41st meal served this morning.

God blessed our time in the park this morning! We had enough food to serve those who came, we were able to engage in many in-depth conversations, and we had the exact number of volunteers. Through these things, God was glorified—the goal of Grace’s Kitchen and our lives.

We have learned how important it is to remember names and faces of those we serve. It is neat to see people’s faces light up when we call them by name and ask about a specific prayer request they might have had the week before. These simple gestures show that we view them as equals—the way God sees all people. So often in our society, those who are homeless are treated as if they don’t exist by those in higher socioeconomic brackets. They are viewed as lazy and as if they aren’t trying hard enough to get out of their situation. The past nine months have taught us that such snap judgments are wrong. As we’ve gotten to know the precious people in the park, we’ve learned that their reasons for being there are as varied as the number of people. Today, one woman shared with a team member about how awful it is to feel as if you are a second-class citizen and viewed as a deadbeat. She expressed her desire to change her situation but doesn’t know how. So many people are in seemingly hopeless situations. However we know that God is able to intervene and we are praying that He will.

By calling us to this ministry, God has shown us His great mercy for those who need a meal. Serving our Thursday breakfasts and opening a pay-as-you-can restaurant are His ideas, not ours. God sees the needs of these often-forgotten people and He opened our eyes so that we can minister to them. Caring for the poor is a popular focus of those seeking social justice in our world. However God commands us to care for the poor in His Word —and we are to do so in His name.

Thank you for your support of this ministry and for your continued prayers. Soli Deo Gloria!