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When a Homeless Man Walked Into Their Church, This Congregation Discovered Something Remarkable

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Faith Facts

  • Memorial Church of Christ in Houston welcomed a homeless man named Maurice Costabile, later discovering his father was a beloved Yankees cameraman dubbed the “Mayor of Yankee Stadium”
  • Church volunteers, including an 83-year-old Jamaican immigrant and a 38-year-old Russian immigrant nurse, now provide Maurice with weekly hotel showers, meals, and medical care
  • Maurice battles mental and physical health issues and has been living on the streets since his mother died of COVID-19 in 2021, when he wandered away from the hospital

When Maurice Costabile first appeared at Memorial Church of Christ in Houston a few years ago, nobody knew the story behind the disheveled man who looked like he desperately needed help. They didn’t know his late father, Duilio, was a beloved TV cameraman known as the “Mayor of Yankee Stadium.” They had no idea his late mother, Maria Landa, was an Ivy League-educated psychologist.

They just saw a man in desperate need — and they chose to act on their faith.

“I mean, Jesus is for everyone,” said David Duncan, preaching minister for the Memorial Church of Christ, which averages Sunday attendance of about 800.

“Nobody’s going to be turned away. And he obviously had some very dire needs.”

Costabile, 59, who battles a variety of physical and mental health issues, saw a banner advertising the congregation at Houston’s Memorial City Mall. He walked 1.3 miles from the shopping center to the church building, just off Interstate 10. What happened next is a testament to the power of Christian compassion in action.

“Let’s be honest: There have been conversations where people are like, ‘He doesn’t need to be here. It’s not safe for our kids,'” said Mike Avery, Memorial’s community minister.

“Some people don’t want him around. But that’s because the church is human, right? And they’re scared, and they’re fearful.”

“But I’m happy that our church overall has really worked to help him and not kick him out,” Avery added.

“So we’re really trying, and we’re not going to give up on him.”

Avery helped Costabile connect with Houston law enforcement’s Homeless Outreach Team and has taken him to medical appointments. However, finding a long-term solution off the streets has proven more difficult. Costabile’s lack of official documents, such as a birth certificate or a Social Security card, complicates applying for government benefits.

“We tried to get him into a halfway house,” Avery said, “but he only lasted a few days because it’s made for people who can take care of themselves physically, and he can’t do that.”

To make Costabile more presentable for worship, the congregation began renting a hotel room to give him a shower before the Sunday service.

“He knows how to survive on the street, but he’s in terrible health,” Duncan said.

“It’s not that you can save everybody, but when somebody comes into your church building, I think you have a responsibility to help.”

With more than 25 native countries represented in the pews, the Memorial congregation reflects the diversity of Houston. Church volunteers — including an 83-year-old Jamaican immigrant named Sadie Powell and a 38-year-old Russian immigrant named Yulia Merchant — lead the effort to help Costabile.

On a typical Saturday night, Merchant, a nurse practitioner, and her three school-age sons pick up food for Costabile from Spencer Prather, one of Memorial’s children’s ministers. Then the mother and boys give Costabile a ride from the church building to the hotel, where they connect with Powell.

Costabile has leg wounds caused by lymphedema.

“We shower him together, and after his shower, I change any wound dressings, if needed, and wrap his legs,” said Merchant, who also spearheaded the launch of Memorial’s thriving ministry for Ukrainian refugees.

“He usually gets a very good night’s sleep at the hotel.”

On Sunday morning, Merchant makes sure Costabile has breakfast and drives him to worship. Powell takes him to lunch. Costabile has the mind of a child and can’t care for himself, Merchant said.

“If that would be my child, and God would take me to heaven, I would want my child to be taken care of,” she said of her motivation.

“And Maurice is God’s child.”

Costabile told church members that he and his mother were living in an extended-stay hotel during the pandemic. But then she got into an accident and later died of COVID-19, he said. After he wandered away from the hospital, loved ones filed a missing persons report in 2021.

“But the people who filed that have since died,” Avery said.

Memorial leaders pray that publicity about Costabile might alert relatives to his whereabouts and prompt them to contact the church.

“You got some new clothes,” Duncan, the preaching minister, said as he greeted Costabile in the church office this week.

“Yeah,” Costabile replied before turning the conversation to recent heavy rains in Houston.

“It’s very bad weather out. The other day, there was a lot of thunder.”

Duncan introduced a reporter to Costabile.

“Mr. Ross, like the store?” Costabile replied, referring to the Ross Dress for Less chain.

“I heard of that. It’s a good store.”

As Powell discussed Costabile’s mental health concerns, he interjected, “I may be bipolar, but I’m pretty intelligent on stuff.”

“Extremely intelligent,” Powell agreed.

Avery describes Costabile as friendly with the mindset of a 7-year-old.

“He loves to color and draw airplane cockpits, and he draws them to scale,” Avery said.

“And his memory is incredible as far as things that happened a long time ago.”

“But I always wonder: Is this guy like an angel? Or is it like, he’s one of ‘the least of these,’ and God is testing us?” the community minister added, alluding to Matthew 25.

“Sometimes I wonder about that, but he’s really an interesting guy.”

David Bean, another Memorial member active in helping Costabile, came across a documentary video recounting his father’s camera work with the Yankees. Duilio Costabile worked alongside Yankees greats Phil Rizzuto and Bobby Murcer.

Bean played the video for Maurice Costabile.

“At first, it made me really sad because I know this life is not what his parents would have wanted for him,” Duncan said.

“But it also made me think that maybe there are people out there who know him and want to help him.”

“But secondly and momentarily, it made me really happy that he had an opportunity to see a video with his dad, whom he hadn’t seen in many years,” the minister added.

“It brought real joy to him. He kept saying, ‘My dad! My dad!'”

The congregation’s compassionate response to Maurice Costabile embodies the Gospel message of caring for “the least of these.” Despite initial concerns from some members, the church has chosen to embrace Christ’s command to love and serve those in need. Through the selfless actions of volunteers like Sadie Powell and Yulia Merchant, Memorial Church of Christ demonstrates that true Christian faith shows itself through works of mercy and compassion.

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Finding Hope After Leaving an Abusive Marriage

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Faith Facts

  • Christian women facing abusive marriages deserve compassionate support and biblical guidance during separation and divorce.
  • Faith communities are called to provide refuge and healing for domestic abuse survivors navigating difficult transitions.
  • God’s grace offers restoration and renewed purpose to women rebuilding their lives after leaving harmful relationships.

For women emerging from abusive marriages, the journey forward often feels overwhelming. The struggle to maintain emotional stability while navigating separation requires tremendous courage and faith.

These brave women face unique challenges as they work to rebuild their lives and protect their families. The decision to leave an abusive relationship, particularly within faith communities that emphasize marriage permanence, demands exceptional strength.

Christian women in these circumstances need to know they are not alone in their struggle. The church is called to be a sanctuary for the wounded, offering practical support, spiritual encouragement, and unwavering compassion.

Scripture affirms God’s heart for the oppressed and brokenhearted. He sees the suffering endured behind closed doors and walks alongside those seeking safety and healing.

Many women worry about the spiritual implications of divorce, even when leaving abusive situations. Biblical scholars and pastors increasingly recognize that God never intended marriage vows to become chains that bind women to physical, emotional, or spiritual harm.

The path to recovery involves both practical and spiritual dimensions. Finding trustworthy counselors, establishing safe housing, and securing legal protection are critical first steps.

Equally important is surrounding oneself with a faith community that understands trauma and offers grace-filled support. Women deserve to hear that seeking safety is not a failure of faith but an act of wisdom and self-preservation.

God’s design for marriage includes mutual respect, sacrificial love, and safety. When these elements are absent and abuse is present, women have biblical grounds to seek protection and separation.

The journey of healing takes time. Women should extend themselves the same grace and patience that God offers, recognizing that recovery is a process, not an event.

For those supporting abuse survivors, the most powerful gift is believing their stories and validating their experiences. Too often, women face skepticism or pressure to reconcile before genuine repentance and transformation occur.

Faith communities must create spaces where women can speak truthfully about their experiences without shame or judgment. This openness breaks isolation and fosters genuine healing.

As these courageous women rebuild, they discover inner strength they never knew existed. Their survival testifies to God’s sustaining power through the darkest valleys.

The Christian community should champion resources, safety planning, and long-term support for domestic abuse survivors. This includes connecting women with specialized Christian counselors who understand both trauma and faith.

Women leaving abusive marriages can find hope in knowing that God promises beauty for ashes and joy for mourning. Their stories of survival can become testimonies of redemption and restoration.

The road ahead may be difficult, but it leads toward freedom, healing, and renewed purpose. God walks every step of this journey with His daughters, offering strength when they feel weak and hope when darkness seems overwhelming.

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Former Iranian Prisoner Saeed Abedini Faces Court Order on Daughter’s Custody

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Faith Facts

  • Saeed Abedini, who was imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith in the 2010s, has been ordered by a Virginia federal court to return his 5-year-old daughter to her mother in Turkey.
  • The custody case highlights ongoing legal challenges facing the former prisoner of conscience following his release and return to the United States.
  • Abedini became an international symbol of religious persecution after being detained in Iran for his Christian ministry work.

A federal court in Virginia has issued an order requiring Saeed Abedini to return his 5-year-old daughter to her mother, who currently resides in Turkey. The ruling comes years after Abedini gained international attention as a prisoner of conscience in Iran.

Abedini’s imprisonment in Iran during the 2010s made him a prominent figure in discussions about religious freedom and persecution of Christians worldwide. His case drew support from Christian communities across America and became a focal point for advocates of international religious liberty.

The custody dispute represents a personal struggle for the former prisoner, whose faith journey has been marked by both suffering and public scrutiny. The court’s decision adds another chapter to Abedini’s complex story following his release from Iranian captivity.

Details surrounding the custody arrangement and the circumstances leading to the court’s decision were not immediately available. The case underscores the ongoing challenges many families face when navigating international custody disputes.

Abedini’s story has resonated deeply with American Christians who followed his imprisonment and advocated for his release. His experience in Iranian prisons highlighted the dangers faced by believers who share their faith in hostile environments.

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Faith-Based Studio Launches Clean Comedy That Families Can Actually Watch Together

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Faith Facts

  • Wonder Project, known for faith-based films, is expanding into stand-up comedy with a focus on clean, family-friendly content
  • Comedian Sterling Scott says the move reflects growing audience demand for entertainment that unites families rather than divides them
  • The initiative represents a counter-cultural push against Hollywood’s trend toward increasingly crude and divisive comedy programming

In an entertainment landscape where family-friendly content has become increasingly scarce, Wonder Project is making a bold bet that Americans are hungry for comedy they can actually watch with their children. The faith-based studio, already known for its commitment to values-driven films and television, is now venturing into stand-up comedy with a revolutionary premise: you can be hilarious without being vulgar.

Comedian Sterling Scott, who is part of this groundbreaking initiative, says the studio’s first slate of comedy specials reflects a genuine shift in what audiences want. Too often, families find themselves scrolling endlessly through streaming services, unable to find content that everyone can enjoy together without cringing or explaining inappropriate jokes to their kids.

“Welcome everyone in,” Scott emphasized, capturing the inclusive spirit that drives this venture.

This approach stands in stark contrast to the current state of mainstream comedy, where profanity, sexual content, and attacks on traditional values have become the default setting. The comedy industry has spent years telling us that clean comedy can’t be funny, that pushing boundaries means pushing decency aside, and that faith and family values are incompatible with genuine humor.

Wonder Project is proving them wrong. By investing in comedians who can craft intelligent, observational humor without resorting to shock value, the studio is tapping into a massive, underserved market: American families who still believe that entertainment should uplift rather than degrade, unite rather than divide.

The timing couldn’t be better. As cultural divisions deepen and Hollywood continues to alienate conservative and faith-oriented audiences, there’s a growing appetite for content that reflects traditional American values. Parents are tired of having to pre-screen every show, tired of being ambushed by content that contradicts what they’re teaching their children, and tired of comedy that punches down at their beliefs.

This initiative also represents an important economic reality that Hollywood often ignores: faith-based and family-friendly content consistently outperforms expectations at the box office and on streaming platforms. When given the choice, American families will choose entertainment that aligns with their values, and they’ll support it with their wallets.

The success of clean comedy also demonstrates something fundamental about humor itself. The best comedy has always come from keen observation of human nature, clever wordplay, and finding the absurd in everyday life—none of which requires vulgarity or moral compromise. Comedians like Jim Gaffigan and Brian Regan have built massive careers proving this point.

Wonder Project’s expansion into stand-up comedy is more than just a business decision; it’s a cultural statement. It says that American families deserve better, that faith and humor aren’t mutually exclusive, and that there’s still room in our entertainment landscape for content that brings people together rather than driving them apart.

As streaming platforms continue to fragment audiences and mainstream entertainment drifts further from traditional values, initiatives like this offer hope that the market will ultimately reward those who respect their audience’s faith and values. The question isn’t whether clean comedy can succeed—it’s whether Hollywood will pay attention when it does.

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