When God fills a city’s only empty day with grace.
When we prayed about where to expand, we didn’t have a five-year plan. We just had one question: “Lord, where is the need?”
We knew that Welland, Thorold, Niagara Falls were in need of help, but after prayer we decided to try a Wednesday night in Welland, so not to conflict with our Thursday St, Catharines outreach.That’s when we discovered something remarkable. In Welland, six days a week someone or a charity served food to the homeless. But on Wednesdays, the city fell silent.
No hot meals. No coffee. No gathering space.
And so, with that gap staring us in the face, we prayed again — and sensed the Lord saying, “That day is yours.”
Wednesday: The Forgotten Day
When the first Welland Table launched, we didn’t know what to expect.
But by 6:30 PM, guests began arriving — men and women who had already counted that day as a loss. They came tired, hungry, and curious. And when our youth volunteers handed out the first cups of coffee, you could see the surprise: “You’re here… tonight?”
That was the point. Wednesday wasn’t chosen for convenience — it was chosen for obedience.
God filled the only empty day of the week with grace.
Stories from the Welland Table
The Welland Table quickly became more than a food stop — it became a sanctuary without walls.
We quickly met “Pop Corn”. A sort of ” The Don of the streets” larger than life character. A believer, with a heart for the homeless, he knew everyone by name, and as he welcomed our presence, he embodied exactly the type of help we needed. He has diffused arguments, fights, and has directed our resources where they are most needed. He is now attending Rosedale Church taking advantage of a scheduled pick up every Sunday by our volunteers that are closet to the location
Every story from Welland reminds us: we didn’t just meet a need. God let us join His plan.
The Midweek Miracle
For many, the Welland Table is their reset button — a space to be reminded they’re seen, valued, and loved.
And for our youth volunteers, it’s a masterclass in compassion.
They’ve seen people calm down after fights, break into prayer circles, and reconnect with family. The first wednesday we were there, one of our volunteers that was providing support (adult male) recognized his high school friend amongst the homeless. His friend was having a mental crisis. This broke James down. They were close in High School, and now Jordan, his friend could not even recognize him. Our volunteers, young and old learned that ministry isn’t glamorous — it’s gritty, holy, and profoundly human.
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” — Proverbs 11:25 (ESV)
The Rhythm of Grace
The table sets a rhythm — prayer, food, singing, laughter, cleanup, repeat. It’s not dramatic, but it’s powerful. Each week, the same faces come back, and the relationships deepen.
And that’s the miracle: faithfulness builds trust, and trust opens hearts to Christ.
When we show up in the middle of the week, God shows up in the middle of people’s stories.
From the Neighbors Table Ministry
“Give us this day our daily bread.” — Matthew 6:11 (ESV)
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