Jonesborough cowboy church opens warming shelter as temperatures fall

As winter temperatures start to dip below freezing, a small Jonesborough church is opening its doors to offer warmth, meals and a place to sleep. Bringin' In the Strays Cowboy Church has begun operating a nighttime warming shelter at its building, located at 305 Depot St., during nights when temperatures fall below freezing. The shelter is open Monday through Thursday, with evening check-in and overnight staffing, and offers a warm place to rest, hot meals and breakfast the next morning. Pastor Spark Barnes said the decision grew out of what church members were seeing firsthand in the community. "We've seen the need as far as being out and about and seeing some folks that didn't have anywhere to go in the cold weather," Barnes said. "We hadn't really seen it in previous years until this year. It just seemed to be more frequent." Barnes said the concern deepened after hearing reports during a recent cold snap. "We learned through the grapevine that there'd been a couple that had frostbite," he said. "We decided that God had blessed us with the means and a small facility where we could help a few people." The church is using its fellowship hall basement to host the shelter, setting up a handful of cots and relying on its kitchen to provide hot meals. Barnes said this is the church's first year operating a warming shelter, and so far, Barnes said, a few people have used the service. "We've been able to shelter about three different people, and they are local here in Jonesborough," he said. "But we've only started a little while ago." The shelter typically operates from 7 p.m. until 10 a.m. on qualifying cold nights. Barnes said there is a slight adjustment on Sundays because of church services, though guests are welcome to stay for worship if they choose. "We'll be here from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. on the nights below freezing, just those nights," Barnes said. "We do offer warm meals in the evening and breakfast in the morning. If they need food throughout the day, we've got food we can send with them until they need to come back that night." While the church does not have shower facilities, bathrooms and kitchen access are available, and staff remain on site overnight. Barnes said the community response has been strong, particularly when it comes to food. "It's amazing how God has just supplied all our needs as far as food. We have plenty," he said. "We don't want to get too much and have it go to waste." There are, however, a few practical needs as the shelter continues. "We could probably use some new linens for a twin-size bed for our cots," Barnes said. "Pillowcases, linens for the cots and laundry detergent would help. A few more cots would be wonderful." He added that extra supplies would ease the workload of volunteers. "If we have some extra, it'd be great and kind of take a load off of us, maybe not having to rush and get some laundry done," Barnes said. The church is encouraging anyone in need of warmth during freezing nights to stop by, and community members to help spread the word so those who need shelter know where to find it. For more information, please call (423) 794-9902 or (423) 276-3386.