By Mike Maldonado – Colorado Springs, Colorado…Members of the Colorado Springs Central Church are reaching out to the homeless community by providing lunch every Sabbath.
The outreach was formed after Mike Maldonado, Colorado Springs Central pastor, challenged the congregation to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Members began to look for ways to impact the community by getting out of the saltshaker (the church) and into the world (the local community).
The congregation formed a new ministry, Jesus Loves You (JLY) Ministry, started by Jones Tu’ufuli, who became aware that many of the homeless in Colorado Springs were not being served by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. They are living in makeshift camps in wooded areas, city parks or along the river and were not getting food or clothes on a regular basis.
At first Tu’ufull brought leftover potluck food to the camps, building a relationship of trust with them, including serving meals on Christmas and Easter morning.
It was apparent that more food and more help was needed. This was the beginning of the JLY ministry.
Volunteers joined the effort to help make and deliver meals to the camps and parks in town.
The operation grew so much that a designated space off campus had to be found to store supplies and food.
“The JLY ministry is taking the gospel to the streets and reaching the forgotten homeless with the love of Jesus,” Maldonado said.
With the assistance of Cathy Kissner, RMC Adventist Community Services director, a grant was obtained to buy food and supplies, including shelving and wagons, to haul the food.
Every Sabbath, some twelve volunteers cook, pack and deliver food and water to two different locations, providing 125 sack lunches to the homeless. The sack lunches also include spiritual food in the form of a religious pamphlet. The volunteers pray and show the love of Jesus through their actions to the community.
Army Chaplain Yepsica Moreno, who often serves on the outreach team, encourages soldiers from Fort Carson to join in with the outreach activities.
The goal of the JLY ministry is for the homeless to know they are not forgotten, and that Jesus loves them. Those receiving food are always very appreciative and ask who we are or what church we belong to. In the winter, warm clothes, blankets and hot chocolate are also provided along with the lunches.
The long-term vision is to buy a food truck and have an even greater impact on helping alleviate hunger among this forgotten population group.
“Thank you for caring about us and not forgetting us. God bless you,” one homeless individual stated.
—Mike Maldonado is pastor of the Colorado Springs Central Adventist Church; photo supplied
