The Council Bluffs Church in Iowa has been serving dinner and providing ministry to individuals facing hunger and homelessness on the fourth and fifth Saturdays of each month since 2022, completing 44 Saturdays of dedicated service at New Visions Homeless Services. The volunteer team, coordinated by Shannon Pigsley, brings more volunteers than needed for kitchen duties because their mission extends far beyond serving food. “We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” says Pigsley, who coordinates volunteer and service efforts for the church.
The church’s approach emphasizes personal connection and dignity for every guest served. “We’ll have four or five people serving food, and the rest of us just mingle out in the dining hall,” explains Pigsley. “We probably have another five to eight church members who just talk and engage with the guests. We’ll pick up their trays or bring them a glass of water, or sometimes we offer to pray with them. We want to make them feel special.”
Ministry of Small Acts Creates Big Impact
Beyond meal service, the volunteer team regularly brings small gifts, hygiene items, and “Dignity bags” to encourage guests. They also distribute Christian literature, including The Great Controversy, which Pigsley notes has been popular with recipients.
“We know we can’t solve homelessness,” acknowledges Pigsley, “but kindness and hope are things we CAN give.” She coaches and trains volunteers on how to relate to guests with dignity, helping them understand that homelessness can affect anyone.
Two regular volunteers, Alyssa and Michelle, describe their service as transformational. “I was intimidated at first,” admits Alyssa, “but once you jump in, it’s an amazing thing to be a part of.” Both women say volunteering at New Visions has become a treasured time for them.
Recognition During National Volunteer Month
New Visions Homeless Services highlighted the Council Bluffs church’s dedication during National Volunteer Month. Heather Beekhuizen, Community Liaison for New Visions, praised the group’s commitment, noting they are among 1,400 annual volunteers who make a difference in the lives of neighbors facing hunger and homelessness.
“The group is all about ‘small acts of kindness,’ but those small acts are huge for our guests,” Beekhuizen wrote in recognizing the church’s service.
Part of Broader Church Mission
Church members view their homeless ministry as one expression of their comprehensive mission approach. “We feel it’s a privilege to serve and be Jesus’ hands and feet. We are called to reach everyone,” explained a church representative. “Our church starts within our church, within our community, within our country, and across borders.”
The homeless ministry represents one of many current ministries at the Council Bluffs Seventh-day Adventist Church, with leadership indicating that they continue to add new service opportunities to meet community needs.
The consistent Saturday service demonstrates the church’s commitment to sustained community engagement, with volunteers treating each opportunity to serve as “pure joy” rather than an obligation. Through their regular presence at New Visions, the church creates ongoing relationships that extend Christian care beyond a single meal to encompass prayer, conversation, and genuine human connection.
This ministry exemplifies how local Adventist churches across the Iowa-Missouri Conference are actively living out their faith through community service, providing both physical nourishment and spiritual encouragement to vulnerable populations in their neighborhoods.
Heather Beekhuizen is Community Liaison for New Visions Homeless Services. She works alongside Shannon Pigsley ACS Director for the Council Bluffs Seventh-day Adventist Church.
