CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Union Gospel Mission is celebrating Easter differently from most ministries. Instead of a sanctuary, they’re taking their message to the people on the lawn of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
Executive Director, Rev. Jon Rector tells us, “Rain or shine will be out there Sunday. We’ll serve lunch from 1 to 3. Hopefully we won’t run out this, time occasionally we do, but we’ve got a pretty good handle on it. We will serve between four and 500 meals and we’ve got blessing bags, we’re going to give out some blessing bags and those are just a little hygiene personal kit that we we’ve got a local Group simply Grace Tennessee that builds those and gives them to us. We’re grateful for that and so we’re excited about the opportunity. It’s just the way we celebrate holidays. …You look through Christ’s ministry here on earth He didn’t attach any strings. You know, he met needs where he could find them to people who were in need and that’s what we try to model after.”
Matt Strickland is a volunteer at the Union Gospel Mission. He tells us that the mission helped him turn his life around. He says, ” I love giving back and helping. These guys did a lot for me, helped me, so I feel like if I do anything to help them… I don’t feel like I owe them, but I feel like I’m repaying them with my time so cooking meals for these guys, and usually they’re pretty happy with them. I mean, that makes me smile like I like to feed people I like to cook.”
Rev. Rector continues, “People always say ‘what are you gonna do if it rains? what are you gonna do if it’s cold?’, we’re going to stand out there and do it. Bless their heart a lot of folks live in these conditions. Certainly we can stand out there for a couple hours and provide a meal, no matter what the conditions are.
…You know I grew up in church and you know our Easter Sunday was always get a new suit, you know you dress up and you go to church and I see you. That’s not my ministry anymore you know and we need to do something if we’re gonna celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we ought to do it in a meaningful way. I have zero problem with people still getting dressed up and going to church. That’s great no problem with that but again it didn’t fit me anymore.”
The union Gospel Mission’s Easter meal will take place at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. You can find more information at theuniongospelmission.org.
