The Ecclesiastical District of Los Angeles County of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) conducted INC Giving on December 10, 2022 in behalf of the beneficiaries of The Mission At Kern County, a homeless shelter in Bakersfield, California, USA.

“No matter where you go, you are going to find homeless and you are going to find that people are struggling with getting the basic food and necessities for life each day,” said Mark Van Neman, an associate in the Homeless Intervention Services Program of The Mission At Kern County, “The Mission has been working with outreach and the homeless population for over 50 years here in this town. We just keep growing every day with more and more demand every year.”

The outreach activity, which took place at The Mission’s main office at 816 E 21st Street, benefited over 200 guests not only with care packages but more significantly with spiritual inspiration through the study of God’s words in the Bible led by Brother Oliver R. Canlas, assistant district supervising minister.

“The Church Of Christ instilled a very great message and it was a wonderful experience. It helped me to be motivated in my next steps to God,” said Jacob Franco, one of the homeless guests at The Mission.

The care packages that the brethren prepared for the attendees contained hygiene kits and such other essentials. In addition to this, the beneficiaries were provided winter clothing.

“I was so surprised that the Church Of Christ came all the way from Los Angeles to give their time and well-being and some toiletries as well as clothes and food,” said one of the guests by the name of Jacob. “They made me feel at home. … thank you to the Church Of Christ for all that they do and for coming a long way just to instill happiness and joy in other people’s lives.”

“They are just wonderful people. They came in; gave a message. They also offered hope, love, and friendship. It was a wonderful experience,” Jeffrey Hudson, another beneficiary, said about the brethren who participated in the activity.

“Everybody was very appreciative. They were happy. They loved getting food and being fed as they were hungry when they got here,” said Christopher Niko Morrow, a case manager and counselor at the shelter. — With reports from INC News Section