My spouse lost her job earlier this year. This meant that we also lost health insurance benefits.My spouse wept during church service; we were so troubled.In the search for a new position, my spouse spoke to someone at church. She shared that she needed employment as soon as possible. That conversation helped to facilitate employment for her within a week! This job allowed my spouse to get health ...  Read More

As we end this official month of Pastor appreciation at Central, after much reflection, the thing that I most appreciate about Julia and Michael is that they have created for us so many opportunities to care for one another.  In all the work, activities, and events going on at Central, every caring word or conversation, every physical act of service, and every stance of solidarity with others in o...  Read More

There has been lots of “official” talk in Galveston about people in our community that don’t have access to housing. They may have temporary shelter, or live in their car, or, as the place of last resort, outside on the streets. Different groups have different ideas about who they actually are, and how to respond.At Central, we put Orthopraxy ahead of Orthodoxy as Pastor Michael preached this past...  Read More

I loved Pastor Julia’s sermon this past Sunday. The image of us running together in a sort of relay race, working towards a better world is soothing and hopeful. As is the idea that the arc of the Moral Universe is long, but it bends towards justice. We may not see a just world in our lifetime, we only get a small part of the arc, but that is OK. Our job is simply to be faithful to our part of the...  Read More

This past Thursday at Central was extra busy. Weary from the heat, many people that are unsheltered showed up for support, care, respite, and rest. The shower line and the laundry line filled up early. By the time I arrived, the end of the line was in sight, but frustrations were running high, and I was in a full sweat trying to keep it moving along! Our guests that hadn’t been able to shower for ...  Read More

Throughout my time at Central, I've had the privilege of occupying various seats within the sanctuary, but I can honestly say that I don't think that I've experienced the front row. Currently, my church family and I find ourselves nestled midway through the left section, right by the "welcome home" sign. I've had the opportunity to serve communion when needed, affording me a unique perspective as ...  Read More

In every encounter, sermon, meeting, really in all things at Central there is a synergy. Somehow the activity/issue/sermon for the week comes together as inspiration and motivation. Everything good seems possible and I feel at my creative best in this community. So, this new sermon series that is underway, how can we “practice hope” together, is like fuel to my fire.The beach, the natural beauty, ...  Read More

If you don’t already know, soon, Central will begin the work of sheltering people! I can hardly believe my good fortune to be a part of this loving community and to be a part of this new housing venture. The critical work of offering showers and laundry and health care is life sustaining, yet this is just the beginning. We know and love the people that live unprotected and vulnerable in our city, ...  Read More

Last Tuesday, one of our community members introduced me to a new father, Jason, who was searching for a car seat. Jason and his significant other, Lucy, were the proud new parents of a baby that had arrived a little earlier than expected. While they were grateful that their little one was healthy and ready to go home, their discharge from the hospital was looking impossible. They did not have an ...  Read More

Yesterday, as I was riding my bike on the Seawall sidewalk, a Central member flagged me down to help with an unsheltered man who was clearly in need of help. Keeping in mind that I am not a medical professional, nor do I have any inside information on Galveston EMS protocols, I thought maybe the guidelines I have for myself in such a situation might be helpful. So, for what it’s worth:If it’s a me...  Read More

Note: occasionally, Front Row Central will feature stories from unsheltered persons in Galveston. I have made no attempt to fact-check these stories, and I have changed any details that might identify the storyteller. The details of the story therefore may be accurate, or not, but either way I hope they help us to understand a little of how homelessness looks from the viewpoint of a person experie...  Read More

As in most beach towns dependent on tourism, Galveston police have a “live and let live” reputation when dealing with disturbances of public order. Strict enforcement of the laws against public intoxication and disorderly conduct at Mardi Gras or the Lone Star Rally would be a disaster - jail space would run out in the first couple of hours and next year’s events would be held in some other city. ...  Read More