<< Return Home Miracles and Salvation Happening… A Vision Takes Shape A bear of a man, bearded and built like an NFL linebacker, Jerry was formerly a successful entrepreneur and landscape contractor in Rochester, New York, but left that comfortable life after, as he said, “God put a new vision in my heart and called me to establish a compassionate ministry to help the downtrodden people many churches were casting aside.” In 1999, that call took him to the struggling New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene in Casa Grande, a community with a high population of poor and immigrant families. When he arrived, the congregation was small and struggling and had been without a pastor for more than a year. Those loyal few were the core of what was to come. After Jerry and his wife Karen settled in Casa Grande, the businessman’s brain connected to the minister’s heart. A vision began to form. “Although they are rich in spirit, the people in this community are some of the poorest of the poor,” he noted. “They need everything from basic food and shelter to clothing and diapers. Many are single mothers just trying to survive and keep their children safe. Many can’t even get such benefits as food stamps or any other public assistance. I knew something had to change and fast.” Thus was born the MASH Unit. What’s Happening? The MASH Unit fills thousands of hungry stomachs every month by distributing free food three days every week and holding twice-monthly Project Manna (food from Heaven) days. Manna boxes, worth $200 to $300, are sold for $15, a price that barely covers the cost of the approximately eight pounds of meat in the box. People arrive as early as 4 p.m. the day before, sleeping in the church parking lot so they can be first in line when the doors open at 7 a.m. When asked if they ever run out of food, Jerry replied, “Of course. On our last Manna we had 200 families, but only enough food for 30.” The scene is clearly emotional. Seniors supporting grandchildren weep in gratitude for the rare donation of candy or potato chips, treats the children have not seen in months. When the infrequent yogurt, ice cream or steaks are given to families, many children, never having seen such luxuries, ask, “What is this?” Project Manna has also expanded to two other locations: El Mirage, another impoverished farming community, and a closely-guarded secret desert location that provides water, food, clothing, healing and ministry to the souls of 700-1000 illegal immigrants who have been walking across the desert in search of a better life. Jerry explained, “We were all created in the God’s image and we’re all the same family. Many of the people we serve are illegals, but we never ask their status. We refuse to humiliate them in that way. After all, Jesus never asked for qualifications. Why should we? Providing More than Food >>