Just imagine, if there were no places for struggling people to have a 
peaceful meal.

Let me draw you an illustration.

Mike & Maureen were born in the 60's.
Mike has worked for most of his adult life at JC Penny's.  He grosses 
$36,000.00 a year.  He decided to go to college and get an associates 
degree part time at night and continue working fulltime at the store.

It took him 4 years.  JC Penny gave him a $1.00 an hour raise when he 
got his Associates degree.

He had a modest room for over 12 years, no family.  He was fortunate 
to be able to buy a car and keep it maintained.  He has never been 
arrested, and pays his bills on time.

He takes a two week vacation every year and spends most of his 
savings on that vacation.  He has traveled to places most people 
don't ever get to go to.

He dates rarely and he happens to be a really nice guy.  He is just 
poor.

Maureen on the other hand bought a house when she was 21, from the 
insurance left her when her mother died.  

She too has no living family.  She works in a shoe store chain outlet 
and makes about $40,000.00 a year.  She was married once and now 
divorced.  

She has an 11 year old son with a childhood disorder.  She has no 
mortgage and becasue she owns the home, can not qualify for most 
assistance programs.

She has a high school diploma, and some college - no degree.

Both these people work, neither drinks, nor does drugs.  Neither have 
broken the law.

and they are not living together, they dont even know each other.  I 
know them.  How do I know them, they need help from time to time and 
have turned to me.

So before you all start thinking that only pedofiles, and drug 
addicts are the ones who need mission and shelters and the like you 
better thank your lucky stars or you're higher powers that you do not 
need a mission to turn to from time to time.

Any way both Mike and Maureen stopped by to say hi this year as is 
their custom, Maureen needed some holiday food and this year Mike 
wanted to do something for me.  

Maureen cried because she promised her son something for this 
christmas that was out of her budget.  Her taxes went up 28% in the 
last 2 years.  Utilities went up 11%, but what killed the budget was 
gas going over $3.00 for most of the past year.

Real people, good people, disadvantaged?  Or just "unlucky"  -  How 
about, just plain poor.

God Bless those in need this year, May the Lord deliver them from the 
judgement of mankind.

Rev. Kevin Brown
Lighthouse Mission
Long Branch, NJ




 
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