A STRANGER COMES A KNOCKING !

Monday, 28 November 2011 08:21 | Written by Charles Cheek and Charlotte Dillow

When I was a young child, one of the first things my mother taught me was “Never open the door to a stranger!” And I remember wondering, “WHAT’S A STRANGER?” Is he or she like the boogey-person? I had no idea what she meant by either one.

How do you define a stranger to a child of five or six?

Is it the man or woman from the grocery store that he or she sees every week?

Is it the neighbor across the street who always give him or her candy?

Is it the elderly lady who sits on the porch next door?

As I grew older I realized what she meant.

Strangers are people who you don’t know well. You may have seen them before; you may even see them on a regular basis; but, you don’t invite them into your house. People are invited into your house only when you have gotten to know them well enough to trust them.

That rule works well for your house and many others in the communities. However, we can’t bring that same attitude into our churches or communities if we expect to help our brothers and sisters in need. There has to be somewhere…somewhere for folks to come in to receive respite from the elements, from the daily trials of life that have spiraled them into their present situations of crisis and need. And, they, for the most part are folks we don’t even know…a stranger. They will not have a key…neither do most of us…but, they are welcome to walk in whenever the door is unlocked.

The door was unlocked at Second Baptist Church (Hampton), First United Methodist Church and the Hampton Fraternal Order of Police Lodge during the first week of our Night’s Welcome Winter Shelter program for the homeless in our area. The men stayed at First United Methodist Church and the women stayed at Second Baptist Church in Hampton. The Fraternal Order of Police unlocked their doors on Saturday evening to welcome the men for dinner and fellowship, since First United Methodist had a previously scheduled event. Brent Musgrove the President of the FOP Lodge stated, “you (HELP) have a need and we are here to help”.

hamptonFOPlodge

(Hampton FOP LODGE)

Second Baptist Church in Hampton unlocked their doors to the women. This 2011-2012 season is the first year that the Church has participated as a host site for the Nights Welcome Program. Pastor Brenda McDonald stated that hosting the women at the church for a week “brought about a realization by those who volunteered that their mission expands beyond the doors of the church…it brought us closer together as a family”. The church is looking forward to unlocking the doors again next year to the women for a week.

secondBaptist

(Second Baptist Church in Hampton)

When strangers come knocking on your door, open the door and let them in.

Don’t stop them at the door with a cold look or a limp handshake. Let them in!

When at church or at a public place, don’t put your purse on the seat next to you so they won’t sit near you. Let them in!

Let them into your personal space, and let them see the love in you. Don’t give them your cold shoulder. Let them in!

Don’t worry about the tattoos and earrings. Just let them in!

Don’t worry about their outward appearance. Just let them in!

Don’t worry about their rough language. Just let them in!

You were a stranger once, but somebody let you in. So, our mothers may have been right about not letting a stranger in but she forgot to tell us that we will someday be a stranger to someone and they will let us in and our life will not be the same. Change occurs when we go against the norm and we let ideas, philosophies and people in our lives…into our space. Those who host the most vulnerable folks in our communities realize that you have to unlock the door to let them in!!!

WWW.HELPUSHELPU.ORG

Add comment

Important: Debate the viewpoint. Do not insult the writer.
If your comment does not meet the criteria, it will be removed.
Don't see your comment? Please read our Comments Policy

JComments

About Charles Cheek and Charlotte Dillow

285_pawpaw

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Cheek

Born, raised and educated in the public schools in Newport News, Virginia. At an early age he assumed an activist role in addressing civil rights and world issues. During his teenage years of activism he was involved in voter registration campaigns, civil right’s demonstrations and marches in Virginia, North Carolina and at the March on Washington in 1963. His parents, with the urging of his grandfather the Rev. Gillis Cheek, Charles was allowed to attend numerous political and world affairs camps and seminars.

Charles has a desire for learning and this is still being exhibited in his later life. He states that when he enrolled in the various universities and was asked for what degree he was registering or seeking, his reply would be…”I am not interested in degrees, but I am seeking knowledge and information and therefore registering to get all the information I can…so, whatever degree you decide to give me at the end of the studies…the kindness will be accepted”. In his pursuit of knowledge and understanding he has attained and studied at Lincoln University(Pa.), George Washington University, Sojourner Douglas College, Lancaster Bible College (presently pursuing advanced knowledge studies in theology). He was also part of a year long study in Biblical Worldview and Christian Apologetics with clergy, a federal judge, college presidents and professors and business professionals from around the world.

He has been an entrepreneur, recently selling his businesses in Maryland prior to relocating back to Virginia in 2008. One his businesses had the distinction of being the only minority business, of its type, east of the Mississippi River. The business was featured in the National Geographic Magazine, the Washington Post, the Roanoke Times, the Los Angeles Times and other publications.

Prior to his being an entrepreneur he served as the Assistant Director for Outreach and Minority Business Development for the State of Maryland; Senior Consultant with several consulting firms as a management trainer and a medical practice management consultant; Mortgage Loan Officer; Real Estate and Insurance Agent; and, a Detective with the Hampton Police Department.

Charles served, as an Associate Minister at Third Baptist Church in Hampton, Va. from 2008-2010; and prior to returning to Virginia he had a street ministry, for many years, in the Baltimore area reaching out to substance abusers, prostitutes and the homeless to bring them hope and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. He is presently the Pastor at Cathedral City of Praise Worship Center, a new ministry being planted in Hampton, Virginia.

He has been a radio talk show host in Virginia and Maryland; an editorial page columnist with a newspaper in Maryland; served many roles in the NAACP in Maryland (as a branch president and state coordinator); a Presenter at National Minority Business Conferences and state conferences in Massachusetts, Maryland and North Carolina; received a Gubernatorial Appointment to the Board of Nursing in Maryland, as a consumer representative; appointed to various boards by Mayors of Baltimore; he also served as the voter mobilization coordinator for the Jesse Jackson for President Campaign in Maryland for several congressional districts responsible for thousands of volunteers and election day activities; and, a campaign manager and consultant for several local, state and national political campaigns in Maryland; has served on the Board of Directors of several organizations in Maryland and Virginia such as the Black United Fund of Maryland, the Boys Club in Hampton, Virginia, the Young Professionals of Tidewater; Allegany County League of Women Voters, MLK Faith Based and Community Initiatives, Inc.; and, presently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of H.E.L.P. Inc. (Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodgings and Provisions, Inc.) facilitator for a monthly Prayer Breakfast and a monthly gathering of Clergy in Fellowship; and, is weekly contributing writer to the James River Journal.

He has co-authored and published: A Parents Rights Pamphlet: Public Law 94-142 (authored); Adolescent Development’ The Formative Years (co-authored).

285_Charlotte

Charlotte C. Dillow

Executive Director, H.E.L.P., Inc.

Charlotte C. Dillow is the Executive Director of Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodgings & Provisions (H.E.L.P., Inc.) and has served in this position since 2004. She has been with H.E.L.P. for seventeen years and has a proven track record in financial and operational management, to include staff and volunteer recruitment, research, fundraising and resource development. During her tenure, the organization has grown in staff, programs and grants, in-kind and individual donor funding and services now exceed $10 million in value to the community. Charlotte has provided planning, development, implementation and management support for housing and homeless programs since she began volunteering for A Night’s Welcome Emergency Homeless Shelter and H.E.L.P. in 1994. Charlotte’s studies include business management and psychology and is a recent graduate of the inaugural class of “Leading for the Long Term” through the Virginia Health Care Foundation, Richmond, Virginia. She recently received the National Exchange Clubs highest honor, “The Book of Golden Deeds Award”. She serves as an Advisory Board Member to Hampton Human Services appointed by Hampton City Council and serves as Chair of the local Continuum of Care and the Greater Virginia Peninsula Continuum of Care Healthcare Committee.