02 Jun Small and World-Changing Actions

Someone once said, “The power to change the world lies within the smallest actions we take every day.” Surely this is true about changing the city, too. For the past (approximately) 6,500 days, Mosaic Church has, in some way, taken action to reach those in our city experiencing homelessness, whom we affectionally call “friends”. Mosaic Street Ministry (MSM) is one way Mosaic walks out our missional calling, daily, in the city of Austin.

Through the years, our mission to those experiencing homelessness has evolved quite a bit. We have gone from providing food via “truck runs” to those living under Highway 183 and Interstate Highway 35 bridges during the week to now offering an abundance of services nearly every day of the week, at multiple locations in the city, directly impacting hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness. Incredible!

Currently, MSM services include but are not limited to food (a FULL course healthy meal), coffee, showers, laundry, clothes, essential resources, mail, housing assessments, housing referrals and placement, medical care, integral care, and job support. These services are all provided free of charge to those we serve and are made possible by way of partnering with amazing organizations in the city. One of those partners is Solid Ground Ministry.

Solid Ground Ministry (SGM), founded by Deborah Torrey Fisher and Allison Trotter, is on mission to help ease the burden of homelessness through love, respect, dignity, and support. One way SGM does this is through a “Block Party” held every second Saturday at our Mosaic South location. During the block parties, friends are fed, given clothes and hygiene products, provided laundry services and a shower, and more!

When asked how SGM has changed people’s lives, Deborah said:
“Countless things flood my head… Do I speak of our people who became clean from addictions? Those who received Christ’s gift of salvation? The ones who completely changed their lives and are now managers at places like H‑E‑B? Do I speak of the 50 to sometimes 100+ people whose lives are changed every single week by having something we all take for granted: the decency to take showers and wash clothes? Or do I speak to the hundreds of volunteers—from Christ-followers to adamant atheists—who had the Spirit wholly change their hearts simply by what they’ve experienced helping at an SGM event? It’s impossible to share one story of God’s impact through SGM in the almost four years we’ve been the hands and feet of Christ to our community’s least of these. It isn’t glamorous work. There is no earthly prestige when unconditionally loving and serving a controversial, challenging group. But one thing I never hesitate to say when answering ‘How has SGM changed people’s lives’ is that the Word of God is boldly and fearlessly proclaimed to every guest, volunteer, and opposing voice—and we have never seen that Word come back void or not accomplish all God has intended (Isaiah 55:11).”
AMEN. God is moving in the lives of our friends! Thank you for how you love and contribute to the work of Mosaic Street Ministry and our resource partners. You are changing the world.

Please join us next Saturday, June 10 from 10 am – 1 pm at Mosaic Church South Campus at the Block Party as we love and minister to our friends!

Rosalynn Smith
Pastor of Mission and Adult Education