Advisory Board

  Pastor John English
 Galloway Full Gospel Church

                                            
Arnold Thorgerson                    Judy Rockafellow        
Church Benevolence                     Rockafellow Photography
Master's in Church Administration

                                  
Ken Neale                                              T.J. Conyers
Springfield School Administrator     Program Administrator
(Retired)                                      City Utilities of Springfield
                                                  Energy Management



Dr Fredrick Lobati MD               Rick Salvato
St. Johns Internal Medicine           Alternate Member
                                                 AG HealthCare Ministries

Beginning of Ministry

Several years ago I volunteered at a local church to help feed the homeless and poor in a local park in Springfield Missouri. The name of our ministry was ParkFest. We provided cold sandwiches every Saturday at noon during the summer months. The next year there was no one to lead this summer ministry, so I volunteered. Once again we provided sandwiches and a short message of Christ every Saturday throughout the summer. During this time I built relationships with many of the needy and worked to help them, throughout the week, both spiritually and physically.

For the next two years I was discouraged by the fact we could not carry this ministry throughout the rest of the year.  In spring 2008 I was introduced to Pastor Charlie Arsenault of Evangel Temple Christian Center in Springfield, Missouri.  He agreed to provide a foundation for me to continue ParkFest during the summer of 2008.  It was a true marriage given from Heaven. Many volunteers from Evangel Temple joined in and ParkFest became a large part in helping many.

By the end of summer 2008, I believed that God wanted this to go year around. I prayed for His wisdom on how to do this. We would need a building since fall was approaching. A lady told me to contact Don Matison. She said he has worked most of his life helping the poor and might be able to help. I meet with Don and found out he had a warehouse he used for his Angel Food Ministry. After sharing my life and my vision, he informed me that I could use his warehouse. That was the day Inner City Outreach officially started.

Inner City Outreach

On the first Saturday of October 2008, Inner City Outreach (ICO) held its first free meal. Shortly after that God opened up a small amount of donated food to give those that came.

Today, we feed over 16,000 free meals each year. We provided over 150,000 lbs. of free groceries through our ICO food pantry. Over six months ago we opened Kids Korner, where the children of those who come can learn about Jesus and do fun things while their parents or grandparents eat and go through the food pantry. New projects are in the making as we grow, such as our Job Recruitment program, working to find jobs for those we serve.

Each week those who come to hear God's plan for them through His Son Jesus. Many humble themselves and believe and receive prayer in our prayer room by our prayer team.

A great blessing to me is seeing many volunteers come each week from many churches throughout Southwest Missouri to pitch in and help. Working together for one cause no matter what the sign says in front of their church.

This is God's outreach. We are simply the stewards of His love and care for the poor and needy of our community in Springfield, Missouri.

Many Blessings

 
David Sims, Director of Inner City Outreach