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Saturday, Jul. 25, 2009

Sleepless night will be an act of charity

On the night of Aug. 1, there will be more people than usual sleeping outside in Lexington. In fact, as many as 500 will spend the night in Applebee's Park.

If it rains, they will still be there, sleeping on cots, cardboard and plastic sheeting. After all, they will have paid $25 for the privilege.

Christian ministries in Lexington have united in an effort to organize Sleepless in Lexington, a program to raise funds and awareness of Christian organizations that benefit the homeless.

"We have a lot of Lexington ministries and charities participating together," said Tom Green, director of prayer and evangelism at the Lexington Leadership Foundation.

Green said four charities — the Lexington Rescue Mission, Lighthouse Ministries, the Salvation Army, and Step by Step — will receive money raised by Sleepless in Lexington. Several other homeless-aid organizations — Sunshine Mission, Church Under the Bridge, Nathaniel Mission, Room in the Inn, ROSM and the Catholic Action Center — will also participate in the event and hope to raise public awareness about their missions.

"We're trying to get the larger church community to come together and serve the local church needs," said Jim Connell, executive director of the Lexington Rescue Mission.

Connell said Sleepless in Lexington is modeled after an event in San Diego that has been held annually since 2007. Connell hopes Sleepless in Lexington will be similarly successful.

"Our goal is absolutely to continue Sleepless in Lexington as an annual event, a community-organized event, which will have a life for years to come."

Connell emphasized the importance of involving different community organizations in the project.

"We hope this will encourage people to get out of their comfort zone and cross denominational lines and church lines and do the work that needs to be done at home," Connell said.

The Kentucky Housing Corp. found there were 1,310 homeless people in Fayette County and 5,983 homeless people statewide during a count earlier this year. In 2008, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty reported there were more than 3 million homeless nationally.

While the number of homeless people in Lexington might seem comparatively small, Green says the issue cannot be taken seriously enough.

"It's pretty shocking to try and wrap your mind around," Green said, referring to the number of homeless people in Lexington. "We want this event to be fun and entertaining, but also a sobering and reflective evening. This is an opportunity to meditate and reflect on what it means to be poor, and what Jesus says about poverty."

In addition to quiet moments for reflection, the schedule will feature contemporary Christian music sessions and several speakers — including Green; Mitch Barnhart, the University of Kentucky athletics director; and Brewster McLeod, a minister at Southland Christian Church in Jessamine County.

Sleepless in Lexington is a Christian-centered event, but individuals of any faith, or no faith, are welcome, Green said.

"The poor we have with us all the time, and no matter what our background is, we have a responsibility to care for one another," he said. "Also, no one can argue with Christ's compassionate teachings about the poor."

Green said that anyone wishing to attend Sleepless in Lexington could solicit family and friends for sponsorships, or just pay the $25 fee. He also said that volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the site.

"We are more self-involved than we need to be as individuals, and we need to break out," he said. "The heart of God that we're trying to show is multiplied as we work together to help the broken in our community."