A FOCUS ON EDUCATION
November 1, 2018
A Home Built for Hosting
November 1, 2018
“You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a perinea,”
Ray Marcel baa kissed a lot of frogs in his 25-plus years as pastor of Cornerstone Pour-square Church, in Houma. The frogs that Marcel has encountered are more like toads, covered in warts that tend to scare away others around them.
But Marcel isn’t scared of these warts. He seas them as nothing more than a blemish an the surface that can be fixed with guidance and a helping hand — and a genuine desire to live a better life.
For years, Marcel has done his “kissing” by handing out free lunches to the homeless, offering paid vouchers for a night’s stay at local motel a and baying bus and plane tickets to give those seeking a fresh start in life the opportunity to do so.
“People would often come to my house asking for something to eat,” Marcel said. “We made sandwiches for them until we realized we needed a commercial kitchen to be approved by the Board of Health. So we started buying prepackaged food. Word gets around quickly when you do these things.”
Marcel and volunteers would hand out lunches at Cornerstone far two hours each morning. The mission shifted to three days a week and averaged 40 meals per day, coating $1,500 each month hi addition to donations, A trend began to develop. While some recipients were truly in need, others were taking advantage and accepting meals both there and at local food banks.
“We know there is a percentage of people who will try to take advantage, but those aren’t the ones we concentrate on,” Marcel said. “There are some people who are so grateful for the little hit that we can provide. We do it for them—we want to see something happen that turns their lives around”
The success stories — the princes — ere what keep Marcel motivated in his mission to make an impact on lives.
A homeless couple reached out to the pastor several years back. They had been living in a tent in the park near Cornerstone. In search of work, the couple asked Marcel if he knew of any opportunities. He found small jobs at the church for them, and soon they started attending services regularly. In time, they landed steady jobs, moved out of their tent and into a rent house, and regained custody of their children — all because someone extended a helping hand.
‘There is always one out there who needs what you’ve got” Marcel said. “I once had a knock on my door. I wasn’t home, but my wife answered. The man said. ‘Ma’am, you probably don’t remember me, but a couple of years ago y all helped me out I just want you to know how much I appreciate it’ He handed her $200 as a thank yon. It comes back like that and that’s when you realize that every now and then you”ll catch one”.
Marcel gives because he ha a walked in the shoes of those he helps. He. too. has felt the anxiety of not knowing if his family’s basic needs would be met Unlike many of those in need he encounters today, what he did have was his faith.
“I spent almost 12 years with no steady job * Marcel said. “But I always had a place to live, always had food, my utilities were never turned off, always had a ear, I web serving God, and He provided for my needs.”
In that time. Marcel accepted random deliveries with, boxes of groceries and received donations from churches whose members wanted to help him and his family.
1 never knew who it was.” Marcel said. “That’s how it was until I got back on my feet.”
That is why Marcel still makes it his mission to help others get back on theirs, whether footing the bill for a motel room or a Greyhound ticket. The church no longer runs its daily lunch program, but those who knock on Marcels door get fed.
“You never know what frog is a prince or how many times you have to kiss it before it becomes a prince. ” Marcal says.
After years of transformation, Marcel is still happy to take the chance.
