Who is Love Thy Neighbor?

John, Katherine Chapman & Timothy Bader

This document was originally written in the summer of 2001.  Updates have occurred periodically. 

How was Love Thy Neighbor started?

I (John) have worked in downtown Atlanta the past sixteen years, and have consistently passed by the homeless.  As my faith began to increase, it was clear that walking by the homeless was simply not an option.  I had been asked to join a men’s group (4 including Pat Lloyd) that met at the Second Ponce Deleon Family Life Center once a week.  This is where I initially met Timothy and came to hear his story.  In the group we came to the conclusion that the Bible was the word of God and should be read consistently and well understood.  In the process of reading the Bible, Christ showed us its essence, which is to love God with all your heart, soul & mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.   My initial idea was to attempt this downtown with the homeless.  I began by simply giving money.  That did not work.  The same people were on the same corner with no change in their lives. (Christ was teaching but I was slow to learn!!!).   The next step was to find out who these people were.  As my faith was so weak, I started a social program of doing good for two individuals who were major alcoholics.  I figured that if I could win their friendship, I could tell them about Christ. (Wrong again!!!, another lesson from Christ).  Approximately one year was spent housing them (they got thrown out of four different places), getting all the necessary housing items, groceries, even alcohol (unbelievable huh???).  How well Christ teaches.  Finally, I became so angry after their being thrown out once again for unruly behavior that I discussed Christ with them.  This was too little too late.  At approximately the same time, I met another homeless alcoholic named Zeke.  I employed Zeke to help with odd jobs.  I found him a place to be off the street and he began working.   Each day we would discuss life issues including Christ.  He changed my life more than I changed his.  Zeke had friends who needed help, so more effort was required.  As the burden became to great, he brought in a woman who needed a payee.  She had worked for a corporation and was competent in helping me with all of the various chores that were now occurring as more people were helped.   The Bible says God will not give you more than you can bear.  He sent me my help.  All of the help was occurring in my office and on the street.   The tidal wave began to grow.  Christ was still not the main focus but loving my neighbor, as myself was the idea.  Giving money for an array of reasons was the general path.  The number of people increased as did the effort and cost.   As great commendation to my wife, she was behind me 100%, even to the point of having homeless people to stay with us.  I was beginning to be discouraged because all of the help simply did not appear to be making a difference.  That same day Christ changed two people, who came in and stated what a difference the help had made in their lives.  From that point forward Christ became the first thing I talked about with financial help then following.  A few more people put Christ at the center of their lives and wonderful things continued to happen.  He was revealing the path the ministry should take.  The demands on time and financial resources were becoming huge.  Again God will not give you more than you can withstand. 

I had not seen Timothy Bader for approximately six months.  He knew of the work only by one or two conversations we had previously had at the front counter of Family Life Center.  He saw me at the Family Life Center and after normal greetings; his first comment was “Do you need volunteer help?”  I was stunned.  A large number of people were coming for help that day and I needed him desperately.  I told him to come to the office right now and be there all day.  Of course Timothy said, “No problem.”  Although he was initially confused as to why he was there, it was clear God had sent him to help.  He was perfect for the many individuals who came in that day.  At days end he said he would like to come back the next Monday.  I was thrilled to have his assistance.  Shortly thereafter, Timothy said, “The process was too unorganized.”  He offered to run the program Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10-2 each day.  This freed me to do my regular work.  My son Edward is very knowledgeable with computers.  He spent the summer getting the computer needs of the mission up and running. 

A few weeks ago (6/01) we received notice to cease all activity in our office for the homeless or be evicted from the office building.  God clearly has protected us until the necessary parts were in place for the mission.  We used Centennial Park for Timothy to spread the word and to allow Christ’s love to show through our actions (MARTA cards, Kroger coupons, temporary housing, etc.).  Timothy calls my son for each of the client’s needs on a cell phone and then the necessary items are delivered by some of the individuals I had initially helped who are now sober, working, housed and following Christ.  With Christ at the helm and Timothy close behind, the demand for the ministry has exploded.  Christ plan is Christ first, sobriety; responsibility, self worth, housing and employment always seem to follow.  People are changing who have been homeless and drug or alcohol abusers most of their lives.  The number of miracles witnessed is simply too large to list in this short letter. 

Subsequent to this initial letter we were kicked out of Centennial Park late in the summer of 2001.  We moved to Hurt Park.  Subsequently the serving of the homeless in the park became too large.  The mission turned into MARTA cards and Kroger coupons with no ministry.  The limited number of volunteers could not handle the volume and we were not being effective.  The mission required a change in direction.  We substantially reduced the number of people served in order to adequately minister.  With Timothy available for ministering only a certain number of persons can be handled.  Additionally, we have learned that most of the people require at least a period of approximately six months to begin to make material changes.  The individuals we attempt to serve have often had drug, alcohol and homelessness issues for a large part of their lives.

After Centennial Park, we obtained an agreement with Good Samaritan (Bill Warren) in downtown to use space in his medical building to have Timothy minister (1 hour sessions) from 1:00-5:00.   From the Good Samaritan we eventually moved to Techwood Baptist.  In January 2006 we opened our own ministry office located at 52 Walton Street in the heart of downtown.  Timothy Bader is no longer with Love Thy Neighbor (LTN).  Gregory Pulliam (Kaz) and Greg Jones, both individuals LTN helped to recover, ran the LTN for approximately 3 and 2 years respectively.  Each is now in another place.  Steve Benjamin and Johnny Ford now run the day to day operations of LTN.  We have moved to the location of 55 Fairlie Street  (10/08).  We provide services to clients from approximately 10:00 to 4:00 Monday –Friday at the offices.

God is at work through the mission in a way I could never imagine when this all began approximately 8-10 years ago.  Christ is alive today, and the words in the bible are true.  Christ has revealed himself through these homeless people.  
 
John Chapman, Jr.
41 Marietta Street, Suite 1020
(404) 688-1638 - W
(770) 572-6992 - C