Oklahoma City church finds a way to serve unhoused and underserved neighbors, rain or shine, with outreach foundation
There’s a distinct emotion that you can only access when you’re engaged in loving service to people who are invisible to most of society. Maybe it’s a certain species of joy. Perhaps it’s a fraternity born of common humanity. Or it may simply be the feeling of having been transformed into a vessel of God’s pure love.
Whatever that feeling is, it works as a medicine to scores of people in an unassuming Oklahoma City parking lot, triggering happiness hormones in the giver and the receiver alike. The Southern Hills Outreach Foundation, a nonprofit organization birthed by Southern Hills United Methodist Church, has written the perfect prescription.
Head down to the back lot of Exchange Baptist Church in Oklahoma City at around 11:30 a.m. any given Tuesdayregardless of the weather - and you’ll find a group who, until a recent move, served the unhoused and underserved at the OKC Stockyards.
What is on offer changes depending on needs - and on what the organization can access. On this day, with Christmas a week away and a breeze chilling the air, the needs were many. Olivia Ankrom, who serves as administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator at Lazarus Community, handed out coats. One happy recipient showed off her long wool coat, which will keep her toasty throughout the coming winner.
Jimmy James, who has no affiliation with the church but just loves to serve the community, helps people pick out clothes. “Everything I do, I wouldn’t be doing if it weren’t for God,” he shared. “Giving it all to God is the hardest thing to ever do, but the best thing.” James has been helping for about a year and a half. He worked with individuals to find clothing that fits. He also helped people repack their bags, locate other services, and more. “I feel lucky to be here.”
Volunteers greeted people experiencing homeless as the old friends they certainly now are, asking after health conditions and families, and rushing to find that one thing they’d saved for when they saw this friend next.
Barbara Linn, a member of Southern Hills UMC, lost her husband last November. She brought his clothes to share, and has been volunteering ever since. “We’re here every Tuesday, no matter what,” intoned Linn. “We were here on the fourth of July, and we’ll be here the day after Christmas.” Linn’s popularity, in addition to her winning smile, might have something to do with the shoes, belts, coats, and more that she keeps ready for those who need them. It might also be here loving spirit. One gentleman asked for a belt, but she was out.
“If you come back next week,” said Linn, “I’ll try to make sure I have one for you.”
Dan Humpula, whose wife Ann is one of the organization’s founders, handed out Christmas gift bags that included goodies like toiletries, warm socks, gloves, and even bus passes. He wants other churches to know that they’re always looking for other groups to partner with. “If you know any churches that want to partner with us to improve the way we do things, we’d love to talk to them,” he asserted between Merry Christmases as he found just the right package for each visitor.
A hot meal was the order of the day. A hearty Christmas casserole, green bean casserole, fruity dessert, and rolls were paired with desserts plus water, hot chocolate, or coffee. Tables were set up so people could dine on site, or bags were available to take the meal with them. Dog food is, as always, a great need for the companions of those served by the outreach organization. JR Mayanga, associate pastor at Southern Hills UMC, was on hand to bag up kibble for hungry pups.
“This is a lay driven ministry,” said Carlos Ramirez, senior pastor of Southern Hills UMC. “We pastors support the best way we can. This is a testament to the power of laity.”
“Someday, with a bit of hope and the reformataion of the hearts of people, there will no longer be a need for an outreach like this,” explained Ann Humpula, the foundation’s leader.
If you head down to the back lot of Exchange Baptist Church on any given Tuesday, you’ll be sure to see people with tattoos, uncombed hair, and tattered clothes layered on to keep them warm. You’ll also see the face of Jesus. The very people served by the Southern Hills Outreach Foundation are the ones Jesus surely referred to as “the least of these.”
Ask any volunteer, though, and you’ll also find that they’re also some of the best of us.