Skid Row, Jeff Thomas, and LLU Students

Last Saturday (April 12), a number of Loma Linda University students (Christine, Kathy, Andrea, and Mat from the school of medicine) and I went to Central City Church in downtown Los Angeles and attended prayer meeting there.  We were warmly welcomed by the church members and Rev. Thomas who took us around the church and walked us through the community explaining issues that are important for our consideration.  There were many things that touched us, the level of spirituality among the attendance and the desire to make this a better community for the homeless people.  We also met Pastor Bowen who helps run a Korean church in skid row.  It becomes even more important to me, during this visit, to really take the time to understand and listen before starting any bright idea to help the homeless.  There is so much potential there and we need to take the time to learn from them how we can be of help and most of all what is it that we can learn from them.  Rev. Thomas made one very important statement, “I want to be able to give as much as I’ve received from these homeless people.”