May 09, 2008 09:48 am
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From time to time, a story touches our online viewers so much that it becomes hard to keep up with posting the story comments that are submitted.
That was the case the past couple of weeks as Globe writers detailed the challenges facing City of Refuge, a shelter and ministry that feeds and houses Joplin’s homeless. The Globe’s stories, dozens of letters to the editor and a Globe editorial calling for Joplin’s mayor to quickly call a summit to discuss the issue of the area’s homeless population generated great interest online and kept me busy posting story comments all week at joplinglobe.com.
‘The power of prayer’
On Wednesday night, the members of Joplin’s First Baptist Church voted 132 to 18 to sell their building at Seventh Street and Pearl Avenue to pastor Dan Anderson to use as a refuge for his homeless flock. News of the sale inspired dozens of Globe viewers to praise the church’s members for their compassion, Anderson for his dedication to the mission and to pan downtown business owners and residents who opposed the sale.
“Praise God, the right decision was made. Bless you First Baptist Church for being obedient to the Holy Spirit. We are all here to add to the kingdom of God. And to minister to the poor, broken-hearted and those in bondage. Seems to me, the downtown folks would be more upset that all types of criminals are going in and out of the courthouse right next door. We will have the poor with us until this community wakes up and starts working together to solve the problem. If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”
— Child of God
“Finally Christians doing right according to God’s will and not according to the snobs and politically correct people of downtown. I expect this church to flourish in the future. Funny how many decry the status of the homeless until it involves bringing them to their neighborhood. Well done FBC.”
— Former_Joplinite
“Well praise be to our Lord! The power of prayer is so awesome with the power of God! I am so happy for the City of Refuge! Our prayers are always with you! This was the Lord’s will. And his will was done in this case! He is an awesome God indeed! May God always bless those who are always doing his work for the sake of the Kingdom. In Jesus’ name!”
— Awesome News!
“Let me ask the people on here that are praising God for City of Refuge being in there: Would you want your children walking by a homeless shelter? Would you want your business in front of a homeless shelter?”
— Protecting the Children
“Well, there goes the neighborhood.”
— Not in My Back Yard!
“What neighborhood?”
— dave
Loft lizards?
In recent months, a couple of online viewers have taken to calling members of Joplin’s new downtown loft-class, lizards ... loft lizards, to be exact. I don’t know where the name came from, but almost every day these loyal haters of downtown redevelopment find another problem to lay blame for at the feet of the loft lizards, and Joplin’s homeless challenge is no exception.
“I am glad to see the members of the Baptist church sold their building for a much-needed cause. The loft lizards lost this one. Maybe you can start helping instead of complaining all the time. I have heard from many people that they are not going to shop downtown because of your actions, way to go!”
— Bob65
“Bob65: Loft lizards? That’s cute, and typical ad hominem from someone with nothing substantive to say. So tell us this: How far is it from your house to the nearest homeless shelter? Do you own your home? Perhaps you can describe for us in detail your efforts to help the homeless; have you made any effort to help establish a shelter anywhere near your home? Why not? What about the rest of you who are so critical of those who live downtown, have invested their time, money, and lives to help revive what has long been a ‘dead’ area? Or are you simply jealous that those who do, at least in your simple minds, might have it better than you?
— bob65?
“Hey Bob65! How about answering some more questions? Has anybody asked the Joplin Police Department how many times they have visited the City of Refuge’s current location this year? These people are the ones NOT accepted at Soul’s Harbor and the Salvation Army. Why? Maybe because they are still using drugs and alcohol to excess. Bob65, you are exactly what is wrong with our society.”
— Charles
Council under fire
On Monday night, Joplin council members voted by a 5-4 margin to grant Anderson a 60-day extension to vacate his ministry’s current location. On Wednesday, in an editorial, the Globe praised the five council members who choose to give City of Refuge a little more time to find a new home. The editorial also suggested that city officials already have had enough time to collect information and set a date for the much-needed community summit to determine how best to deal with the community’s homeless issues. A couple of councilmen — the mayor included — found themselves squarely in the crosshairs of our online commentors.
“Momma Shaw would be ashamed of our Mayor, if the report is correct, for voting against extending the timeline for the City of Refuge to remain open. I’m also glad to see our former mayor, Jon Tupper, is claiming he actually represents to the residents of Joplin. If I understand the law correctly, the homeless, who have resided at the shelter for an extended period of time, who probably receive some form of government assistance, and who probably receive mail at the shelter, are residents of Joplin.”
— Shame Shame
Dave Woods is new media editor for The Joplin Globe.
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