Yes, absolutely, thank you for contributing your experience. I think that connecting Katt with trained professionals would be a loving, compassionate thing to do, and perfectly in the spirit of what Jesus was teaching in the verse I quoted.

Interacting with the homeless is somewhat new to Immanuel Baptist (and all of us in Hoquiam). Our neighboring city of Aberdeen broke up a tent city of about 100 people a couple years ago, and everyone scattered throughout Aberdeen and Hoquiam. All public organizations (library, restaurants, etc.) are being presented with the challenge of dealing with people who literally have nowhere to go and who have basic human needs that the organizations are really not set up to serve.

Aside from my relationship with Katt, I deal with it at the gas station where I work at night. We aren't supposed to allow loitering; it's my job to move people along or call the cops if they don't. That's the policy, but what is the human thing to do, when it's cold outside and warm in the store, and the only shelter is miles away in Aberdeen and they've already closed their doors for the night? How can I deny a cold person a cup of coffee if they have no money, when there are boxes and boxes of coffee sitting on our shelves? Or what about when they are hungry and shoplift food? Should I call the cops on them?

I have made people go back into the cold, I have denied them coffee, and I have called the cops (though so far not for food shoplifting). To an extent my criticism of the church is projected self-criticism.

I certainly can't deny the complexity of issues that Katt presents for the church. I just think that we do have a responsibility to each other, and I want to challenge us (the church and myself and anyone) to look for the compassionate and loving path.