Bread of Life Ministry
Feeding Body & Soul
Our neighbors need us…
Bread of Life is an outreach ministry at Hosanna that is focused on those in our local community in need of food and spiritual support. The ministry provides food, toiletries, diapers and clothing every other Wednesday.
Additionally, we develop one-on-one relationships with families who are ready to seek a life thru Christ and our volunteers want to make that journey with them.
Bread of Life works in partnership with Hill Country Daily Bread Ministry of Boerne, which provides ongoing training and family support.
There are volunteer positions for everyone, with each volunteer group performing duties which allow Bread of Life to function.
The Logistics Team travels to Boerne every other Wednesday to collect the supplies from Hill Country Daily Bread, returning to Hosanna around 2:30 pm where our Distribution Team unloads the trailer and lays out each family’s supplies for the Mentor Team to deliver to the families’ homes between 3:00 and 5:00 pm.
From the first visit, the mentor/family relationship develops and grows over time. Issues in family relationships are identified, prayers are offered and solutions are sought. Mentors also encourage the families to utilize goal-setting.
Importantly, a Prayer Team has been established to pray for specific needs of the families as brought forward by the mentors and gathered up on distribution day.
Hosanna began the ministry in late 2017 and made its first distribution in May 2018. Our families come to us through word of mouth, from assignments from Hill Country Daily Bread (HCDBM) in Boerne or from current participants. The number of clients has been as high as 17; currently we serve 10 families. Participants have stayed on the program for as little as 4 months; others since the beginning of the ministry.
HCDBM estimates that approximately $88,000 worth of foodstuff has been distributed to 11 families by our ministry during 2024.
We want all of our families to see the light of Jesus in our mentors and volunteers. We try to provide positive role models and transform the lives of those in crisis and need through the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ.
- We have had families no longer need support after paying off major debts or securing employment and a stable income with funds available to buy food.
- Several clients have joined the church.
- The ministry’s children are attracted to VBS and other events open to the public.
Back to School Blessings Program
Hosanna’s Bread of Life Ministry can participate in any of Hill Country Daily Bread Ministry’s (HCDBM) wrap-around programs during the year. Currently we are supporting their Back to School Blessings program which aims to provide each of the school-age children in our program with a complete set of clothes (including shoes) to wear on the first day of the upcoming school year.
Select a Child…
We ask members of the congregation to select a child from our current list of 10 and shop for a list of clothing items requested by HCDBM. Sizes were provided previously by the parents to HCDBM. Cost for all the items for one child generally runs around $100 or less. A church member may volunteer to shop for one child or join with another to share the cost. We encourage them to get shopping advice from a grandchild or a Hosanna youth to select clothing the recipient would gladly wear on their first day of school.
Selection began May 24 and shopping must be completed by June 22. All items will be delivered to HCDBM where they will confirm all clothing items are included, they will add Bombas socks and a devotional message for the child.
In August, the clothing packages will be returned to Hosanna for a Wednesday distribution to the parents in advance of the first day of school. We make sure we get photos of the kids in their new outfits so that the volunteers and mentors can share in their joy.
Hosanna has participated in this program which provides an opportunity for participation by church members who are not regular Bread of Life volunteers.