Life At Coventry Jesus Centre: When Tears Lead To Action

A couple of weeks ago the press issued prime-feature images of Labour leader, Ed Miliband, giving money to a 16-year-Romanian beggar girl in Manchester. The rights and wrongs of Ed’s gesture were discussed. How much did he give? And what did it do for his tarnished public image? I don’t know – but who is asking, ‘but what about the girl?’

Now it’s Monday, the centre is shut and Centre Manager, Ann, is about to go home.

The phone rings. A mother is on the phone. Her 10 year old daughter has come home from school in tears and mother is wondering what to do.

 So, why is daughter in tears?  She’s just been on a school trip and encountered a street beggar.  Her teacher told her she mustn’t give her pocket money to him. She really wanted to so ... there are tears.

Mother is asking Ann: “We both really want to do something to help homeless beggars. We live in an out-of-town suburb and we don’t see them round here. What can we do?”

Who is to be commended the most? Mother? Daughter? I don’t know - but all I know is there is a wealth of hugely good-hearted people out there! Someone is asking, actually someone very young, ‘What about the destitute men and women out there? They’re on our streets” - and, what's more, is posing the poignant question, “What can I do?”