Pastor inspired to begin outreach program

Volunteers are being sought to participate in a trial run May 7.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- Baloney sandwiches, a group of ministers and two minutes of Jesus provided the catalyst for the newly formed Kingdom Meal Ministry.
"My spirit just jumped when I learned what they did," said the Rev. Rusty Wills of Poland, referring to a feeding project in New Castle, Pa., that began last summer.
"They built a real fellowship," Mr. Wills said, and indicated that Kingdom Meal Ministry is hoping to achieve the same success and participation in its Sunday meal project for needy people.
Area ministers have been asked to share the information about Kingdom Meal Ministry with their congregations, said Rev. Mr. Wills, who is president of the new ministry and pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Poland.
A dinner meeting for prospective volunteers is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 7 at the Salvation Army, 1501 Glenwood Ave. Though some churches have made commitments of volunteers, others are welcome.
"It will serve as a practice-run dinner," he said. Volunteers will go through a trial-run dinner by setting up, cooking, serving, washing dishes, tearing down and serving on prayer teams and as hall monitors.
When will it start?
The first dinner for the public is planned from 5 to 6:30 p.m. May 14 at the Salvation Army. A brochure on the program explains that anyone who needs a hot meal or anyone experiencing tight finances may attend.
Wills said that the success of the program in New Castle provided the inspiration. "I heard about it from Bill Beck of Barnstone Ministry (located on the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania on U.S. Route 422). He and a group of ministers were meeting Sundays with dwindling participation until they decided to 'go where the people were,'" the Mr. Wills said.
"They first took baloney sandwiches to where homeless people gathered by the Shenango River in New Castle. Then they established three stations ... to feed people, give free food and give out clothes. They asked people to give two minutes to Jesus, told them that Jesus loved them and said a prayer," Wills said. The project, held late Sunday afternoons, has attracted between 100-150 people, he added.
Mr. Wills admitted the information on the New Castle effort lay dormant for months -- until last December. "God speaks to your heart, and I knew we had to make a connection to area people," he said.
That's just what the Kingdom Meal Ministry will be doing through what Mr. Wills has dubbed the "Church of Youngstown."
Working together
He emphasized the churches involved will work as one under the Church of Youngstown description. The effort is what is important, he said, not the participants. The project has a two-fold purpose, he said, and that is to "prayerfully bring Christ to people along with food and to bring congregations together."
Mr. Wills said this project is important because it is filling a need. "To our knowledge, there isn't another feeding program on Sunday except for the City Rescue Mission," he said. This program offers a Sunday meal on the south side of town, he said. "Our dream would be feeding posts around the city," he said.
Capt. Forrest Lanchester, who directs the Salvation Army on Glenwood, said: "Rev. Wills approached me about using the building and being involved. ... We have meals offered the last 10 working days of the month. ... The Sunday meal was needed. There is a big need and a number of people who have been put in the position where they don't have anything. This will help."
Julia Wike of Brookfield, who Mr. Wills called a "prayer warrior," is serving as coordinator of Kingdom Meals Ministry.
"It's been on my heart to be part of restoring the city," Wike said. "I was involved in a street ministry. We would go door to door and share food and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"But it wasn't enough. I wanted to do something that was consistent and would be able to get to know people," she said.
At a church meeting she attended, Wike said she learned of a program being organized by Mr. Wills. The two talked, and Wike accepted the assignment as coordinator. "It's a wonderful way for churches to come together and unite in the city," Wike said.
Wike, who has a background in social work and "organizing and overseeing," said she envisions needing 10 to 20 people per Sunday working from setting up to tearing down and everything in between. "People don't have to feel pressured to volunteer every Sunday ... give what time you can ... whether it's monthly, weekly, whatever," she said.
"An anonymous donor gave $5,000 as seed money," Mr. Wills said. Participating churches also have made monetary contributions.
Though food will be obtained through the Salvation Army's buying program, Wike said the meal ministry is not being financed by the Salvation Army. "We're relying on donations," she said.
Those interesting in volunteering may contact Wike at (330) 448-1305 or e-mail to jwike40174@aol.com or Mr. Wills at (330) 757-3272 or send e-mail to wills330@yahoo.com