Wed, Jul 09 2008
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Published May 02, 2008 11:12 am - Nancy Morton makes no bones about it. She does not want a shelter for the homeless in her neighborhood. Dave Woods: Readers weigh in on shelter for homeless Nancy Morton makes no bones about it. She does not want a shelter for the homeless in her neighborhood.
The outspoken member of Joplin’s First Baptist Church made her opinion crystal clear in a story published April 27 concerning the possible sale of the congregation’s former church building at 633 S. Pearl Ave. to the City of Refuge, one of the Joplin ministries that provide food and shelter to Joplin’s homeless population. For almost two months, Dan Anderson, the pastor in charge of City of Refuge, has been faced with building maintenance and zoning issues that have made it necessary to move his shelter. Anderson has been in the market for a new location since the Joplin City Council voted against a zoning change that would have allowed his ministry to remain in operation in a warehouse at 502 E. Seventh St. One possible location being considered by Anderson is the building that formerly was home to Morton’s church. Morton believes that the sale of the church building to the ministry will damage property values in her neighborhood and lead to an increase in criminal activity. Morton said that she will encourage her church’s board of trustees to put the decision on hold. Since the story outlining Morton’s position was published, comments highly critical of Morton’s stance have been stacking up in the story comments section at joplinglobe.com. “Ms. Morton. To be a member of a church, you have a very un-Christian-like attitude. Jesus was homeless. Also, ‘what you do unto the least of these you do unto me’ is a direct quote from the Bible. I pray that you always are able to have a roof over your head. Some people are not homeless by choice.” — Cheryl “Mrs. Morton: Thank you for sharing your Christianity with your community! What a sad example you are for the rest of us!” — CJ “To Nancy Morton: I agree with you, Nancy; property values are by far the most important thing to consider. I think I read that somewhere in the Bible. Or maybe it was in the “Fame to Riches” book. I can’t remember. Stick to your great values, accumulate a lot of material things, and your track will leave its mark here when you’re gone.” — Farmer Ted ‘How clueless are you?’ “I live in that neighborhood also, Nancy. I DO NOT want the City of Refuge to buy the church. These homeless people already have Soul’s Harbor. We do not need another homeless shelter for these people to hang out at and lower our already depreciating home values. I will try and fight this from happening as hard as I can.” — Rich “Rich, just how clueless are you? Soul’s Harbor can only sleep so many a night. There is a need for more shelters than there already are in the Joplin area. Why do think that there is a tent city? Why do you think that Salvation Army, Watered Gardens, and City of Refuge are here? To look good? I think not.” — Give ’em a break 
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