ICYMI: 'Homeless Jesus' Meant to Raise Awareness, Change Mindsets

When most people think of Jesus homelessness isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.

The folks at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, however, are hoping to change that. They dedicated a statue depicting Jesus as a homeless man sleeping on a park bench Wednesday. The work of art isn’t meant to raise eyebrows exactly. While it does cast Jesus in the role of a homeless person, its purpose is to change mindsets.

“Our hope is that the presence of the statue will not only bring more attention to the cause of homelessness, but also prompt a different way of thinking about the people we encounter daily in our city,” the church’s website explains. “We know art has incredible power to impact culture and challenge norms, and that change has to take place on every side of an issue to have a lasting effect.”

The bronze sculpture was created by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz. It has mirror pieces in locations around the globe, including Toronto, Washington, D.C., and Dublin. Other similar installations are planned for London and the Vatican.

First Presbyterian, 106 E. Church St., paid for the statue through three anonymous donations. It says the work fits nicely with the congregation’s mission to assist the homeless. The church, according to its website, gives nearly $150,000 to homeless causes in relief and development.

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“We know there is always more that can be done to call attention to this issue,” the church noted. The statue is intended to motivate others to “think differently about the homeless and see them as image-bearers of God and worthy of respect and care, regardless of their circumstance.”

“Homeless Jesus,” complete with pierced feet, was dedicated at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The statue sits near the sidewalk on Jackson Street, close to the corner of Rosalind Avenue. The placement was made so it is “accessible to those who pass by the church.”

Photo credit/Tanner Fox, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.

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