Family
When a Homeless Man Walked Into Their Church, This Congregation Discovered Something Remarkable
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.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Family
Tim Tebow Issues Urgent Warning Every Parent Needs to Hear
Faith Facts
- Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow warns parents about online predators using sophisticated tactics to reach children through smartphones
- Tebow emphasizes the critical importance of parental involvement in monitoring children’s digital activity as threats evolve
- The faith leader highlights how predators are exploiting technology in increasingly deceptive ways to target vulnerable youth
As smartphones have become a fixture in the hands of America’s children, a prominent Christian voice is sounding the alarm about the growing dangers lurking behind those screens. Tim Tebow, the former NFL quarterback known for his unwavering faith and philanthropic work, is calling on parents to stay vigilant as online predators develop increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit young people.
The warning comes at a critical time when children are gaining access to mobile devices at younger ages than ever before. Tebow, who has dedicated much of his post-football career to protecting vulnerable children through the Tim Tebow Foundation, understands the scope of this digital threat better than most.
“Online predators are finding new and evil ways to reach our kids,” Tebow emphasized, pointing to the reality that parents must confront in today’s technology-driven world. The dangers are no longer confined to strangers in public places—they can now infiltrate the supposed safety of our homes through devices that fit in a child’s pocket.
This message resonates deeply with Christian families who prioritize protecting the innocence of childhood while navigating the complexities of modern life. The smartphone, while offering convenience and connection, has also opened a door that predators are all too eager to exploit.
Tebow’s advocacy extends beyond mere warnings. Through his foundation’s anti-human trafficking efforts, he has witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences when children fall prey to online exploitation. His call to action is rooted not in fear-mongering, but in the harsh realities he has encountered through years of rescue and prevention work.
For Christian parents, the challenge is finding the balance between preparing children for a digital world and protecting them from its darkest corners. Tebow’s message underscores a fundamental truth: parental engagement cannot be outsourced to filters and monitoring software alone. Active, consistent involvement in a child’s online activities remains the strongest defense.
The evolution of predatory tactics means that dangers once easy to identify have become camouflaged within seemingly innocent apps, games, and social platforms. What appears to be harmless entertainment can serve as a gateway for those with malicious intent to establish contact, build trust, and ultimately exploit young victims.
This reality demands that parents educate themselves about the digital landscape their children inhabit. Understanding the platforms, knowing the warning signs, and maintaining open communication are essential components of keeping kids safe in an increasingly connected world.
Tebow’s work through his foundation demonstrates the power of faith-driven action in confronting evil. His message to parents carries the weight of someone who has seen the consequences of digital predation and is committed to preventing more children from becoming victims.
The responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of mothers and fathers to be the first line of defense. No school program, no tech company safeguard, and no law enforcement agency can replace the protective presence of an engaged parent who knows what their child is doing online.
As families gather in homes across America, Tebow’s warning serves as a crucial reminder that the battle for our children’s safety has entered a new arena. The same devices that connect us to limitless information and entertainment can also connect our most vulnerable to those who wish them harm.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Family
Trump Policy Shift Opens Door for Foster Youth on Independence Day
Faith Facts
- New Trump administration policy expands access to broader federal accounts for youth aging out of foster care
- Previous regulations required parental involvement, effectively excluding vulnerable children without legal guardians
- Policy change provides financial independence tools for young adults transitioning from foster care system
A significant policy adjustment under the Trump administration is offering new hope to thousands of young Americans aging out of the foster care system. The change addresses a longstanding barrier that prevented foster youth from accessing important federal financial accounts designed to help families save and build wealth.
When broader Trump accounts were initially introduced, they were designed to benefit American families through enhanced savings opportunities and financial tools. However, the original framework created an unintended obstacle for some of the nation’s most vulnerable young people.
Children in foster care found themselves effectively shut out of these opportunities because opening an account required parental involvement—something many of these children simply didn’t have available to them. With parents either absent, unable, or legally barred from participating in their children’s financial planning, foster youth faced a bureaucratic wall at precisely the moment they needed support most.
The timing of this policy correction carries symbolic weight, coinciding with the Fourth of July—America’s celebration of independence. For young adults transitioning out of foster care, typically between ages 18 and 21, independence often arrives with harsh realities rather than celebration.
These young people face daunting challenges: securing housing, maintaining employment, continuing education, and managing finances—all without the safety net most young adults take for granted. Studies consistently show that youth aging out of foster care experience higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, and financial instability compared to their peers.
The policy revision recognizes this reality and adapts federal programs to serve those who need them most. By removing the parental requirement for foster youth, the administration has opened pathways to financial tools that can provide stability during one of life’s most difficult transitions.
This change reflects core conservative principles: removing government barriers that prevent individuals from accessing opportunity, strengthening support for vulnerable populations through practical policy rather than expanded bureaucracy, and empowering young people to take control of their financial futures.
For Christian conservatives who prioritize both limited government and compassionate care for orphans and vulnerable children—a biblical mandate repeated throughout Scripture—this policy represents government working as it should: clearing obstacles rather than creating them.
The foster care system serves approximately 400,000 children nationwide at any given time, with roughly 20,000 aging out each year. Many of these young people come from backgrounds of abuse, neglect, or family crisis. The church has long recognized caring for these children as a sacred calling, with James 1:27 defining pure religion as caring for orphans in their distress.
Financial literacy and access to savings tools may seem like small adjustments in the broader policy landscape, but for a young person leaving foster care with limited resources and no family support, they can mean the difference between stability and crisis. Having access to the same financial opportunities available to other American families provides both practical benefit and a message of equal dignity.
This policy shift demonstrates that effective governance doesn’t always require new programs or increased spending. Sometimes the most meaningful changes come from recognizing gaps in existing systems and making common-sense adjustments that extend opportunity to those previously left behind.
As Americans celebrated Independence Day this year, thousands of foster youth gained a new form of independence—financial tools to help build stable, self-sufficient lives. That’s a development worth celebrating and a reminder that good policy should serve all Americans, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Family
Father Reveals Daughter’s Dream Before Viral Challenge Left Her Brain Dead
Faith Facts
- A teenage girl was left brain dead after participating in a dangerous TikTok challenge, with her father revealing she had dreamed of becoming ‘TikTok famous.’
- The family has chosen to donate her organs, turning tragedy into an opportunity to save other lives.
- This incident underscores the growing concerns among Christian parents about the dangerous influence of social media platforms on young people seeking online validation.
A heartbroken father is speaking out after his teenage daughter was left brain dead following a viral social media challenge, revealing that she had always longed to be “TikTok famous.” The tragic case serves as a sobering reminder of the dangerous lengths young people will go to for online recognition and validation.
According to the father, his daughter’s pursuit of social media fame led her to participate in a viral challenge that ultimately cost her life. The family is now making the decision to donate her organs, offering a glimmer of hope amid an unspeakable tragedy.
“She will now have a chance to save lives with the donation of her organs,” the father stated, transforming his daughter’s death into a final act of service to others.
This devastating incident highlights a growing crisis facing Christian families across America: the power of social media platforms to influence impressionable young minds. Many parents and faith leaders have raised concerns about the dangers of children seeking validation through online fame rather than finding their worth in Christ and family values.
The rise of viral challenges on platforms like TikTok has led to numerous injuries and deaths among teenagers desperate for attention and approval from strangers online. Christian communities have increasingly emphasized the importance of grounding children’s self-worth in their identity as children of God, rather than in the fleeting approval of social media followers.
As this family faces unimaginable grief, their decision to donate their daughter’s organs reflects a Christian commitment to bringing life from tragedy. Their story serves as both a warning to other parents about the real dangers lurking on social media platforms and a call to action for stronger protections for children online.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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