Article May 10, 2004 Issue

'Love ... no one has ever said that word to me'

By Brian Kissock

For the past four years, my friend Brad Murray and I have been volunteering our time among the homeless, hungry, and dispossessed in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. People flock to this coastal city from many parts of the United States because of the warm climate.

In this park we provide food, clothing, and other essentials to people, along with literature and spiritual nourishment, on a weekly basis. Members of Churches of Christ, Scientist, in the area have contributed food and funds to our project, and have sponsored a talk on Christian Science in the park. The talk was scheduled to last just half an hour, but it continued for over two hours, with a question-and-answer time. About 30 men and women whom we'd seen regularly in the park came and listened, and asked questions.

From time to time, a church member, who's an elementary school teacher, has encouraged her class of nine-year-olds to create seasonal cards with inspiring, healing messages in them. The park dwellers say they're touched by these signs that someone cares.