Tracy Press

A local pastor calls for answers to the problems of Tracy's homeless.

As I write this letter, my heart is broken. While driving through town Wednesday, I pulled up to a stoplight, and my eyes caught a man lying in the middle of the street. My first instinct was to think, “He must have been hit by a car.” Then, as he stumbled to his feet, I recognized him as a homeless man I had met through outreach in my church.

Because of his heavy intoxication, the man couldn’t even stand up on his own. Thank God, a good Samaritan helped him out of harm’s way — at least for the moment.

All I could think was, “How could a life come to this?” Not only was my heart broken, but my spirit was troubled, knowing there’s nowhere locally for this man to go to get off the streets and, more importantly, to help heal his brokenness.

There’s nothing more difficult than connecting with, loving and feeding the homeless or at-risk youth of Tracy and then having to leave them in the same environment in which we found them.

At Grace Christian Center, we have a burden to meet this need. People have opened their homes, but it’s not enough to meet the growing need in our community. We can’t continue to look the other way. Something must be done. The government doesn’t have the answers, but the church does. We can’t put bandages over the issues with social programs; only God can change a life from the inside out. Whether you believe in the power of Jesus Christ or not, each of us has a responsibility to reach out and provide help to those lost and hurting.

We have a vision through the Search & Rescue Dream Center to open a 24-hour center of refuge and hope to meet the needs of the homeless, the broken and the runaways in Tracy. At the conclusion of wonderful church services around town on Sunday mornings, the Dream Center will continue to be on the front lines of this life-and-death struggle — ready to take them in and loving unconditionally through Christ those lost and forgotten.

This is our dream. I pray the next time I see a fellow man in need that there will be a place in this great city ready to rescue him with open arms, with all the necessary resources at hand to help restore that life. On that day, I can take him by the hand and say, “Come with me. I know a place that can change your life forever.”

• The Rev. Doug Diestler is the lead pastor at Grace Christian Center.

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , April 05, 2008

I know you want to do good but Tracy has tried to help the homeless. They have been asked the question if they would go to a shelter and the answer is no for the ones that do not want to follow the rules. Such as, no drinking allowed. I'm not sure what 24 hours will do for them but to sober them up for the next drunk. God has a plan for everyone and it's great you want to help. It may or may not work. We can always hope and pray.

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written by yesserie , April 06, 2008

The Rev. Doug Diestler must be a democrat. Wishful thinking doesn't solve the problems. Most want to be out bumming around.

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written by Silly Me , April 07, 2008

I knew this article would bring out the finest people1

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , April 07, 2008

You being one of them Silly me. They don't want help. They want to drink and do drugs and pass ou on the ground. Some, a very few percentage want help but it is not big enough for Tracy yet. We need at least 120,000 people before a home for the homeless can be thought of. The more people, the more homeless. It can't be supported. Most would like a meal tho. Give them food the next time you see one begging for money. It might get thrown back in your face. You know how much those beggars make a day? 200 to 250 bucks a day! Ya, I asked one once. Never again will I give one $$$$$.

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written by Dutch , April 07, 2008

Me thinks the Reverand must be living in the land of "Oz"

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written by amy , April 07, 2008

A small percentage of homeless actually stay on program that helps them stay sober and wanting to improve their lot.

They push up the insurance costs on everyone by showing up in the emergency room, looking for drugs for real or most of the time.... imagined illnesses.

Very frustrating!

I do believe in helping fellowman when he tries to help himself so many times.

Chinese proverb:

"Feed a man a fish for a day, he will eat fish for a day...
Teach him how to fish, he will eat fish for the rest of his life..."

Many just don't want to stay on the program, but does not mean you have to stop helping a fellowman trying to help himself if such need arise.

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written by amy , April 07, 2008

Once, I took fast food meal to a homeless and this is what I got, a look of contempt...he tossed it in the trash and pursued me for cash.....

never did it again....

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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , April 08, 2008

See amy, they don't want to learn to fish. They want beer and drug money.

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written by two cents , April 08, 2008

My suggestion is to NEVER give them cash. I try to keep some extra water bottles and those snack peanutbutter crackers in the car. This will provide them with some basic nourishment. Those that are truly hungry will not refuse it. The ones that are out there that are self-employed and just begging for money usually do.

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written by Steve Reshakis , April 08, 2008

San Francisco is the Epicenter of Compassion for the Homeless.
They provide meals, shelter, blankets, medical, Condoms, methadone,Toilets,and the Homeless continue to increase there.
they come from other Citys to San Francisco. Junkies and drunks sleep on concrete Islands between lanes of trafic.
and the SF Police look the other way.
The Pastor's Christian Compassion would be better spent on those who want help. I spent a few Years helping at the Stockton Rescue Mission, and They Had very Tough rules. Because they dealt with the Homeless every day, in order to help them You must be Tough or Most will abuse Your Charity.
the Homeless in Stockton wanted the food, and the Shelter, but they wanted to come and go when they pleased, to find Boose, drugs and sex out in the streets. some Liberal Christians will hand out the help and look the other way when they continue in their sinfull lifestyle. you cant have it both ways. that in and of itself is also a SIN.

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written by B-dub , April 20, 2008

Some of the so-called homeless panhandlers you see holding a sign at the corner stoplight live in group homes. Living in a group home gives this person a mailing address to receive their SS or pension money. Rather than go out and work they choose to stand on a corner looking homeless. I've seen the people standing on Grant Line ifo Costco being picked up in a very nice looking 4 dr sedan. Probably taking a lunch break at Magellan's.