COS Family Trip March 2026 Day#2

Today's first stop was at Crossfire Ministries. This incredible organization provides no-cost groceries, household and personal items for families facing difficult times. God has continually provided donations and volunteers to CM for over thirty years. We joined their morning prayer meeting and to be honest, it felt more like a community group than a set of volunteers. They are prayer warriors who celebrate and grieve together. As our kids sat quietly, they listened as one volunteer after another shared how God was working and how He had answered prayers. 

Before the line of guests were welcomed in, our team split up to assist the volunteers in various jobs throughout the warehouse. With all of the donations received by Crossfire each week, it takes a small army of volunteers to break down large quantities of things into smaller ones for shoppers. For example, one of our first tasks was to bag up laundry detergent powder into portions for small, medium and large families. No one is turned away at CM but everyone is required to register with the amount of people in their household. When a guest comes in to shop, they sign in and are handed a laminated card on which is written their first name and household occupant number. That card is placed on the front of their grocery cart so as they shop, they are greeted by name. As a few of the kids and I bagged up cups of detergent powder, we overheard volunteers greeting guests as warmly as if they were old friends. 

Another job we were able to work on with the kids was bagging up rice into smaller portions. There was SO much rice! If our entire team of twenty had only worked on the rice this morning, we still wouldn't have gotten through all of it. This was a fantastic job for some of the kids to work on because it was at the back of the warehouse and they could be together. A few of us also restocked canned goods as shoppers came through the aisles. The kids did a tremendous job keeping the shelves filled with cans so each shopper had the same great experience. Several of the guests commented on how hard the kids worked and how happy they were to help!

While we were inside, some of our male team members were out in the parking lot gathering carts and bringing them back to the store. Many of the shoppers do not own a car and must therefore walk to get their groceries and then walk home. One of the guys had the opportunity to help a guest carry her groceries back to her home that was close by and she was so grateful. 

After a quick lunch, we headed out to Springs Rescue Mission for a tour and some on-site projects. If you have never been to SRM, please schedule a tour! This is a clean 450-bed, low-barrier shelter that is incredibly purposeful in their system. Their goal is to help their guests get back on their feet and start a new life. They provide three meals a day and a safe place to sleep but that is only the beginning. They have laundry facilities and showers. They have vocational training and job assistance. They allow pets and have kennels for both cats and dogs. They have counseling, wellness classes and addiction recovery programs as well as daily visits from outside resources to help guests regain their independence. There is one entrance through the "Welcome Center" where each guest passes through a metal detector and is checked for any dangerous items.  One of the things we noticed on the tour was how calm it was on campus. Guests were outside in the courtyard peacefully sleeping because they knew they were safe. 

Due to the ages of the children in our group, we did not interact with any clients on campus. Instead, we were escorted to a different building and were able to work on projects which will be distributed to future guests. SRM did an amazing job creating ways for our kids to be involved in serving our homeless neighbors. Decorating paper bags for snacks, writing out Easter cards, and making blankets were all kid-friendly activities which will hopefully bring a smile to a weary heart searching for hope. 

Soon after we arrived back at our hotel, a huge charter bus pulled in and dozens of band students flooded into the lobby. Anyone who has ever participated in a mission trip knows the #1 rule: "Be flexible and roll with it." So far on this trip, the hotel conference room has been our morning devo/evening debrief place. Due to the hotel now being at capacity, our conference room was now to be used as dining room overflow to accommodate everyone. The pool area was already in use. There was no other conference room. So, we asked the front desk if the fitness center was open. They laughed a little but said we were welcome to use it. No one was working out at the time so the gym became our place of worship. We were blessed to have Faith and Cole (two 56 worship leaders) come to lead worship for our team (and the acoustics were fabulous!) God always provides!

- Sharon Adams