Daniel Engeljohn
As a Matthew 25 Church, Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church (mountainshadowschurch.org) is challenging the congregation to deepen its faith and get more actively involved with the greater community. One focus of our Mission Ministry Team is to provide funding and in-kind assistance to Cross Streets Community, a program for the homeless in downtown Tucson. Cross Streets operates out of Southside Presbyterian Church. Each Monday and Friday morning, homemade hot meals, showers, laundry services, and clothing are provided to approximately 130 unhoused people from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
On the first Sunday of each month, approximately 10 Mountain Shadows Mission Ministry Team members and friends travel to Southside’s kitchen to prep the meals for serving the following Monday and Friday. Importantly, Mountain Shadows purchases the main ingredients for the planned menu items so that Cross Streets doesn’t have to expend their funding. The team then spends approximately two hours chopping, cooking, and making peanut butter/jelly sandwiches for the following week. This past June 3, in prepping the chicken enchilada menu items, the team spent approximately $200 to purchase and bring to the kitchen the primary ingredients (e.g., boneless chicken, bouillon, cheese, corn tortillas, and packets of strawberry Jell-O).
As part of the regular Monday and Friday morning activity, a group of volunteer musicians entertain during the meal. On Friday mornings, a yoga session is open for everyone. In addition to the planned menu, coffee, cereal with milk, fresh fruit, and peanut butter/jelly sandwiches are made available as take-away items.
In the nearly 34 years that the Cross Streets program has been operating, lives have changed for the better for some. Presently, the kitchen manager has gone from being a former user of the services to gaining a license to operate the kitchen. Several other former users now regularly volunteer in the kitchen.
If you are looking for a church that is mission-driven to care for community by loving God, welcoming all people, pursuing justice, and showing compassion, join us on any Sunday at 10 a.m. We have numerous Ministry Teams that engage with the community and might fill a need you are looking to satisfy.