HCJC is very proud to partner with our friends at First Baptist church in working with the homeless in Jefferson City. The opinion piece states not only the work that is being done, but also about the heartless stories that are being told about the homeless.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus tells us there was a man who cast seeds on the ground.
Some of the seed fell on the path. Some fell on rocky ground; some landed on thorny ground. In those settings, the seed was stolen by birds or unable to take root and grow.
But some of the seed fell on good soil where it was able to thrive.
In the parable, the seed represents the Gospel message and it teaches that people respond to the word of God in different ways, and the condition of their hearts determines how they receive and act upon it.
The parable encourages us to examine our hearts and ensure we are receptive to the word of God, so we can bear fruit and grow in faith.
In the Capital City, the seed fell on good soil at First Baptist Church.
The church has a rich history of mission-focused service, with the latest example being its work with the unhoused.
In recent years, church volunteers have been instrumental in the downtown faith community’s effort to help the unhoused through Project Homeless Connect, a once-a-year resource day which connects individuals experiencing homelessness with essential services, and Room at the Inn, a low-barrier, overnight, cold weather shelter housed in First Baptist’s facilities.
These efforts have made significant strides to raise awareness and help for the unhoused.
Now, First Baptist is digging deeper.
The church recently pledged up to $100,000 to address homelessness and inadequate housing in our city as part of three-year covenant with Transformational Housing and Housing the Community Jefferson City.
Transformational Housing provides shelter to individuals and families who struggle to find affordable rentals elsewhere at its five-unit building on Cherry Street.
In addition to housing, volunteers offer coaching on financial literacy and life skills to ease the eventual transition to independent living.
Housing the Community Jefferson City oversees Project Homeless Connect and Room at the Inn.
First Baptist’s agreement with these two nonprofits also includes a commitment to mobilize volunteers and to educate its congregation on the housing challenges in the community.
“We believe that faith calls us to action,” Pastor Melissa Hatfield said. “Jesus made it clear that loving our neighbors isn’t just about words — it’s about showing up and meeting real needs. Housing is a fundamental human need, and through these partnerships, we are committing to walk alongside our neighbors in crisis, helping to create pathways to stable and secure housing.”
Hatfield notes assumptions and narratives about the unhoused are often harmful and inaccurate.
“One of the biggest threats to folks experiencing homelessness isn’t just the lack of shelter or support — it’s the harmful stories we tell about them,” Hatfield said. “These narratives often lead to people being treated unfairly, seen as less than, or even criminalized just for trying to survive.”
Most of us have never walked in the shoes of the unhoused, so we don’t understand their challenges or how they might end up in such a condition.
Rather than dictating what the answers are for the unhoused, we should be doing more listening and learning from those who have been in those situations so we can make a difference and improve the lives of those in need.
That’s good soil where a message of hope can grow. In that soil, our seed can bear fruit, and we can grow in faith.
— News Tribune
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