Five years ago this month we hosted our very first sit-down dinner at the Compound (thank you Facebook memories for the reminder!).

It all started with the Sunday meal downtown, which we’ve been serving at 3pm for the past eleven years. I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of them for the last seven.

A few years after I started working with UP, I began to realize that the more time I spent with people on the streets, the more time I WANTED to spend with people on the streets! 

This was the thought process that began our beloved tradition of Redemptive Dinners.

That first night we set up large round tables and decorated them with garland lined with candles. We created a warm atmosphere where we sat together, people from all stages and walks of life, to share a meal. I’ll never forget it.

I remember setting up at The Compound (which wasn’t ours at the time) early that first day and praying that relationships would be built here over a meal. 

As I look at some of the pictures from that very first dinner, all I can think is…..Wow! Time flies and God answers prayers!! These meals have now become a staple in my life and for so many on the streets. 

For me personally, our Redemptive Dinners are a time where I stop cooking, cleaning, serving, and I sit. I listen and I share. While I am typically prone to being a Martha-type (Luke 10), I feel like these dinners are a chance to sit at the feet of Jesus with the poor, outcast, and condemned of society.

I am so thankful to have a place to make these dinners come to life on a consistent basis now.

Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with us. Your support makes all of this possible. 

We would appreciate you considering Urban Purpose for a year end donation this year. 

You can make one (or get directions for mailing a check) at this link.

At that link, you can also see a replay of our film, Today Will Be Different. It will give you a remarkable glimpse into the struggles and challenges faced by our friends on the streets on a daily basis.

I hope you and your families all have a great Christmas!

Rachel