“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”
– Matthew 25:34-36
The city of Phoenix, Arizona, is experiencing a collision of conflicting cultural identities, anti-biblical values, and increasingly polarized division. All of this while more people continue flock to the fastest growing city in the country (and one that is facing a severe housing crisis). The result is a city with deep spiritual and physical needs.
As a church, we are committed to engage culture, uphold truth, and love well. As we address important spiritual topics from Scripture in our Sunday worship services and studies, we must also stay committed to meeting the physical needs of neighbors in our city.
Over the next few weeks, you’ll be introduced to three of our partner organizations as we highlight ways you can serve. Together, we can see love move in the needs of the people around us.
First up: Phoenix Rescue Mission.
Phoenix Rescue Mission has served the Valley for 70 years. Their focus is to be a place of hope, healing, and new beginnings for men, women, and children in our community struggling with homelessness, addiction, and trauma. Phoenix Rescue Mission has programs to assist with transitional housing, counseling, and recovery. They are also committed to serving people experiencing homeless by going to them. A small but impactful way to build connections with people experiencing homelessness is by providing “Hope Totes”. These totes are filled with essential items such as toiletries, snacks, and clothing items.
On August 22, we will gather at Bethany Bible Church to assemble Hope Totes, hear from a graduate of the Phoenix Rescue Mission program, and connect with the congregation from Bethany Bible Church. But the opportunity to serve starts now! In order to assemble these Hope Totes, we are collecting donations of the essential items. You can find the list of needed items and RSVP for August 22nd at phoenixbiblechurch.com/connect-and-serve.