When a Church Buys a Hospital: Churches and Housing First

I love my church. I just want to say how proud I am that I belong to the Highland Church of Christ and the stuff God is doing in us and through us right now.

This past Sunday we played this video that has been about 3 years in the making. We announced that in our vision to end systematic homelessness in Abilene, we bought the old St. Ann’s hospital to turn it into a housing first complex for our homeless neighbors in this area.

Just let that sink it.

You know how church announcements are often boring and uninspiring? This Sunday I saw people high-fiving during announcements, heck, I was high-fiving people during announcements, because…

We
bought
a
hospital!

We’re partnering with several other non-profits (mainly an amazing one named City Square) and are working with other churches in town, because as it turns out ending systematic homeless in a city is a bigger deal than just one church can do.

So Tuesday I wrote a blog about the problem American churches have today with competing with one another, and after that post I got a few follow up questions asking if it was possible for a church be both missional and attractional.

For those who aren’t caught up on the lingo, that just means can a church be open and welcoming and even searching out for new people to belong and participate in their particular organization while at the same time being an externally focused church on things besides growing their own local congregation.

I say often that I hit the jackpot when it comes to churches I’ve been able to be a part of and serve, but my honest answer to that question is that I’ve never seen it another way. Both of the churches I served have cared deeply about both of those things.

Of course, we can be both missional and attractional! Isn’t being hospitable part of the mission of God? Isn’t making disciples part of the mission? Isn’t the mission of God attractive? Isn’t the church as a compelling force for good in the world something that more and more people would want to be a part of?

Here’s the thing, I know that a ton of churches are doing great work like this all over the country. Churches all over this world are letting their worship on Sunday change how they view what God is calling them to do Monday-Saturday. Churches all over the world are using their tithes on more than just their facilities and staff, but to contribute to the common good and to serving the world and social justice.

I have a hunch that the people are walking away from church are doing so because they freaking believe in church, they know She’s called to be a part of something that requires more, not less, from them.

More than just an hour of their week. More than just a social justice movement. More than just personal piety. More than just charity to make ourselves feel good.

And if that’s you I’d love for you to remember that there are churches all around you, probably in your city, doing really good work to worship and partner with God in serving and transforming the world.

God is on the move.

And sometimes that means that you work really hard for your church service to be hospitable.

And sometimes that means that you work really hard for your church to buy a hospital.