Wood paneling, shag carpet and a plastic pantry frame the interior of the van-turned-home. To some, the 1994 Ford Econoline is a mere vehicle, but to some homeless people in Florida, it is a beacon of hope.
From his van, James Barnett, 24 is introducing Adopt-A-Jesus, a homeless adoption program, to Gainesville.
“The idea behind Adopt-A-Jesus is simple,” Barnett said. “One group in the community finds a homeless person in need and helps them out.”
Barnett is traveling on a cross-country speaking tour for the next year and is speaking at the Wesley Foundation today at 6 p.m.
The program is one way Barnett invites people to get involved in their community.
Those who “adopt” a homeless person are asked to invest in that person’s life over meals, conversations and basic provision of their needs.
“It really isn’t that complicated,” Barnett said. “There is no law on how a community is supposed to love someone.”
Barnett has developed a process for choosing the homeless in the program. He chooses homeless people who he finds would best fit into the program and invites them to be adopted — people who are determined to better their lives and are unlikely to get in trouble with law. Those who are interested go through a brief interview process, and those accepted are offered for adoption at the places he speaks.
Sam Shepherd, 20, adopted a homeless man with his Bible study.
“It’s great,” Shepherd said. “We’ve already been out to lunch with him, and it’s been surprising. I always thought things like this would be hard, but if anything, it’s taught me that people are people.”
As Barnett continues his speaking tour, he wants to be clear about one thing.
“It comes down to community, not convenience,” he said.