A LAY Pastor with a soup kitchen ministry and a burning passion for the homeless, says his growing street congregation deserves a roof over their heads and a chance to regain their dignity, instead of begging on street corners.
Derrick Schwartz of Open Doors Ministries, a driver of a feeding scheme and Bible study group of Outlook Church in Birdswood, says it is time for churches, volunteers and NGOs to work together to establish a shelter, instead of each labouring on his own with minimal impact.
He says their work in aid of the city’s destitute proves that there is plenty of hope to create a platform ‘far better than a squatter camp for riff-raff’.
A friend, Barnard van Loggerenberg, invited Schwartz to join the ministry two years ago, but he was skeptical.
‘As soon as I set my eyes upon those people, I felt the deepest compassion and all my reservations vanished.
‘I have since been involved in the feeding scheme and Bible study at uMhlathuze Municipality on Sundays, where we serve about 70 people between the ages of 20 to 60 years.
‘We feed them physically and spiritually. Our study group started with ten students and grew to 22 remarkable people. One guy has a voice that will make you cry.
‘We discovered it when we sang hymns without instruments.
‘Our students never miss class. We have seen incredible change in the lives of many men and a handful of gogos who have joined.
‘Many have some skills but no CVs, phones, transport or a place to clean up for an interview.’
Schwartz works for a tracking company and ‘chases bad guys’ for a living, but the proverbial gentle giant is Pastor to his unusual flock.
Read the full story in the ZO Weekender edition.
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