Pastor Vows City Won't Stop Church's Homeless Ministry
by Allie Martin
July 27, 2004
(AgapePress) - A California pastor says he will keep opening his church doors to the homeless, despite increased scrutiny from city officials.On any given night, 70 or 80 homeless people are allowed to sleep in the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park. But recently, Pastor Wiley Drake says city officials have notified him they are reviewing his occupancy and land use permits and other paperwork.
Drake says city officials are upset because his church is not far from Anaheim, California, and Disneyland, which is often touted in advertisements as "The Happiest Place on Earth." He believes Buena Park officials are quite unhappy with having a ministry to the homeless in such close proximity to the amusement park and resort area, and that they are employing intimidation and harassment to try to stop the church from doing its outreach to this needy community in that location.
But the pastor of First Southern Baptist Church notes that he has fought off previous efforts by city officials to evict the homeless from his church, and he says those who have a need will continue to receive help.
"We just will not turn anyone away," Drake says. "If people are homeless, people are poor, and they have a sincere desire to be helped, we find a way to help them, and the city doesn't like that because we're in an entertainment zone."
Still, the pastor says his church will go on housing homeless people, despite the city officials' inquiries. The pastor insists his church will "continue to do as Jesus said -- 'Inasmuch as you've done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, you've done it unto [me].'"
Drake adds that Buena Park officials have been "coming against us in every way they can, but to God be the glory. His will and His way will prevail."
