On the evening of March 21, several children, teenagers and adults huddled around two bright bonfires on the corner of Ogden Avenue and Kensington Avenue outside of Grace Lutheran Church (GLC) in Lagrange, to show support for the approval of the BEDS Plus shelter to be built in order to curb homelessness in the community.

The camp-out was between 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday night through Sunday morning and coordinated by teenagers from GLC’s youth group. The camp-out was held in light of the LaGrange Village Board’s upcoming decision tonight to vote on whether or not they will approve of the zoning changes necessary to build the three-story BEDS Plus shelter on 9601 W. Ogden Ave.

GLC’s minister Rev. David Hulse encouraged the younger members of his congregation to hold the camp-out.

“My understanding of what it means to be a Christian, not a pastor but a Christian, and to have faith, is to be active,” Hulse said. “Our faith compels us into the world to impact positive changes, not just to sit on the sidelines or sit around and talk about it. Anytime I have an opportunity to live out my faith I take it.”

Teens on the planning committee for the camp out, such as Andrea Simms ‘16, worked to spread the word throughout the area and invite other youth groups to join the event.

“I’ve always been involved in GLC’s youth group and my pastor is really passionate about the BEDS program,” Simms said. “When we decided we wanted to take a stand in support of the program, a couple of us got together to invite other youth groups to come, to widen our surroundings and to bring more people to support our camp-out.”

Members of Western Springs First Congressional Church’s youth group Plymouth Fellowship (PF) attended the camp out as well to offer their support to the cause.

“I heard about this event through the youth minister at my church because GLC reached out to other churches in the area for support,” Ellie Finnerty ‘16 said. “Despite push back from the surrounding community I think that homelessness is a problem that needs to be addressed; our community should take action by using our resources like the BEDS program to support those who are unable to support themselves.”

The camp-out wasn’t the GLC congregation’s first attempt at advocating for the BEDS Plus program. According to a Chicago Tribune published on March 19, Hulse was cited for loitering on March 9 for propping up a tent and holding a “Jesus was homeless” sign in front of the LaGrange Village Hall.

He has spoken to the Village Board before and written a letter in support of the program.

“As a pastor, my job isn’t only to this microcosm of the community of Grace Lutheran,” Hulse said. “I’m called to serve LaGrange, I’m called into this community, so to speak out when I see something that’s wrong is a part of my public calling.”

Despite the criticism raised from business owners on the east side of LaGrange regarding the negative financial impact the homeless shelter would have on businesses Hulse argues that this issue is much larger than money.

“I think if we are only talking about dollars, we devalue the people,” Hulse said. “If all we care about is what the property value or the potential to generate tax revenue is and keep 20 people who could be in a shelter on the street then what does that say about us?”

Hulse plans to address the Village Board before they vote to approve of the construction of the BEDS shelter at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Rd.