The Growing Season
Greetings-
As I write this, summer has taken over, cicadas are singing their song and the days are long and hot. It’s the growing season, and everything around us in nature is flourishing. That growing season extends to The Salvation Army, and the daily work we do to cultivate hope in our community. Today I want to talk to you about our growing church ministry, and one particular program that is thriving called Dinner Church.
In addition to providing pantry items, help with rent and utilities, social services and children’s programs, all corps (Salvation Army churches) have a chapel where we offer regular church services on Sunday. This spiritual care is a big part of the work we do at most Salvation Army locations.
The Prospect Corps, our newest facility located at 6025 Prospect Avenue in Kansas City has been offering a program called Dinner Church, which takes place Sundays at 6pm. Dinner Church is specifically for people who don’t feel like they belong in a traditional church environment. Lieutenant Donald Cooper is the officer who is shepherding this congregation which tops 100 people most weeks.
Getting folks to attend church during traditional hours has become increasingly difficult for all congregations, so it’s remarkable what is happening at the Prospect Corps. While Lt. Cooper is walking the streets inviting the houseless and people suffering from addiction and human trafficking, folks from everywhere are volunteering to make Dinner Church happen- preparing the food and desserts, handling transportation, music and pure fellowship as a gift to the ministry of the Prospect Corps.
One of the most fulfilling parts of my job at The Salvation Army is when we see the difference that we make in someone’s life. The people that come to us have an array of needs, some physical and some spiritual. Just as Jesus did, we meet people where they are, not condemning but counseling and offering hope when there is very little.
In the Bible, Luke chapter 14 verse 23 says, “… Then master told his servant, go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.” (NIV)
Dinner Church is fulfilling that command with a thriving atmosphere of growth and reconciliation. And as unconventional as this approach may sound, it’s truly doing the work that is within The Salvation Army mission: Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Below is a powerful video that gives you a glimpse of our growing season, and the amazing thing that is happening at The Salvation Army Dinner Church.
Warmly, Kelly