OPEN AIR MINISTRIES

First Presbyterian Church helps to sponsor the Open Air Ministry (also known as the Homeless Service or the Church without Walls) the first Sunday of each month.  Located in the parking lot at the corner of Florida Blvd and 17th street Pastor Joseph Moore holds Worship Services for the homeless and area residents each Sunday at noon.

How did it all begin?

The service began a number of years ago as an outreach of the YMCA to distribute donated clothes to the homeless and working poor in the area.  Then one Easter Sunday, the Lord led Pastor Albert White of Abounding Love Ministries to lead his congregation to the Florida Blvd site for Easter services.  During the following months, several pastors from local churches, that included First Presbyterian, filled the imaginary pulpit.  Pastor Joseph Moore was already working with the YMCA’s homeless outreach program and soon became the regular pastor for the Church Without Walls.

Pastor Moore and some of the homeless men begin setting out the benches under the trees in the parking lot each Sunday at 11:00 a.m.  The sponsoring churches begin arriving with serving tables, food and drinks at 11:45 a.m.  The Worship service begins at noon with Pastor Moore leading the congregation in several old time hymns.  His sermons are always an exciting and many times emotional journey through the scriptures that speak to the plight of the poor. Those attending have grown in number from a dozen to 75-100 each week.  Following the sermon, Pastor Moore always makes an alter call which brings 2-8 individuals forward accepting Christ or rededicating their lives. This is what Kingdom building is all about, bringing the lost to Christ.  

Following the alter call and the blessing, Pastor Moore has the women and children line up first to be served lunch followed by the men.  There have been a couple of times that we thought we might run out of food but the Lord always provides just what is needed and then some.  We see the miracle of the loaves and fishes right there on Florida Blvd as we feed the poor.  God is SO good!

There are now 5 sponsoring churches for the Open Air Ministry.  Each church takes one Sunday a month to assist Pastor Moore by providing and serving food and drinks, enjoying fellowship and worshiping with the congregation. From time to time hygiene packets are assembled that Pastor Moore distributes where needed.   There is also a bicycle ministry that repairs broken bikes for the homeless and distributes repaired used bikes for their transportation needs.

If you are interested in more information please go to the Open Air Ministry blog at the top of this church site home page or call the church at 387-0617.

UPCOMING FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SPONSORED DATES:
August 7
September 4
October 2
November 6
December 4