John 3:16 Mission Holds Block Party For Homeless Awareness

The John 3:16 mission says chronic homelessness gets a lot of attention, but situational homelessness is often overlooked.

The Tulsa group is using a block party to raise awareness.

Situational homelessness accounts for people who have only recently become homeless --people who may have lost a job didn't have the financial means to keep going or maybe people who have left a dangerous family life.

Learn more about the Tulsa John 3:16 Mission

The causes are countless.

For more than 60 years, John 3:16 has continued its mission to serve the homeless.

Saturday marked the seventh year for the group’s block party.

There were food, sweets, games, music and speakers.

Since John 3:16 is a faith-based organization, the speakers shared scripture and stories of overcoming by standing on their faith.

But aside from the fun and games, organizers used the time to reach out to people who have recently become homeless or people who are on the verge of becoming homeless.

The people who use the mission are able to connect with mission workers.

From there, the people in need are connected with agencies that can help them with the specific issues they have.

Mission representatives say their team can only do so much, and they hope the public takes interest in this growing problem they believe often goes ignored.

"In fact, this last year, 6,000 people from our community became homeless from our community in our community,” John 3:16 CEO Steve Whitaker said. “So we've got to reach out to them and help them find their way back to the life Christ intended them to have."