Community Blend - Jewell Utt
We have Exciting news.
Thanks to God, who is working in ways too amazing for me to fathom. For several years I’ve wanted to open a charitable organization. Thirty years ago, I toyed with the dream of having a soup kitchen. My desire was to help the homeless providing food, love and the gospel message.
I looked into an area with a large homeless population. Raising three young sons—my priority—I thought this could serve as a ministry we did together. My husband wasn’t too keen on the idea because of the danger factor, so I kept looking and praying for a way forward. It wasn’t until my niece came for a visit, and I shared these plans with her, that I understood it was not for me.
A Harsh Turn
Her life took a harsh turn when she was a teen, leaving her on the streets, in a homeless situation. She knew firsthand what I did not. The street culture, filled with drugs, mental illness and people in desperate struggles, is partially a living dead culture. Her experience was trust no one. She informed me that this isn’t the point where people are saved. It’s a level of brokenness, but not rock bottom. She explained that my lifestyle was not relatable to this group. And after her stories, I understood this would be an ineffective ministry for me to pursue. And ineffective, is not God driven.
Closing that chapter, led me to greater experiences and blessings in ministry that trained me for a time such as this. It’s awesome to see the difference when God is leading the charge. Not to mention the wisdom of timing He imparts.
New Doors
Now God is opening new doors of ministry through a nonprofit we’ve named Community Blend, Inc.
Stage one is to establish a café where anyone can come for physical and spiritual refreshment. We’ll offer a limited menu of high-quality coffee, tea and fare. As well as books to enjoy while you relax and Bibles to take.
In stage two we’ll add biblically based programs for the community. Weekly studies, book clubs and fellowship groups, monthly inspirational workshops for writers, artists, speakers, and students of the Bible. In Stage three we will develop a volunteer atmosphere, that includes individuals of every ability.
The vision for the café is to see an active community hub, that welcomes all, serving together and growing in Christ. Please pray for us. And visit Communityblend.org. We welcome your support through prayer, giving, volunteering.
Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Cor 3:7-9
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:15-16
Therefore, encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing. 1Thessalonians 5:11
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16
