26 Sep Mosaic Street Ministry

I am so excited to announce that CHI Street, Mosaic’s ministry to the homeless community, has a new name. Have you heard of “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince?” Well, “The Ministry Formerly Known As CHI Street” is now Mosaic Street Ministry!

So why the new name? Thank you for asking! For starters, CHI Street is difficult to pronounce.  We have been referred to as Chai Street (as in chai tea) and Chi-Town Ministry (as in Chicago). At times our volunteers are asked where CHI Street is located: is it an actual street? What does CHI Street even mean? It is an acronym for “Compassionate Hearts Intersect.” Even after five years of serving in this ministry, I still don’t know how compassionate hearts intersecting represents what we do each week! 🙂

So, we are now Mosaic Street Ministry. The name is simple, easy to pronounce, and clearly identifies us as a part of Mosaic Church Austin. This is vitally important because our ministry is having an increasing impact as we serve people and represent Christ in and around the city.  

Each Sunday, you’ll find us in the lobby helping create a safe environment for those who live on the outside to not just come inside of a building for shelter, but into a community to encounter the presence of God. In addition to this, our friends without homes can receive a delicious breakfast, a gift card for groceries, clothing, prayer, and most importantly, friendship.  Not too long ago, we might have served 30 people over the course of a month.  Now, the number of lives we touch each month has grown to over 100.  

On the first and third Thursdays of each month, we head out on truck runs to take food, clothing, and supplies to our friends on the street. A few years ago, we might have served 40 people on a busy night.  Today, our two routes have expanded to three and we are preparing close to 100 meals to distribute on any given Thursday evening. Yet somehow, we still manage to run out of food. That’s a big impact!

In closing, I’d like to tell you about my friend Charlie. I met Charlie on a truck run five years ago.  He was 65 years old and lived under a bridge off 183. Each time the truck run brought him food and clothing, he would bless us with a song (accompanied by his guitar) or share a favorite Bible verse. Over time, our twice-per-month interactions grew into a strong friendship. Charlie told me I was his best friend, and he meant it. Charlie and I were able to get his Texas ID.  He had his hearing tested and was fitted for a hearing aid.  He had cataract surgery on both eyes and went from being almost blind to being able to see clearly. We were working on getting him into housing through Family Eldercare. Sadly, a lifetime of addiction to alcohol and drugs took Charlie’s life last summer before he was ever able to get into housing. However, I loved Charlie well while he was alive. Mosaic Street Ministry loved Charlie well while he was alive. We did not judge him or try to “fix” him. We just brought the light and love of Christ to his little strip of cardboard under a bridge on 183.

1 John 3:17-18  “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?  Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

Leah