John 3:16 Mission Throws Birthday Party For Tulsa's Homeless

Hundreds showed up for an Oklahoma moment Tuesday evening.

A Green Country group is on a mission to bring birthday wishes to Tulsa's homeless, and that was the reason behind the party at the John 3:16 Mission.

Each person who came through the doors at the Birthday Party for Homeless was given a goodie bag, containing some basic necessities, gifts that James Martin said he was thankful to get.

"It says, ‘Wishing you a happy birthday,' and gives you a quote from scripture," Martin said, holding up a handmade card.

Like many others, it wasn't Martin's actual birthday.

But it was Daniel Bradberry's. He's 29, a former Marine, and he's been on the streets now for six months.

He said he can't remember the last time he celebrated turning a year older.

"It's been a long time," Bradberry said.

And it was the same for Betty Packer.

"I can't imagine when the last time I've had a birthday party thrown for me, so this is wonderful," Packer said. "It lets people know that's homeless that there are people that cares for them."

Reverend Steve Whitaker said that's the purpose the party.

"We're really just trying to love people in Jesus's name, to care about them when they may not have had a birthday for a long time," Whitaker said.

3/20/2012 Related Story: Tulsa Group Helps Homeless Families Celebrate Their Birthday

This is the seventh year that the mission has thrown a birthday bash for the homeless.

Whitaker said what's surprising to most people is the number of children that show up. He said children are the largest growing segment of the homeless population.

"Because families are going homeless, and so that's scary and that's distressing, but that's a fact of our society," Whitaker said.

But he said there's comfort in the compassion that comes from the mission, and there's something special that comes from a few balloons and birthday cake.

"A birthday party's natural. You wouldn't believe the people that come up and are so grateful and so thankful, on a night like tonight, that somebody said happy birthday to them," Whitaker said.