A Bloomington church is marking its one year anniversary downtown by expanding some of its services.
Abundant Life in Christ Church at 108 East Market Street, has specialized in giving shelter to the homeless. But during GLT's Sound Ideas, Pastor Charles Ahrens and Assistant Pastor Lawrence Johnson explain the need has grown and the church intends to continue reaching out.
"A big part of the people we serve are the people that live in low-income apartment buildings in the area. They're on paycheck to paycheck or on a fixed income and they don't have a lot at the end of the month," Ahrens said. "So we have food everyday. We have a food pantry given to us from The Jesus House (which closed). A lot of those people who are on fixed incomes don't have the resources that a completely homeless person would have."
But those without homes remain the core of Abundant Life in Christ Church's ministry. Ahrens said one individual became involved in the church after Johnson found him resting on the bench in front of Second Presbyterian Church downtown. The man explained he had been walking from Kansas City bound for Detroit.
"We offered him a shower and a meal, and he's been with us now for five months," Johnson said. "When he came to us, he literally had only the clothes on his back. Now he has a state ID, a social security card and a full-time job making $10 an hour. He has no desire to move on to Detroit." Ahrens added, "he wants to retire here."
The ministers say a fire on Halloween destroyed the church's van, so there is a need for a van to be donated so staff and volunteers can continue to transport people to appointments.
Ahrens and Johnson said there is a great need for volunteers at the church, especially those who could serve as mentors for the homeless. Ahrens said there's also a need for health care officials to donate services, especially in the area of mental health.
The church can be reached at: abundantlifebn@gmail.com
