxes.
HUD says you should pay no more than 30% of your income for your housing. (30% of minimum wage yields $270/mo. for rent)
The average two-bedroom apartment in Atlanta rents for $834/mo. (which is 30% of an annual income of $33,360 or hourly rate of $16+ per hour). Thus, you need to earn $16+ per hour to afford that apartment, according to HUD.
46% of the jobs with the most growth between 1994 and 2005 pay less than $16,000 a year.
40% of homeless men are veterans.
When you read the facts and statistics regarding homelessness the reality is quite sobering and just disgusting. Our resolve however is to fight the statistics with resolution. On July 26, 2011 – Divine Favour will host a Nite of Jazz and Comedy benefiting our “End Homelessness” initiative. Our target groups include U.S. Veterans, Single Mothers and families. We are collaborating with Rose of Sharon International (501C-3) non-profit who specializes in career training, corporate employment readiness and transitional housing for prisoners.
Click this link -
Please consider joining us at the 5 Seasons of Atlanta, 5600 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. It will be a night to enjoy family, food and fun. All ticket cost is tax deductible and will benefit the “End Homelessness” initiative.
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