Ministries Making a Difference

Church offers help after storm, Gospel mission trains recovering addicts in culinary arts, The Sheepfold celebrate 40 years, Missouri church offers free fitness classes

Members of Southside Church of Christ in Rogers, Arkansas, took to the streets to serve its community after an EF2 tornado ripped through the area. Teams with chainsaws went through neighborhoods cutting through fallen trees and debris. A list of families with post-storm needs was monitored on a whiteboard. The church’s family life center transformed into a relief hub for disaster aid supplies, providing resources and hope for the battered community.

Chefs with Redwood Gospel Missions Catering / Photo via Facebook @Redwood Gospel Mission

Redwood Gospel Missions Catering, a social enterprise of Redwood Gospel Mission in Santa Rosa, California, recently prepared and served meals to more than 150 guests at the first annual Evening of Hope Banquet. The catering company employs men and women who have gone through Redwood’s recovery program and are working toward culinary certification. The banquet raised money for Redwood’s day center that provides resources and help for people experiencing homelessness. Redwood Gospel Mission has 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade and a donor confidence score of 100—the highest in each of MinistryWatch’s three categories.

The Sheepfold in Southern California is celebrating 40 years of ministry this year. Founded in 1964 by Fran Lundquist, the ministry serves women and children suffering from homelessness and domestic violence. Its six-month program focuses on Bible study, finding employment, a safe residence and establishing independence. The Sheepfold has 3 stars and an “A” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 98.

A Church of the Nazarene congregation in Missouri is inviting women throughout the community to do faith-based fitness classes. Ferguson Church of the Nazarene started Holy Barre last year, offering classes twice a week. They start with Scripture reading before transitioning to 45 minutes of exercise while playing Christian music. Barre studios have grown in popularity in recent years with memberships costing upwards of $180 a month, but thanks to the Church of the Nazarene Blessing Our Community initiative, the Ferguson church is offering their classes free of charge.

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