RCC: Street Ministry

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Every Saturday for the past six years the River City Church (RCC) of Jacksonville Florida has been hitting up McDuff Avenue, where a large majority of the homeless and lower class live. Arriving at 7:30am every Saturday RCC makes rounds praying over people, loving them like Jesus, and giving them bags of groceries for free. Once a month the Church also puts on a cookout where they give away free hot dogs and hamburgers to any passerbyers. Why does these Church members wake up early on their day off every week to come build relationships with the people in this area? Simply because they see that Jesus has told them to and they do it with joy.


This past Saturday I had the priveledge to join them on a prayer walk where we handed out food, prayed for
people, and visited some in their homes. One of the first people we were able to give food away to were two ladies walking towards us on the sidewalk dragging behind them a small cart. As we approached them adn asked them if they would like some groceries they were so surprised that the food was free and there was no "catch." We prayed over both of the women, gave them groceries, and invited them to the cookout next Saturday. These ladies were so surprised and gratefull that strangers were willing to care for them out of the love had placed on their hearts.

As we moved on we ended up going to a house that the members of the Church were quite familiar with. For years they have been coming to these people to bring food, love and encourage the two people who lived inside. While I am not entirely sure of what all the lady we prayed for had, I do know that she had been diagnosed with AIDS and two years ago was found in her home almost dead. Since that time the she has gotten married, moved into a new home, and built a lasting relationship with many of the Church members who have visited her.

While standing in their home I felt God urge me to pray for the ladies husband. I had heard him tell one of the Church members that his lungs seemed to be doing better and from that knew that God wanted me to pray for his lungs. As we were about to leave I asked him if I could pray for him and that God would heal his lungs. The Holy Spirit showed up in that house and I could tell He was working on the man in some way (be it physical healing, emotional, or spiritual I do not know.)

The River City Church is making such a difference in their community just by going out every week for a few hours and telling people that they are worth it. I often wonder if we do not truly realize how much of an impact we have on people just by our sheer acts of random kindness. Being a Christian is so much more than going to Church every week, reading your Bible, or truly even having a relationship with Christ. Those are all very important things (particularly the last one), but if we cannot give the love we have recieved out to others we come across daily what is the point in us staying on this earth? Jesus said, go out into the world and make disciples of all the nations. Your backyard constitutes as one of those nations. Ministry wasn't designed to be done at set times, rather it is a lifestyle we walk in every day.

(Check out RCC here)