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BY LINDA WORTHINGTON
UMCONNECTION STAFF

God led us to this ministry, said Cynthia Taylor of Epworth Chapel UMC.

The church is in a new partnership with Night of Peace Family Shelter, and for Taylor, who has led the congregation to embrace the ministry, it?s a fulfillment of God?s calling in her life. 'Everything I?ve done has prepared me for this ministry,' she said.

The Night of Peace Family Shelter began at Salem UMC in Hebbville with Rev. Colin Phillips? vision in 2004 to make a space ? a holy space ? in the church to shelter homeless families. It is the first shelter in a church in Baltimore County.

Both Phillips and Taylor believe it is truly one of God?s signs and wonders, not the least being that Salem UMC is a small largely white church and Epworth Chapel is much larger, with a primarily black congregation.

How is it these two congregations joined together to meet a common goal, as intentionally and with as much dedication as these two churches?

Phillips learned the statistics in Baltimore County: almost 60 percent of homeless have children, most under 11 years of age; on a given night there are 150 beds available in the county?s emergency shelter, and 2,000 homeless people; even with a $10 per hour job, a person cannot afford the average $800 two-bedroom apartment rent.

He led his congregation in prayer and Bible study and named a task force to work on the possibilities. Based on their study of Isaiah 58 and Jesus? teachings in Luke, church members responded to God?s call to provide direct service to the homeless in the area.

After preparing the building, installing showers, laundry, and upgrading the kitchen, in February, 2005, they welcomed their first guests, on a short-term, two nights a week basis.

With this positive experience, the founding group decided to incorporate as a non-profit organization in the State of Maryland, and made plans for the full-time shelter. They developed an 11-person board of directors and offered $10 per year. memberships to the congregation and others. The membership requires four hours a month as a volunteer at the shelter.

Meanwhile, Taylor heard of the shelter and learned that 42 percent of the homeless are African American and there was a huge need for volunteers to keep the shelter operational, especially as it moved toward full time service.

The current shelter, which can house up to 20 people, requires 10 trained volunteers on five duty shifts each night, a heavy load for a church the size of Salem UMC.

Shelter guests arrive at 5 p.m. and must be out by 8 a.m. They receive three meals, breakfast and dinner on site and a bag lunch. Guests are required to have counseling to work out longer range plans for their future. People from faith traditions other than Christianity or no religious affiliation are welcome and are not required to attend religious services.

Epworth Chapel is providing as many as 40 volunteers of the total 60-65 needed. The church holds five of the seats on the board. They?re planning to hire a shelter manager as soon as they can raise the funds. Until then, all work is done by volunteers.

'It?s truly a joy to see it all come together,' Taylor said.

The Night of Peace Family Shelter partnership is expanding, now joined by Milford Mill UMC, another sign of God at work in the hearts of the church members, in the community who comes for shelter, and those who provide the services.

If your church or someone you know is experiencing signs & wonders of God?s presence, we would love to share the story. Send an e-mail to