"Transforming People & Communities from the Inside Out."
Events
Behind the Scenes Tour
Monday, September 13, 2010
Annual Benefit 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
BUILD Program
Thursday, September 16, 2010
published April 19, 2010
Park Community Church
Manna Ministry Volunteers provide warm and nutritious meals for Breakthrough’s adult guests. But as Benson, a Manna Ministry volunteer, can attest, there’s more to meal service than good food. Most of the time, he doesn’t do much of the cooking. “I’m not really a good cook," he admits. "Luckily, the other guys in my group are.”
Benson and his small group from Park Community Church have served meals at the Breakthrough Ministry Center once a month for the past year and a half. Their commitment to and compassion for guests is evident.
“It’s people like Benson and the other men in his group who commit to serving month after month who make our guests feel engaged, appreciated for who they are and, ultimately, loved. These are the relationships that Breakthrough is all about,” says Volunteer Coordinator, Liz Laird.
What does Benson do instead of cooking? He is intentional about talking and bonding with the guests. “My favorite part has been interacting with the men in the program. It’s always good to hear their stories and just talk with them,” he says.
He has learned a lot over the past year and a half. “I’ve realized that everybody has a different story. People become homeless for a lot of reasons, whether it’s because of their own life choices or other factors," says Benson. “But God still loves them. Volunteering has changed my attitude in a big way towards the homeless.”
Benson is excited to serve with his friends and allow God to continue to change their hearts. Liz points out, ”When you talk with Benson you know that he understands he’s not just here to ‘do good.’ He’s here to be transformed, too.”