The last Sunday in June was a much-anticipated day for the University church in Los Angeles to work with God for the community. Members from the community received free gifts such as health screenings, literature about the Bible and good health, baby supplies, haircuts, new clothing, backpacks, and more. There was even a Kid’s Zone where parents could watch their kids play various games: a cornhole toss, basketball arcade, and giant Connect 4. Everyone was welcomed to a free lunch with veggie burgers, pizza slices, and snow cones.
The event was made possible by a partnership with Vituity Cares, a nonprofit organization that produces health care and free essential needs events nationwide. They arranged for local community-oriented vendors to offer their services, and University members helped work different booths.
“This is wonderful,” Shea Armstrong, University church elder, said of the event. “Showing the love of God, contacting other people who love God and love community to do something nice for people—especially in these times—it’s just a blessing.”
While the main even took place outside in the church parking lot, volunteers from Comfort Cases, a nonprofit organization that “inspires communities to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care,” were inside packing backpacks for youth in Los Angeles entering foster care. Comfort Cases partnered with Women of the NFL, who helped pack 200 backpacks. One Comfort Cases volunteer explained that when youth are placed in foster care, they are often given trash bags to carry their belongings. With these brand-new backpacks filled with blankets, pajamas, toiletries, reading material, and other age-appropriate goodies, the children feel loved and travel with dignity.
God blessed to bring close to 300 people to the event—families who left with smiles on their faces, bags full of gifts in their hands, and new hope for tomorrow.
“This event was a perfect template for ministry,” said Lawrence Dorsey Sr., University church senior pastor. “It personified the vital characteristics of service: compassion, empathy, generosity, thoughtfulness, and cooperation. These partnerships with various organizations proved beneficial and edifying to our community, letting them know that Jesus cares—and the University church does, too. To God be the glory!”
