Karaoke Coffee Club has been going strong for 18 years in the heart of Los Angeles' Skid Row. The ministry of Central City Church was organized by Pastor Tony Stallworth, who was once homeless, to offer a reprieve from the harsh realities of the streets. Starting at 7:30 every Wednesday night, participants can slough off their troubles by taking the stage to sing.
A man named Robert was formerly homeless and credits Karaoke Coffee Club for helping him make crucial changes to get off the streets. He said, "When you're living on the street, you're continually trying to protect yourself, not opening up to anyone, trying to stay hidden, and that can be a deeply isolating thing. But I knew that there would always be a safe space [at Karaoke] on Wednesday night where you could let down your guard, laugh, sing, and basically just be human for a while."
Employ Comfort Dogs
Lutheran Church Charities employs 70 dogs to bring comfort to those who have experienced trauma. Phil Bandy, vice president of Lutheran Church Charities, sums it up: "Dogs open doors that people can't."
For example, when a senior at University High School (Normal, Illinois) committed suicide, dogs and their trained handlers were sent to the library where a number of the students gathered. One of the dogs walked up to a boy sitting alone in the corner and put his head in the boy's lap.
After a minute the boy touched the dog, then hugged him, then started crying and talking to the dog. That allowed the handler to start a conversation with the boy. After everything was over, the principal told the handler that the boy had not spoken to anyone since his friend's suicide.
Tim Hetzner, president of LCC says, "Dogs are non-judgmental. They share love and open the door for others to introduce Christ to the hurting."
Organize a Peace Feast
Jim Mullins, pastor at Redemption Church in Tempe, Arizona, is a foodie. He particularly loves trying different kinds of ethnic food. When he noticed that several of his favorite ethnic restaurants were struggling, he figured suspicion of other cultures was the culprit. So, Mullins and some friends decided to organize a "Peace Feast." They get together at an international restaurant with the dual goals of financially blessing the restaurant and encouraging dialogue between people from different cultures.
Gentle Worship Services
On the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m., Emanuel Lutheran Church in Marion, Ohio, holds a half-hour gentle worship service geared toward people with disabilities—autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Down's—that make it difficult to attend a traditional service.
The lights are dimmed and volume toned down to accommodate the sensory needs of attendees. A sign-language interpreter is present for the duration of the service. Simple, familiar songs like "Jesus Loves Me" are sung, and the bulletin is printed with large text and helpful icons. Molly King, who started the ministry, said, "I could see the difference in my son with autism when he attended this quieter, shorter service. He was less fidgety and felt comfortable participating."
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