A new ministry in downtown Kalamazoo called Martha’s Table will be hosted at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 129 South Park Street, Kalamazoo every Sunday evening beginning November 4.

The purpose of Martha’s Table is to provide an intimate environment for church communities and homeless people to build nurturing, long term, mutually transforming relationships with one another. Homeless guests will be welcomed warmly, treated with dignity and respect to experience Christian fellowship through worship and a meal. However, the meal and worship service are not ends in themselves but rather a beginning, an entry, into a deeper and sustained relationship.

Churches are enrolled to introduce themselves and their worship to homeless guests with the hope of embracing them into the life of the church, supporting them in their journey out of homelessness. In turn, homeless guests will bless the churches with a better understanding of poverty and street living and encourage them in their Christian commitment to respond to those realities. It may be that those who start out as homeless guests eventually become integrated into the life of the church, find housing and then work with Martha’s Table as hosts to others looking to make the same transition.

Nine area churches are currently committed to this effort.