Warm food, spiritual words feed the community
The hungry have a place to go to in Elsburg.
There is a warm beacon of hope glowing in the suburb of Elsburg where people can fill their empty stomachs and feel a bit better about life.
The Elsburg Lede in Christus Kerk in Botha Street is feeding the community, and their souls, on a daily basis.
Pastor Johan Barwise, the head pastor of the church, told the GCN the church has been feeding people every day since May.
“This is not a well-off community and people need some extra help,” he said.
“Sometimes we feed between 18 and 200 people a day from Monday to Friday.”
The soup kitchen is run by Rina Nel and Madeleine de Beer and about 10 other volunteers, but any member of the church is welcome to come along and assist them.
“We started the soup kitchen on a Thursday in February, so that is the day we feed the most people as they know of the Thursday feeding scheme,” Rina said.
“The numbers of people have started to increase on the other days as more people became aware that we are handing out food every day.”
On a Thursday, one of the pastors from the church will also give the assembled people some food for the soul and spread the Word of God to them.
Donated clothes are also handed out to recipients in need during the soup kitchen.
Rina, Madeleine and the volunteers make sure a hearty, well-cooked meal is given to everyone who needs it.
Johan said the dream of the church is to obtain a house in the area, as close to the church as possible, which would be renovated and turned into a place where the homeless could shelter overnight.
“This would be a great help to people as they could have a warm meal and sleep in a secure environment,” he said.
The house would just be there for them to sleep at, in the day they need to go and look for work, but they can return every night if they have nowhere else to go.
“I believe God will answer our prayers for such a house,” Johan said.
The church has five pastors and on Thursday pastor Dean Frisby chatted to the assembled recipients and said: “Something big is happening in Elsburg.
“It is happening in this church and it will be a beacon of hope to all.”
ALSO READ:
Trio in desperate need of homes before its too late
Hospital staff encouraged to be healthy
Three families received a donation of beds/mattresses, one little girl received a sleeping bag and a special birthday party was held for a one-year-old resident also on Thursday.
To make sure the church is able to keep assisting people, donations of all types are appreciated.
Donations of any type of food, as well as second-hand clothes, are needed.
Cash donations can also be made to assist with the purchasing of food and they can be made into the church’s bank account:
Lede in Christus Kerk
Bank: Absa cheque account
Account number: 4095678296
Branch code: 632005
For more information, contact Rina on 061 097 4983 or Johan on 083 391 8634.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist) kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za
Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:
Or add the GCN on WhatsApp 079 406 1181 or BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137) today, to get all the latest news.
Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers Bedfordview Edenvale News, Alberton Record and Kempton Express.
