Craig McLaughlin is the pastor at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Bel Air. He has been preaching there for over 25 years, after starting his career as a pastor at a church in Baltimore. He received his graduate’s degree from Princeton Seminary. Now, McLaughlin is planning to end homelessness in Harford County through his ministry, One Church, One Home.

What is the central concept of the One Church, One Home ministry?

   “The central concept of our ministry is to create partnerships between churches and non-profit homelessness agencies. What the churches provide in this partnership is the money to provide housing to one family for a year ($12,000), and also a small team of people to come by the side of that family with kindness and love. What the homelessness agency provides is expertise in working with homeless people through case management and housing management.”

If every church in Harford County were to participate, how could this advance your ministry’s goals?

   “There are approximately 350 churches in Harford County. If every church in the county were to enter into one of these partnerships, we could make huge strides to bringing an end to homelessness in Harford County.”

How has this plan worked at your church, Mt. Zion UM?

      “For the past two years, Mt. Zion Church has provided the housing for two families per year. It is a tremendous way to obey the Lord, who has commanded us to ‘open your hands freely to the poor and needy’.”

Have the people that One Church, One Home has provided for become involved at Mt. Zion?

      “One of those families has become active in the life of the congregation; a second family were already active members, and a third family has not become a part of the congregation.”

What drove you to start this ministry?

     “I was motivated to start One Church, One Home when I traveled with a group of pastors to New York City to visit several homelessness ministries that have been very effective in moving people from homelessness to permanent housing. What I saw there was that it was possible to make a huge difference if people are motivated to do so.”

What are the future plans for this ministry?

     “Now that Mt. Zion has gone ahead and provided for these families, we have an example of success for other churches to see. A lot of places want to fight homelessness but don’t know where to begin. This is the perfect opportunity for us to work together to end homelessness in Harford County.”