I think few people, in city ministry, had a concept of how much pressure the minister was under to help people in need. I have my journal before me as I write. Three congregants came to me in one day, asking for help: a mother who was going hungry so that her children could eat, a mother who had been put out on the street with two children, and a pensioner who had no money for food. Those three cases emptied my benevolent (charitable) fund -- until the next month would come around. OBSERVATION: At that time -- in 2009 -- there were typically 30 people a month requesting help from the fund, which is about one a day. I had to turn most of them down -- yet sought not to let people leave me without some help and advice.
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