Center for Student Missions's blog

Check out a great article about Broad Street Ministry, one of CSM Philly's partner ministry sites!

According to a recent article by the Toronto Sun, many of Toronto's homeless would rather be on the streets than in a shelter this winter. Fights, theft and other disturbances have caused many to make this tough decision.

Learn how YOU can serve those on the streets of Toronto!

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
 

Many people in NY have been feeling the pinch of food prices, rent, and unemployment rates all rising. All across the city, many more people are looking for assistance than last year, while at the same time many food pantries and soup kitchens have been feeling the economic pinch as well as food prices have gone up and their food/pantry supplies have in some cases become bare.

Father Manny is one of the most inspiring people that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. He oversees the Marquard Center run by the Franciscan Outreach Association. With a vision to know and to serve the homeless, the center provides many services to the poor and the hurting in Chicago.

Wow, what a year. I now officially have a year of full time Associate Director under my belt! It is quite obvious that God has used this year in so many different ways. I honestly feel blessed to be part of such an amazing ministry serving the city and the groups that come to be a part of Center for Student Missions. This fall (after some major rest from the busy summer months) I have been able to do some personal volunteering. Every Tuesday morning I head over to the fellowship hall of Belmont Church to serve Breakfast and Lunch to around 150 of the homeless community.

Greetings friends!

Although each year it seems to come more quickly, Christmas has arrived once again. All the familiar sights and sounds of the season are here – my tree is trimmed, Christmas songs are on the radio, and each time I walk into the store I hear the familiar tinkle of the Salvation Army red kettle bell ringer.

The guys at work and I have been reading through this book, With Justice for All by John Perkins. It's essentially about community development and living out the Gospel of Christ in our immediate communities...and challenging the Body to live in the midst of the desolation of our country, not just to look at it from the outside, in. Anyway, he's got some pretty powerful words and has really inspired me to be unafraid of the neighborhood that surrounds me and to look at my neighbors as simply human, like me.

New York City is a city of lights. I was reminded of this in the fall when I flew home at night (and circled around and around due the inevitable delays at the airport). Looking down on the city at night is breathtaking. The lights of the many bridges (I’m still not sure exactly how many there are in the entire city!), at Times Square, and the Empire State Building makes it seem like the whole city is lit up. I’m reminded now, as Christmas lights and decorations line the streets in Brooklyn, or light up the many trees at Rockefeller Center and Macys.

One of my favorite parts of CSM is tithing. At the end of every year, Kristin and Idistribute a portion of CSM-Nashville’s income from groups to our ministry

A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle reports that more and more people (specifically families) have been found to be living on the streets. With a spike in the unemployment rate, a global financial crisis and many factors that are hard enough to overcome, many people have begun seeking help from local soup kitchens and food pantries.

Learn how you can serve the growing homeless population of the San Francisco Bay Area with CSM!

During the summer, we had the opportunity to begin a new partnership with a wonderful organization. St. Johns Bread and Life was founded in 1982 and is located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn. The mission of St. Johns Bread and Life is “to bring food to the poor and accompany them on their journey to wholeness by providing necessary services.” They seek to address the hunger and poverty issues in Brooklyn and Queens. They also provide over 1,000 meals every day. Our groups are able to help out by volunteering in their soup

“In September, Hurricane Ike ravaged the Upper Texas Coast, causing horrible devastation and loss of life in Galveston and neighboring coastal communities. The impact for families and  individuals who lost loved ones, homes, and significant property is immeasurable. CSM Houston, too, was not spared Ike’s wrath. Our housing site, Servants of Christ United Methodist Parish, was hit hard. The roof of the “Activity Center” (a.k.a., gym) which holds our staff housing, showers, and our food, was peeled back like a sardine can.

Heartland Alliance Catalog Offers Gifts That Provide Hope for a Hurting World
Chicago, IL (November 18, 2008)- As many ponder holiday shopping lists this year, at a time when many people in our world are hurting, you can give a gift that offers hope and meaning to those struggling the most in this economic uncertainty.  

Recently, the Houston-based non-profit SEARCH gathered willing residents to spend a night outside and raise funds for the city's homeless. It gave them a good taste of what it may be like for their neighbors that sleep outdoors every night. Check out the video...

Learn how you can serve with CSM in Houston!