Many of you may have read about Dwite A. Morgan, better know as “Bicycle Bob,” a homeless man in Edmond, who was killed last weekend at the age of 54. A young man, Travis Monroe Jim, has been arrested on murder charges associated with Dwite’s death. For over two decades, Bicycle Bob rode bikes in the downtown Edmond area becoming a friend to police officers, residents, children and others. He was described as a man who was challenged with alcohol issues, but otherwise was harmless. He chose to live on the street and as such, was cared for my many in Edmond. He ate breakfast at the Edmond First Christian Church at their “Breakfast on Boulevard” homeless breakfast. Though not influential in the city, he apparently was loved by many. On Monday night, over 250 Edmond residents turned out for a candlelight vigil in his memory. Though many didn’t know his real name, they knew Bicycle Bob. First Christian will hold a memorial service for him and services and monies have been donated to provide him a proper burial. I don’t know that I ever saw him personally, but I bet my barber on Main Street knew him very well.

Why do I write this blog about a man I never knew? In part, because we now host a daily breakfast for the homeless at First Church. Currently, between 100-200 people eat at our church every morning. I met a man named Steve on Robinson yesterday that I had invited to our breakfast. I know a few of their names, but I bet our church member, John Neher, knows many more. Why? Because he invests his mornings here serving his new friends every day. They are not “the homeless” to him. They are real people with real lives, loved by God and created in His image – just like you and me. If you want God to radically change your view of the homeless, I’d encourage you to read, Same Kind of Different as Me. Larry Bross gave me a copy of this book this summer and it greatly impacted my life. I believe Sean and Melissa Walker just read it recently as well.

When we lived in Tulsa, we lived at 78th and Sheridan. It was a somewhat older but relatively nice neighborhood. One day I read that a homeless man had died a few blocks from our home near a dumpster, behind a world ministry headquarters. He apparently was living in a cardboard box and froze to death. His name was Mr. Staley. I don’t think I’ll ever forget his name, not because I knew him, but because of the needless way he died. Like Mother Theresa, I just don’t believe anyone should die alone

Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” I’m thankful to be a part of a church family that is seeking to care for others in the name of Christ! We’ll not always do it perfectly, but with God’s help we will do it according to His Spirit!

Thank you First Church for becoming The Church more every day and caring for the least, the lost, and the last! I know our Heavenly Father is pleased.

Yours in Christ’s Love,
Mark