“I started serving at Church Under the Bridge right at the end of Covid. I was still a pastor at Austin Oaks Church, but just transitioned into a new role as an outreach pastor (or as I like to say a musician-art).
We soon adopted the fourth Sunday of every month to serve at Church Under the Bridge under Mike Featherstone’s leadership. One Sunday a gentleman approached me. Let’s say his name is Charlie. Charlie was currently homeless, but staying at campus Esperanza in a tent. For me, I was still new to this community and how to approach everything. My years serving as a pastor taught me to guard my cell phone and not give it out to anyone. Something inside me told me to give this gentleman my cell, so I did. Next thing you know, we are having lunch and talking on a weekly basis. I helped him get his drivers license, get his Covid vaccinations and we became great friends. He was doing well at his job and through a lot of prayer and community, he ended up leading and running the food pantry at a local church! He showed up on time very week to serve other like him. While serving others, what was going on personally in his heart as God was moving, nurturing and guiding him in his steps was incredible. Now Charlie owns a truck, has a great job, and still continues to give back to those in need.
Church Under the Bridge, and more importantly God’s Spirit, worked on Charlie. If we take the time to care for, disciple and nurture those in need, God can do miraculous things.
The person that change the most through this exchange was me. If you’re hoping God can do a great work in you and through you, I suggest tithing your time to the least of these and tithing your resources to an organization that give back in loving and tangible ways.”
-JJ Plasencio, from his time as a volunteer at CUB
