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They’re being fed a hearty breakfast every Sunday morning, with bacon, scrambled eggs and toast, but more importantly, their souls are being fed.

Started a little more than four years ago, the breakfast ministry at Heritage at Houston averages 40 to 50 people every week.  While eating their free meal, attendees hear the Gospel and are encouraged and nurtured.  Many have even accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, said Rev. Rex Odom, pastor of Heritage UMC.

“It’s about sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ to this community,” he said.

And just over a year ago, Heritage at Houston expanded their ministry, opening their gym doors to teenage boys.  Meeting on Wednesday nights, the young men, aged 13 to 18, are fed a snack supper and play basketball in a safe, supervised environment. 

But, just like the Sunday morning breakfast ministry, the ministry isn’t just feeding the young men’s stomachs and bodies, but their souls as well.  Every week, a businessman from the community speaks to the group, sharing his testimony and his path to success.

“They speak with them about how they have made a successful career and how they managed to get from where they were to where they are today,” Rev. Odom said.  “They all give credit to the Lord Jesus Christ for their ability to work and be successful businessmen.”

Eileen Batchelor, who serves with Heritage’s First Saturday Clothing Ministry, has a passion for missions and for serving in the local community. 

“We are just a medium-sized United Methodist church, but we got together and decided that where we wanted to be was right here making a difference in the community,” she said.  “Because of the poverty in the city of Macon, we’re not going to make a change in it if churches don’t get involved doing outreach ministries and missions in their own communities. I think it’s time for the churches to start working in the neighborhoods.”

The church’s First Saturday Clothing Ministry, held at Heritage at Houston the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., provides clothing at no cost for needy residents of the surrounding neighborhood. 

Batchelor and five junior- and senior-high students from Heritage UMC volunteer in the clothing ministry each week.  Numerous other church members give their time at the ministry’s Tuesday night Bible study, Wednesday night basketball ministry and Sunday morning breakfast ministry.

“People from the church have a heart for loving people and helping people grow and being everything they can be. We all feel very, very blessed that God allows us and gives us that wonderful opportunity to serve His people right here,” Batchelor said.  

--By Kara Witherow, South Georgia Advocate editor

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