FEEDING people’s physical hunger keeps them alive; but feeding their spiritual hunger propels them forward, changes their view of life and helps them overcome obstacles.
Derrick Schwartz of Open Doors Ministries, says that is the motivation behind the feeding scheme and Bible study group of Outlook Church in Birdswood, which focuses on the city’s homeless.
Open Doors has a growing number of students who do not only come to the soup kitchen for food, but for teaching and fellowship.
Xolani Zikhali (34) was sleeping on the street when he first came to the soup kitchen.
Today, he is living with a friend, is an avid Bible study student and completed his first casual labour contract working on a plant shut.
Derrick, who took Xolani under his wing, is as proud as a father would be of his progress.
‘He has been with us now for a year and a half and he is a new man.
‘The industry where Xolani was given an opportunity as a casual worker was happy with his performance and said if they need general workers, they will contact him again.’
Xolani says life on the street left him hopeless and without future expectations, but he now has hope, joy, a bit of work experience, the possibility of more opportunities and a home.
Read the full story in the ZO Monday edition.
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