Our Blog
We know not everyone with a heart for the unhoused can join us for outreach. We also know that all of us go to the store and many of us are really good bargain shoppers.
It takes a village to do what we do!
Keep us in mind the next time you are out shopping. This is a list of our common needs for our outreach and shower program. And as you know, the doggos are an important part of our ministry.
Cookies
Frozen cookie dough
Candy/chocolates
Peanut butter
Brownies
Snack packs
Beef Jerky
Dog treats
Dog food
You can make shopping your ministry!
If you've spent time with us serving on the American River Parkway, you've met Arthur. He is one of our most beloveds.
Today Arthur took a giant step towards stable housing. I was blessed to serve as emotional support while @communityhealth_works and @hopecooperative.tlcs coordinated a ride and accompanied him to the social security office.
Friends, this was a very big deal for him. He hasn't been further than walking distance from his camp in years. Please be in prayer for him. For continued resolve, courage, patience, safety and that his paperwork would receive favor. Also pray that Arthur would know how much he is loved.
There will be more big deals to come and your prayers will matter.eeerr.
Does your testimony include God pulling you out of the mud? Maybe He saved your entire life? Maybe He saved you in a bad season? Maybe He saved your children, your marriage, your finances, or your heart?
Each of us has been saved at least once or twice; embodiments of His work on earth, and called to serve. Equipped by the power of our testimonies.
No one is exempt from being pulled from the mud. Whether homeless, addicted, starving, mad or depressed.
Maybe the deeper we are buried, the more worthy we are for God's strength?
HOPE is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness. Hope is a source of resilience. Hope is not racist, sexist, ageist or homophobic. Hope is a pathway to change.
Having hope can be hard for a lot of people.
There have been a lot of changes on the parkway encampment. "They" moved 40 (or so) people into the same proximity of 40 other people. It's uncomfortably close quarters. People are agitated. It smells. There's no shade. I described it as anti-hope to a friend. I almost took a picture to use for this post, but my gut said, no. It just felt really discouraging and nobody needs that.
Our friends in the encampment are vulnerable. Many are 45 years and older. 90% have PTSD. Some have been homeless for much of their adult lives. And they have a high rate of physical disability, substance abuse disorder and mental illness.
Even though living in the encampment is voluntary. If we are all being honest, voluntary is a pretty subjective concept in the realm of homelessness.
People with PTSD tend to stay in the same place (even if it's bad) for a long time because they know it and can control it. They perceive it to be safer than the unknown. Their security is more important than personal development or moving forward. They are stuck and it's real.
BUT...
With intention we can be hope crusaders...
When we get to know them rather than their circumstances.
When we walk alongside them and encourage them to make tough but good decisions.
When we listen.
When we share food and hygiene.
And perhaps most importantly, we become crusaders when we remind people that their dreams matter and that homelessness doesn't have to mean hopelessness.
Just a friendly reminder that "𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮!"
This is Rick. I've known him for as long as I've been doing this work. He's one of the humans God highlighted for me. God does that sometimes.
I spoke to Rick prophetically a few times. That happens sometimes.
I just ran into Rick and he is a new man. Like 𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕟𝕖𝕨. He and his wife are living inside now! The story of how they got there is completely radical and slightly supernatural.
It just doesn't happen that way...
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝! I said to Rick, only God could do this. He said, "The power of Jesus makes everything else look so weak." He also said he had whispered prayers only Jesus knew about that no person ever heard.
I was low key crying on the corner of 25th and J Streets. Encouragers need to be encouraged too. And today this encounter with Rick was an answer to prayers I've whispered that no person has ever heard.
As you know, homeless ministry is challenging on all fronts. It's dark. If you consider what we know about spiritual darkness, you understand that homeless encampments include all of the tools of oppression, including shame, hopelessness. isolation, indignation and fear.
Fortunately though, scripture is clear; it covers, and encourages us. We've had the privilege to walk alongside people as they make positive changes in their lives. We are not social workers but we've helped people get phones, care for their dogs, expunge their criminal records, apply for General Assistance and help their neighbors.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Psalms 107:4-9 Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me.’
Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded towards people who are poor and needy in your land.
Psalms 140:12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Doing this work is not a call to martyrdom, it's actually just doing what God has asked and authorized us to do; difficult or not. We do a pretty good job managing extreme conditions. However, help is always needed to ensure the health, integrity and longevity of our ministry.
God doesn't ask us to light only our own houses and season only our own food.
Here's a few out-of-the-box ways some of our friends and volunteers have chosen to help. It's not a comprehensive list...
🧂Taylor Balian created an Amazon Wishlist for our human and doggo guests.
💡Liz Carabello successfully uses her social media to raise money for water.
🧂Van Wong makes the most delicious gatorade in 5 gallon coolers for outreach and showers.
💡Tracy Pillows donated money for water and ice which we delivered on a non-ministry day.
🧂The Tuesday Night Packing Party came in HUGE with water.
💡We received separate anonymous donations of an awning, coolers, water, and cases of gatorade.
🧂Mark Middleton has helped fill in gaps when we don't have enough lunches.
We are grateful for everything, especially for our faithful volunteers. Everything helps!
𝒜𝓂𝑜𝓈 𝟧:𝟤𝟦 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝑜𝓊𝓈𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇-𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂.
"Justice is fairness in the way that people are treated."
““𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓃’𝓈 𝒜𝓇𝓂𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓈𝒶𝓎𝓈: 𝒥𝓊𝒹𝑔𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇𝓁𝓎, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝑒𝓇𝒸𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇. 𝒟𝑜 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓈, 𝑜𝓇𝓅𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓈, 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒𝒾𝑔𝓃𝑒𝓇𝓈, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑜𝑜𝓇. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑜 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓈𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓉 𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇.” 𝒵𝑒𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒾𝒶𝒽 𝟩:𝟫-𝟣𝟢
We can't separate the reality of homelessness from the truth of marginalization.
40% of the homeless population in California is black.
Formerly incarcerated people are 10 times more likely to be homeless.
60% of homeless people have diagnosed mental disorders.
38% have alcohol dependency.
25-50% have substance abuse disorder.
63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence.
49% of homeless have a disability.
10,500 homeless individuals are veterans.
It's not so complicated. Go make disciples.
God used "Ruth” to stir our spirit. The “Blessing of Boaz” is so relevant to our work, especially in this season of pioneering and expansion.
Boaz was the bomb; generous, strong, encouraging and obedient. #belikeboaz
𝗥𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝟮:𝟭𝟮 “𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗴𝗲.”
Boaz prayed God would bless Ruth, knowing or not knowing, He would become Ruth’s greatest blessing. Sometimes when we pray God’s blessings for others, He wants us to be the blessing.
As for Ruth, it was her faith in God and her loyalty to Naomi that ignited extraordinary favor over her life. Ruth did not come to play! #belikeruth
Our most immediate needs are (besides the obvious need of financial provision):
200 total lunches on Wednesdays to accommodate our 3 outreach teams.
50 Lunches for our Monday Shower Program.
Ambassadors for outreach the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
𝐼𝒻 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓂𝓎 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹, 𝓌𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒?
We don't engage in politics or advocacy. Our mission is to feed people, spread mercy, use our showers for dignity, and share kindness to the unhoused community.
Our bias is that we believe every unhoused person is a human being. We are separated only by circumstances.
We want everyone to have a home, inside. We are not pro-criminal or anti-business (as some suggest). We are pro-positive outcomes.
On neighborhood websites and facebook groups we found language like vagrants, animals, idiots, scum and worthless to describe unhoused humans. It's upsetting and dangerous.
Our hope is for productive discussions and actual solutions for medical care, adequate shelter beds, mental health care, and addiction treatment. Just to name a few things.
In the meantime, we will continue to do the work we are called to do.
What scripture says about serving the unhoused...
𝕊𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 🩵
I ask my friends about their self-care all the time; especially my friends who are doing the trauma work, healing, enforcing boundaries and being aware of their triggers.
Self-care doesn't have to be fancy, it's the simple things that actually matter.
Childhood trauma and PTSD are root causes of homelessness, as are domestic violence and substance abuse disorder.
Trauma is a cause and effect of homelessness. In fact, homelessness is a trauma in and of itself.
Imagine not having access to the simple things or sitting in your despair day after day. It becomes a rock of hopelessness so deep and heavy, you won't be able to go anywhere.
We spent a blessed morning serving the unhoused in Del Paso Heights. It was significant to us because expansion of showers and outreach into Del Paso Heights is our primary (strategic) initiative for 2024.
Strategic—“relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.”
8 months ago, God put Del Paso Heights on our hearts, we prayed about it, God confirmed it, and our Board approved it.
Thanks to God, He connected us to the right people and doors started to open.
These images are not intended to diminish hardships, glamorize our work, or demonize the unhoused humans who are living along a 2 mile span of largely public land. They should inspire compassion and highlight that these living conditions exist in our City. It’s everyone’s backyard, not just the residents of Del Paso Heights.
Our partner in this project is “Neighborhood Wellness”. They want the land for parks, bike riding, and a safe place for kids. But they don’t not want to at the expense of dehumanizing the unhoused.
We too want people to live inside! However, hopelessness is not a solution.
Our work is to cultivate hope in despair through connection, kindness, food, hygiene and hot coffee.
We would love your help.
Check out these testimonials from Midtown Church Members:
"I am still trying to figure out the right adjective to describe how I've been feeling about Saturday. Humbled of course but it's so much more than that. Blessed to have been a small part and honored to know women and men who lead their lives with the heart of Jesus. I will return." Elaine (Saturday showers)
"It was truly a pleasure to participate in this loving and thoughtful community ministry. I have only visited Midtown 3 times and am loving it so far! Tuesday’s opportunity to serve was an extension of what I have been doing as a solo effort for months. Such welcoming people- Lovely!" Camille (Tuesday packing party)
Our partnership with Midtown Church has been very fruitful, and a lot of fun. We are growing! We have grown in the number of volunteers. We are expanding our territory. We are launching a weekly shower program. And we are able to provide jobs for people in need of employment opportunities.
With this amazing growth, our practical needs have increased. The support of our community will be essential for this season and also for the sustainability of the ministry.
This month we are suggesting 2 additional ways for you to support the ministry:
Imago Dei: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.“ Genesis 1:27
We are sharing images of our friends for Valentine’s Day. The thread woven through each is love.
ℝ𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖: In common terms, radical love is unconditional love. It’s given freely without having to be earned and regardless of what’s received in return. This type of love is unmotivated by the possibility of reciprocation or reward. Its ultimate purpose is selflessness, compassion, understanding, and gratitude.
If it’s not radical love we don’t want it.♥️
January 15, 2024
𝓓𝓸 𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓮, 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼, 𝓦𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓗𝓾𝓶𝓫𝓵𝔂…
The life of Dr Martin Luther King and his legacy of fighting for JUSTICE inspires our work of serving the most marginalized and vulnerable humans in our community.
- Micah 6:8 says, “This is what is required of us, to Do Justice, Love Kindness and Walk Humbly.”
- Personally, I am the product of kindness from someone who saw past my mess and loved me anyway. Her kindness was the spark that ignited hope in me and it’s what drives me to be a spark in dark and messy places.
- We created Reality Tours to guide people through unhoused encampments in a safe and respectful way. Our goal is to change hearts by providing a firsthand witness to the injustice in our community—before judging it or avoiding it.
- The Tours have changed hearts and activated people to serve.
- To learn more about our Reality Tours email taralouise@beencouragedinc.com or call/text 916 956-4974.
Food is the foundation of our outreach program.
There would be no outreach without the brown bag lunches lovingly made by our volunteers.
We estimate that 75% of the people we serve are hungry when we arrive. Some very hungry.
Click on the image above to sign-up to make brown bag lunches to ensure that we always have plenty.
The more food we receive the more people we can feed.
WE all have a story. Our stories humanize us, and by us, I mean ALL of us. It’s safe to assume that houseless people have complicated stories—usually with more trials than triumphs.
We don’t ask people their stories before we know them. It happens organically through connection and trust. We don’t judge or criticize. We help in the ways we can and we hold their pain and stories in our hearts.
These are a few of our friends:
1. “Cheeseburger” we got to know him over the course of a year. He always welcomed us with a big and smile and booming voice. 8 weeks ago he showed up at Church and instantly connected with our volunteers. Since then he has shared his story with us. He took many wrong turns in life, including gang affiliation and prison, Eventually it became impossible for him to get back on track. He continues to come to church and he volunteers with us every Wednesday.
2. Leora’s whole face lit up when we put this jacket on her. She loved the attention from us and even bragged to her camp mates that we took her picture. I would describe her as quiet with an overwhelming spirit of sadness around her, you can feel it. Leora’s 52 year old son stays with her in the camp. She told us once it’s not safe for him to be on his own. He recently went missing. She was distraught. Thankfully she asked us for prayer, which is not very common. The good news is he came home 2 weeks later.
3. The last pic is Lala and her father. We’ve known Lala for a long time. She is literally the best dog. We have gotten to know her dad a little bit, not much though. This week he told us how grateful the encampment is for us. He also said we are the most protected people on the river.
"For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9
Be Encouraged Inc is a small organization with a heart to do big things.
The situation for houseless people in Sacramento is dire. During outreach we have come across circumstances you would never expect to see in our city. Besides shocking us and breaking our hearts, we were reminded that what is happening on our streets is more than just an inconvenience.
Serving in the capacity we are called to is not sustainable without consistent help and encouragement. We strive for organizational health and integrity in the services we provide. We have been blessed by our outreach team, and are confident it will continue to grow.
Our ask is that you pray about how God would use you in our ministry. Please email us at either Dawn@beencouragedinc.com OR taralouise@beencouragedinc.com withe any questions you have.
There has been a lot of turmoil on the streets. Nobody is happy.
Our mission is mercy, dignity and hope. Lately we have been praying for miracles too. The Love bags we delivered today provided a little levity and a lot of smiles. Kindness can spark hope.
Regardless of the judgement so easily levied against the houseless, it is not easy or fun or healthy. In fact, suffering is the norm, and as the houseless population grows, it gets worse.
I’ve never met anyone who said,”I hope to be houseless one day” or, “My dream is to be addicted to opiates, alcohol, or meth” or “I love that everyone hates me.”
There are very few shelter beds, not enough housing options, few rehabs, and limited mental health care.
We empathize with merchants and property owners. We are not pro-crime. It is truly a mess out there.
We hate the situation, but have empathy for the people.
"Going out to people instead of them having to go somewhere and wait in a long line give them more dignity and respect. It also shows that we see them and we care. I have been very blessed already by serving. I feel connected to others and to God when we serve. I have more gratitude for everything I have and I also am able to see how easy my life is. When it rained overnight recently it hit me that it didn't really affect me at all but it would be another difficulty for someone that is unhoused." Leah
"Be Encouraged has done well in showing me that we are all made in the image of God and deserving of goodness and kindness from one another. My favorite part of serving is experiencing the gratitude from the people we serve as we pray for their needs...I am moved by their appreciation!" Charleen
For our laundry program, we choose 5 people and gather a load of laundry from each person. We gather, wash, fold, and return the clothes the same day. No strings attached.
We know we are barely making a dent in needs of the houseless community. But we remain obedient to the call and to what we CAN do for the people in front of us.
There’s no dignity without clean clothes or basic hygiene. And there’s no hope without dignity. The laundry was done with donated quarters and donated laundry supplies.
We are also using the program to move houseless individuals into employment.
November 3, 2023
We received an amazing holiday gift bag haul from the Bayside Women's Bible Study Group. We were blown away by thir generosity and are so excited to sort and deliver!
