A year or so after my Paw Paw Roy’s passing, I found myself back at his farm, sorting through one of his old sheds, a place filled with tools, rusty metal, and decades of forgotten remnants. In the clutter, I stumbled upon tethered newspaper clippings that had yellowed from years of hiding. The story was titled “The Poor You Will Always Have With You” by Debbie Gunnels, published in 2003 in Louisiana Good News.
The story shared in this article spoke of his life’s work, ministering to the homeless and the needy, an endeavor he pursued with love and devotion. It was a reminder of the quiet strength that defined him. Paw Paw never sought recognition, nor did he expect anything in return. His faith was his foundation, and his service to others was a natural extension of that belief.
As I read the story below, I believe it serves as a reminder that service to others is not defined by circumstance or condition. In a time when judgment often overshadows empathy, it calls us to reflect on how we respond to those in need, regardless of the complexities of their circumstances or the labels placed upon them. Compassion remains a powerful force that transcends the divisions of our world.
“The Poor You Will Always Have With You” by Debbie Gunnels
Published by Louisiana Good News in December 2003
Acadiana is a great place to live! Born and raised here, I moved away for many years after I was married. Having recently returned to the area, I was one day traveling on Hwy. 13 North between Crowley and Eunice. I saw a group of buildings on the right side of the road with a sign that said “Help the Homeless.” I thought, “Homeless people in this area?” But the Lord pricked my heart to find out more about this place, so I did.
Yes, there are homeless people in Acadiana! There are people who do not have the resources to provide shelter for themselves or for their families. There are those who are mentally or socially dysfunctional and cannot provide for themselves on a consistent basis. There are those who have lost hope, and have lost the support of their extended families for various reasons. These are the poor of Acadiana. Jesus said we would always have poor people amongst us, and Acadiana is not excluded (Matthew 26:11).
The Bible is clear in both Testaments that all believers are to care for the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11). In fact, Proverbs 19:17 tells us that giving to the poor out of a heart of compassion, is the same as lending to the Lord. When Paul was declared an apostle to the Gentiles, the Council at Jerusalem gave him only one directive: remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). While ministering to the poor is something every Christian is supposed to do, not everyone is called to do so on a full-time basis. Pastor Roy Kibodeaux, Sr., however, is.
Brother Roy was saved when he was 40 years old. He’d been an oil field worker for years when a terrible accident occurred and he was crushed between a truck and a steel beam. He had six major operations, was in a body cast for 29 months, and was in traction for three months. While he was going through these troubles, he came to the end of himself and realized he needed a Savior. He called upon the name of the Lord and was gloriously saved! He was instantaneously set free from an addiction to drugs (brought on by his injuries), and he was dramatically transformed. He began attending Maxie Tabernacle under the ministry of Pastor Harold Allen in 1974.
Pastor Allen had a tender heart for the needy, and was a great teacher and mentor. Brother Roy told me that he used to watch how Pastor Allen ministered with great compassion to those who were in need. According to Brother Roy, Brother Allen taught him much from the Bible and by example.
It wasn’t long after his conversion in 1974 that Brother Roy began ministering to those in area jails and prisons. That led to ministering to migrant workers and drifters who often needed a place to stay when they were coming through this area. Because of his prison ministries, the policemen and sheriff’s deputies in the area knew Brother Roy, and they would call upon him to help provide overnight shelter for those in need. To this day, these officials still call upon Brother Roy when this type of help is needed.
After Brother Allen went to be with the Lord, Brother Roy became Pastor of Maxie Tabernacle, but his ministry to the homeless continued to grow. He started out by putting people up in motels until someone in Crowley donated the use of a one-room house. That house was used for about a year, then a house was leased in Rayne for about two years. After that, it was back to Crowley in another leased house for about six months.
In all this time— approximately seven years— Brother Roy had no regular supporters. But the Lord faithfully provided so that he could assist those who were in need. Then one day someone happened to say he wanted to donate a house to help with this ministry to the homeless. Pastor Roy said he really didn’t know how to accept such a gift because he had no place to put the house. So, for days he drove around town, praying for guidance. One day the Lord spoke to him: “Put the house on the church property.” That was on October 22, 1981, twenty-two years ago.
Since the donation of that first house, two other buildings and two trailers have been donated. Additionally, as the ministry has grown and developed, the awareness of it in the community has also grown. There are now some regular supporters in the community, but certainly not enough to meet the need.
Welcome House is the only shelter between the Texas/Louisiana border and New Orleans which houses single men, women, families, and single parents. All other shelters have limitations on whom they will shelter. Those who stay at Welcome House are given a place to sleep, three meals a day, transportation to medical and business appointments as needed, and spiritual guidance. Each person is treated with respect and is expected to treat others likewise as long as they stay. There is a code of conduct that must be adhered to and every person is required to perform chores, including keeping his/her own space clean. Additionally, all who are able are required to seek outside employment.
Robert Harper is the manager of Welcome House. He is in charge of the daily routine, which is quite a busy one. He handles everything from the admission of new comers to organizing schedules and daily activities for all residents, from receiving of goods and donations to answering the phone. Other staff members include an Assistant Manager, a cook, and a driver, all of whom serve on a volunteer basis. Additionally, Brother Roy’s wife Mary does all the bookkeeping and office work. No one is paid a salary, and all of them live on the premises, except for the Kibodeaux’s.
Brother Roy says that some days are very difficult in this kind of ministry, but even after 27 years, he has never once thought of quitting. This is his life.
This man has laid his life down for the sake of the Gospel in a ministry that strives to give dignity to the poor and the underprivileged.
After this interview, I wondered what I could do to help. Maybe after reading this story, you wonder how you can help, too. Brother Roy gave me a list of items needed. This list can be obtained by contacting The Welcome House at 337-783-7066. At the top of this list is an urgent need for towels. One thing not on the list but desperately needed is a van to transport people to various appointments. Currently, the only transportation available is a pickup truck that seats three people. Another need is for qualified ministers who would be able to donate time for counseling.
December is a time of giving and receiving. Would you prayerfully consider giving to The Welcome House this season so that the poor amongst us could receive a blessing?
Remember: “…whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31b, NIV)
KATHRYN SHEA DUNCAN 