HOMELESS JESUS
Artist: Timothy Schmalz, Canadian Catholic Sculptor
Location: Corner Coffee, First Church Miami
At first glance, the sculpture appears to be a person sleeping on a park bench, wrapped in a blanket, with only their feet exposed. But a closer look reveals something extraordinary. On the feet are the wounds of crucifixion. The person sleeping on the bench is Jesus Christ.
At first glance, the sculpture appears to be a person sleeping on a park bench, wrapped in a blanket, with only their feet exposed. But a closer look reveals something extraordinary. On the feet are the wounds of crucifixion. The person sleeping on the bench is Jesus Christ.
Homeless Jesus, created by Canadian Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz, reminds us of Christ's presence among those who are often overlooked, forgotten, or pushed to the margins of society. Schmalz allows only one of these sculptures per city, making its presence in Downtown Miami especially meaningful.
In 2017, members and friends of First Church Miami gave generously to make the acquisition of this sculpture possible. Their gifts represented more than a commitment to public art. They were an expression of the church's longstanding dedication to serving its unhoused neighbors and a declaration of the kind of church First Church intended to remain.
Honoring a Legacy of Compassion
The sculpture was dedicated in honor of Dr. James and Miriam Hutson, whose lives embodied a deep commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of the Miami community.
Dr. James "Jim" Hutson was the grandson of Dr. Jackson, recognized as Miami's first physician and a charter member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the historic roots of First Church Miami. This family connection reaches back to the earliest days of Methodism in the city.
More than sixty years ago, Dr. Jim Hutson began the church's ministry with unhoused neighbors by establishing a small medical clinic to care for people living on the streets of Downtown Miami. What began as a simple act of compassion grew into a lasting commitment to serving those experiencing homelessness.
That legacy continues today through the Breakfast Club, where First Church provides hot meals, showers, hospitality, and human connection to hundreds of our unhoused neighbors each week.
The dedication of Homeless Jesus in honor of Dr. James and Miriam Hutson celebrates not only their generosity and service, but also the generations of people who have carried forward their vision of a church deeply connected to the needs of its city.
A Reminder of Who We Are
When First Church Miami began redeveloping its property, one commitment remained central: we could build something new without forgetting who we are. For generations, serving our unhoused neighbors has been at the heart of our ministry in Downtown Miami. As the building changed, our calling would not.
The placement of Homeless Jesus in our coffee shop was intentional. Rather than placing the sculpture in a secluded garden or a quiet corner of the sanctuary, we chose a space where people gather every day. Among conversations, coffee cups, and the rhythms of city life, Christ rests on a bench, quietly challenging us to see the sacred in the people around us.
The sculpture brings to life the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40:
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
These words remind us that serving Christ and serving our neighbors cannot be separated. When we offer a meal to someone who is hungry, provide a shower to someone living on the streets, or simply recognize the dignity of another human being, we encounter Christ.
Homeless Jesus asks a question of everyone who passes by: Will we recognize Christ when Christ appears in someone we might otherwise walk past?
As we celebrate 130 years of ministry in Downtown Miami, this sculpture stands as a reminder that the measure of our faith is not simply the beauty of our buildings, but the depth of our love for those beyond their walls.
We do not have to search far to find Christ. Sometimes Christ is resting on the bench beside us.
In 2017, members and friends of First Church Miami gave generously to make the acquisition of this sculpture possible. Their gifts represented more than a commitment to public art. They were an expression of the church's longstanding dedication to serving its unhoused neighbors and a declaration of the kind of church First Church intended to remain.
Honoring a Legacy of Compassion
The sculpture was dedicated in honor of Dr. James and Miriam Hutson, whose lives embodied a deep commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of the Miami community.
Dr. James "Jim" Hutson was the grandson of Dr. Jackson, recognized as Miami's first physician and a charter member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the historic roots of First Church Miami. This family connection reaches back to the earliest days of Methodism in the city.
More than sixty years ago, Dr. Jim Hutson began the church's ministry with unhoused neighbors by establishing a small medical clinic to care for people living on the streets of Downtown Miami. What began as a simple act of compassion grew into a lasting commitment to serving those experiencing homelessness.
That legacy continues today through the Breakfast Club, where First Church provides hot meals, showers, hospitality, and human connection to hundreds of our unhoused neighbors each week.
The dedication of Homeless Jesus in honor of Dr. James and Miriam Hutson celebrates not only their generosity and service, but also the generations of people who have carried forward their vision of a church deeply connected to the needs of its city.
A Reminder of Who We Are
When First Church Miami began redeveloping its property, one commitment remained central: we could build something new without forgetting who we are. For generations, serving our unhoused neighbors has been at the heart of our ministry in Downtown Miami. As the building changed, our calling would not.
The placement of Homeless Jesus in our coffee shop was intentional. Rather than placing the sculpture in a secluded garden or a quiet corner of the sanctuary, we chose a space where people gather every day. Among conversations, coffee cups, and the rhythms of city life, Christ rests on a bench, quietly challenging us to see the sacred in the people around us.
The sculpture brings to life the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40:
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
These words remind us that serving Christ and serving our neighbors cannot be separated. When we offer a meal to someone who is hungry, provide a shower to someone living on the streets, or simply recognize the dignity of another human being, we encounter Christ.
Homeless Jesus asks a question of everyone who passes by: Will we recognize Christ when Christ appears in someone we might otherwise walk past?
As we celebrate 130 years of ministry in Downtown Miami, this sculpture stands as a reminder that the measure of our faith is not simply the beauty of our buildings, but the depth of our love for those beyond their walls.
We do not have to search far to find Christ. Sometimes Christ is resting on the bench beside us.