A Cup in Jesus’ Name

Each Saturday evening for 12 years, Rick Lowe and his 17-year-old son Brad, leaders of Hope Ministries’ Saturday Night Street Ministry, have driven into the most unlovely parts of Des Moines to feed and pray for the homeless and hungry.

Accompanied by volunteers, father and son stop alongside bridges, roadside camps and government subsidized housing where they distribute meals of steaming stews and vegetables, and cups of fresh water and milk to homeless and poverty-stricken men, women and children.

“One homeless man is virtually unable to handle the confines of shelters,” Rick says.  “We went to where he usually stays but he wasn’t there.  I felt we had to find him and give him a meal.  Finally, we found him in an area we don’t normally go to.  It was a really hot night, but he was wearing his winter coat.  We gave him food and prayed with him.  We gave him a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name … only this time it was chocolate milk!”

Prayed with him?  “Yes!” says Rick.  “Many of the people look forward to prayer.  If we start to leave without praying, someone will yell, ‘Hey, we didn’t pray!’”

Rick believes Christ is the only One who can heal the hopelessness he sees so vividly in many of those served by this ministry.  “We can show them we love them, want to feed them and want to lay hands on them,” he says.  “But more than anything, they need to hear about Christ.”

Each week, the Saturday Night Street Ministry crew distributes an average 150 meals to homeless and low-income men, women and families who live under bridges, in fields, in abandoned buildings and in government or substandard housing.  “Many are incapable of making good choices,” Rick maintains, citing the high numbers of mentally ill and addicted individuals he sees.

“We can keep them warm and fed for a night,” Rick admits, “but their only hope is Jesus.”