READ ALONGSIDE THE MISSION
The Shoestring Shepherd
Use what is in your hands. A small-church playbook for serving with purpose before you have perfect resources.
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THE STORY
When a community saw a gap, faith stepped into it.
In 1983, Marion County’s pastoral community recognized that people in crisis needed one coordinated place to turn. Interfaith Emergency Services grew from that conviction.
Emergency assistance. Without judgment.
Today, Interfaith serves individuals and families with food, clothing, shelter, housing support, prescription assistance, showers, counseling-related support, identification help, work-related assistance, and more.
02
THE SCALE
One need often hides another.
A family may come for food and also need work boots. A person experiencing homelessness may need a shower, clean clothes, an ID, medication support, and someone willing to advocate for them. Interfaith is built to see the whole person.
250+Volunteers form the backbone of the daily work.
9 areasVolunteer service opportunities across the ministry.
40 schoolsFood 4 Kids partners with nearly forty Marion County schools.
1,800 childrenThe backpack program can support up to 1,800 students with weekend food.
Feed the hunger. Restore the dignity. Help the person move forward.
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WHY BRIDGEBUILDER TRUSTS IT
I know this ministry from the inside.
BridgeBuilder founder Chris Cahill has been proud to serve alongside Interfaith for years through social work, pastoral counseling, and ministry. This is not an organization chosen from a directory. It is work he has watched up close.
That matters because BridgeBuilder is not trying to become every ministry. We want to help trustworthy ministries become easier to find, understand, and support.
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FAITH IN ACTION
Love gets specific.
Jesus’ description of neighbor-love refuses to stay abstract. In Matthew 25:35–40, hunger, welcome, clothing, sickness, and imprisonment become places where love is practiced.
Feed someone. Clothe someone. Visit someone. Help someone stand again.
Interfaith gives local Christians, churches, businesses, families, and volunteers a place to do exactly that.