A Home Away From Home
Have you ever stopped and thought what home means to you? I asked people to comment on Facebook about what home means to them. Here are some of the results:
"Safe familiar place"
"Home is a whole host of ideas that I carry with me in the abstract to remind me that there is somewhere else with a solid reality I'd like to connect with again"
"Home is where the heart is"
"Familiar starting and ending of everyday"
"Feeling of belonging and security"
"Somewhere I can be myself"
"I would feel lost and vulnerable without a home"
"Home is inspirational and challenging"
"Home is somewhere I can open up"
Home is not a four walled brick and mortar dwelling! When we describe "home", we talk about feelings, states of mind and heart, thoughts and concepts rather than a description of the kind of house we live in. This can give us extraordinary insight into our needs as human beings. Creating home is about creating an environment that is conducive to the experience of home - safety, security, acceptance, belonging, familiarity and care. If this is constructed well, we can take a sense of home with us wherever we go. Jesus maintained a sense of peace throughout his travels even though "...the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head" (Luke 9:57-59). Home is therefore a transferable notion not defined by buildings or dwellings but by states of being.
"Where I can be me" - is that not the ideal "home"?
This is exciting because it means that we can be actively involved in helping people, even the most marginalised and displaced in our society, to feel at home, at peace, at rest simply by creating the right environment for them to be themselves.
The Baca Project have just acquired a house and form of contract with Social Services that means that we can start to provide an environment where young unaccompanied minors asylum seekers can be cared for and encouraged to find a home away from home for themselves.
We have adopted the strap line "Investing Hope, Forging Futures" as our overall vision. We want to make the world a better home.
When I think of home, I think of heaven and it sends shivers down my spine. Revelation 21:3-4 gives us a prophetic insight into what that looks like: "God's home is now with his people. He will live with them and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes and there will be no more death, suffering, crying or pain. These things of the past are gone forever."
Our mandate as Christians is to bring glimpses of God’s home here on earth now. God's home reflects a time when we will be completely ourselves in a place of safety, security, inspiration, ultimate care. We can do that - we can bring glimpses! It is not rocket science. If our "soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord" (Psalm 84:2) then how much more does the person who doesn't know that true home exists. The call of home has been deeply engrained into our DNA and so it has for every human being. And we have been called to meet these needs.
Here's a challenge - in Jesus' words: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me... Truly I tell you, just as you did to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:35)
Jesus makes it easy for us. He says what you would do for me, do for them! We can get our head around that - we don't have to work through what we think about certain issues like Do they deserve to be here? Are they genuine? Do I like them? Simply, just do for them what you would do for Him! Baca Project needs your help to do just this.
We have a house, we have a service mandate to provide good quality accommodation with positive life skills learning and we have a heavenly mandate…to create a sense of home that is conducive to the call of heaven. Some might say that is impossible but our vision is set. The world has got to become a better home and we have all been given the task to do it.
Lets start revealing glimpses of our true home with our own households, neighbourhoods, communities, town, nation and continue the ripple effect that reverberates throughout the globe - "home" is coming!
Get Involved!
Here's how you can get involved with the current plans of the Baca Project. We need you! Contact Bex Horton about these positions (unless otherwise stated).
Support Worker
Paid part time position set to work in the Baca House to provide support, care and guidance for 4 young lads.
Live in Person
Someone willing to simply be a presence in the Baca House. In return rent and bills will be paid for you.
Part of Baca Team
The Baca Team is a fluid entity and we are currently looking for more people to be involved. No requirements needed except a willingness to get involved and bring your unique skills, ideas and strengths to a growing project. Commitment level: team meeting every 2 weeks and being involved in befriending events depending on your time availability.
Prayer Team
We need a team who are dedicated to praying for the project on a regular individual basis as well as meeting as a team every quarter to pray and hear from God for the project. Commitment level: a meeting every quarter and individual prayer time.
Resource Team
Become part of a team that sources furniture, equipment etc and gets it to the places it needs to go. Contact Corrina. Commitment level: maybe a car journey or two in the next 2 months.
Experts
We need people who have expertise in business, policies, health and safety, employment/recruitment, charity status to give advice and guidance to the project on an ad hoc basis. Commitment level: ability to meet up with members of Baca team on a one off basis, we will work to your time availability and whatever you want to give into the project.
Wish List
We are currently sourcing good quality furniture and household items for the house. Please contact Corrina for a look at the list. Commitment level: a few minutes on the computer and maybe a phone call or email.
Donate
If you feel you cannot give any of your time then please think about giving to the Baca Project to help it achieve its aims. Any amount is appreciated as a one off or on a monthly basis. Please contact LJ. Commitment level: time taken to fill in a form!
Volunteers
We will need volunteers to come into the house for one evening a month to do the following workshops:
- English language learning (do not need any qualifications just that you speak English!)
- Simple cooking lessons
- Any sports activities you are involved
- Any skills that you can teach (this could be anything!)
- IT teaching skills
- Simply to chat to the lads
- Other (you ask us and we will fit you in)
Commitment level: an evening of your time a month to invest into some quality lads and learn a bit about another culture.
Please visit the Baca website to find out about how you can contribute to the Baca Wish List.
Thank you your continued support!