Greetings in the name of Jesus! As you are likely aware, city council will be enforcing a permit system for the use of public parks by groups larger than 25. This would require Keepin’ It Real to pay a deposit of $350, and then a $75 per hour fee every Sunday. This is beyond the ministry budget, and even if it were affordable, it seems unconscionable to think that that money would go to the city and not for assistance to the homeless people that we are trying to serve. It is reasonable to require permits, but unreasonable to charge fees to non-profits. Pastor Oscar is in the process of finding an alternate location for worship and events. We will let you know where to find us when that decision is made. If you feel that this is unfair, we encourage you to voice your concerns to city council and to the mayor’s office! On a happier note, we are launching preparations for the 9th Annual Anniversary Celebration!! It will be held on Sunday, April 13th, at 2 pm, location TBA. We will worship together, feed a meal, and distribute backpacks with necessities. We are planning to bless 400-450 homeless. Will you help us? To make our goal, we need 300 new backpacks (18 or 19 inch), 300 new t-shirts (L-XXL), and new underwear (450 pr.). We are seeking individuals, churches, businesses, and groups to collect these items. The most cost effective way is to search for bulk discounts on-line. Wholesale Stockroom told us that we can order bulk for an added discount in mid- March when inventories are restocked, so financial donations would go toward ordering backpacks. Other sources we have used are www.cottonconnection.com, www.brooktextiles.com, and www.northpines.org. (If you find other good sources, please share!!!) Backpacks will be pre-loaded for ease of distribution, so we would need eveything by April 4th. Pastor Oscar is asking for pledges of a specific number, so that we can advise others as needed. Please let us know if you are able to help! We will also need volunteers to prepare and bring food. We are in need of turkey, ham, chicken, starches (mashed potatoes, rice, gravy, sweet potatoes, mac n’ cheese), vegetables, sodas/water, and desserts. We hope you can prepare some food and/or come out to serve. If you are a prayer warrior who would like to come out to pray with these dear folks, we would be grateful for you. If you would like to help, please contact our meal coordinator at Maxwell_latonya@yahoo.com, or our volunteer coordinator at Richard.krause2468@gmail.com. We are excited to watch God work through you! The homeless will be on the receiving end of this effort and will be blessed, but those who serve will be blessed as well – many times over!! We hope you will enlist your family and friends, and we look forward to hearing from you! We also ask for your prayers that this Anniversary Celebration will enable the homeless to hear and respond to the gospel message, or be strengthened in their Christian walk. Hope to hear from you!

Thank you, thank you to all of the volunteers who gave of their time to come out to feed the homeless on Christmas! Please know how much you were appreciated by those you served, and by the volunteers of Keepin’ It Real Ministries. Pastor Oscar estimates that we fed around 200, and prepared another 50 meals to take to senior citizens. There is no way that this could have happened without you taking the time to prepare food and to come out to serve. (There were some people who weren’t able to come, but sent food anyway. God bless you!) Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ!

We hope that you might like to be involved in the ministry at other times of the year! You are very welcome to come out to Finlay Park any Sunday at 3 pm to participate in worship. If you would like to participate financially, your gifts will be used to help pay rent and utilities at the transitional houses, the rent on the storage units (where donated items are collected, sorted, and stored until they can be distributed), and for gas and upkeep on the ministry van. Donations can be mailed to Keepin’ It Real Ministries, 1037 Elmwood Ave, Box 11, Columbia, SC 29201. Donations of clothing, toiletries, backpacks, coats, blankets, reading glasses, and Bibles, and furniture (for those transitioning off of the street) are also needed. Donations may be dropped off at U-Haul Moving and Storage on Elmwood.  Your gifts are crucial and much appreciated.

Thank you so very, very much for being a blessing to others! God bless you!!

Looking for a way to serve this Christmas? Meals for the homeless are served on Christmas, but none at suppertime.  Keepin' It Real Ministries is working on plans for such a meal on December 25^th. It will be served at the bus transit station on the corner of Laurel and Sumter Streets. The meal will be served outside, but the building offers a roof overhang and some lighting. It is also where the homeless can catch the bus to the winter shelter for the night.  Volunteers should arrive at 4 pm; the meal will begin at 4:30.

Will you please help us to provide this meal? If you will be town and cooking for your family, why not prepare extra!?! Menu items still needed include turkey, ham, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and vegetables. If you would like to help but can’t stay to serve, it would certainly be OK to drop off food, or send it with someone who is coming. It works best to package food in aluminum pans, placed in boxes or coolers to keep it warm.

The gift of your presence, fellowship, and prayers will be a huge blessing for the homeless, and it is sincerely hoped that you will consider being a part of this effort. If you would like to help, please contact the ministry through the website (contact us page), or call Pastor Oscar Gadsden at 803.406.0724. Thank you and God bless!

The Thanksgiving Bash was a wonderful success! We fed approximately 350 people and distributed 318 backpacks with hoodies, t-shirts, and toiletries. Worship was inspirational with song, litergical dance, and a message full of hope from a wonderful young friend of the ministry named Christian.

We must especially thank the army of volunteers who donated backpacks and clothing, packed toiletry kits,  prepared food, served the meal, and gave of themselves - reaching out as the hands and feet of Christ! Thank you and God bless!!!

The 7th Annual Thanksgiving Bash is set for Sunday, November 10, at 2 pm on the stage in Finlay Park. Everyone is invited to come out to participate in worship and to help serve the homeless. If you would like to bring something to share, vegetable and side dishes, as well as hoodies and backpacks would be gratefully accepted! Hope to see you there!

Love and Greetings in the Name of Jesus!

Welcome to our web site! Below you will find updates for Keepin' It Real Ministries:

These are uncertain times for the homeless in Columbia. City council continues to work to pass new ordinances, which they would like to go into effect soon. Pastor Oscar is actively gathering information and praying. He is waiting to see exactly what is enacted before he makes ministry decisions. I know that he would be grateful for your prayers that God will lead us in the right direction so that the ministry can continue its mission to share the gospel, provide for the homeless, and assist people in recovery. As you might imagine, all of this is weighing heavily on Pastor Oscar. Please pray for strength and encouragement for him and his team.

Current ministry needs are as follows:

• Financial assistance 
•  Men's clothing (items go very quickly)
• New men's socks and underwear (critical need)
• New hoodies, t-shirts, and backpacks (for the Thanksgiving Bash)
• Pledges of prepared food (for the Thanksgiving Bash)
• 2 clothes dryers for the men's transitional homes (current machines have died)
•  Donations for Operation Christmas Child (see below)

The Thanksgiving Bash is still scheduled for November 10th, at 2pm. Volunteers have been collecting items for distribution. If you and your small group are interested in making donations, hoodies and t-shirts (especially sizes L-XXL) and backpacks are what are most needed. Online sources offering irregulars and seconds are most cost effective. The food sign-up has been progressing as well. Still needed are starches (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes), cranberry sauce, veggies, and canned sodas. We also need someone to make a very large pot of gravy! If you would like to participate, please contact us! We will add you to our list.

Last but not least, the ministry is starting to feel a critical need for financial assistance. A donor, who sponsored the men's house, is no longer able to help. Pastor Oscar has been unable to work in recent months, and donations have been down over the summer. Monetary donations and/or sponsors are needed to cover shortfalls in rent and utilities at Real House (men's transitional home), gas and repairs for the ministry van, and for prescription and other assistance for the homeless. Your gifts would be a true blessing and can be mailed to Keepin' It Real Ministries, 1037 Elmwood Ave, Box 11, Columbia, SC 29201. 

 

Keepin' It Real will participate in Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. On Sundays, there will be a collection tub in the park. Shoe boxes will be packed and sent to children overseas in the name of Keepin' It Real Ministries.

We pray that God will continue to bless the homeless through Keepin' It Real. Thanks be to God! We are ever grateful for your support and assistance! E-mail us at keepinitrealministriessc@gmail.com if you have any questions. Blessings to you!

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Love and Greetings in the Name of Jesus!

Welcome to our web site! Below you will find updates for Keepin' It Real Ministries:

These are uncertain times for the homeless in Columbia. City council continues to work to pass new ordinances, which they would like to go into effect soon. Pastor Oscar is actively gathering information and praying. He is waiting to see exactly what is enacted before he makes ministry decisions. I know that he would be grateful for your prayers that God will lead us in the right direction so that the ministry can continue its mission to share the gospel, provide for the homeless, and assist people in recovery. As you might imagine, all of this is weighing heavily on Pastor Oscar. Please pray for strength and encouragement for him and his team.

Current ministry needs are as follows:

• Financial assistance 
•  Men's clothing (items go very quickly)
• New men's socks and underwear (critical need)
• New hoodies, t-shirts, and backpacks (for the Thanksgiving Bash)
• Pledges of prepared food (for the Thanksgiving Bash)

The Thanksgiving Bash is still scheduled for November 10th, at 2pm. Volunteers have been collecting items for distribution. If you and your small group are interested in making donations, hoodies and t-shirts (especially sizes L-XXL) and backpacks are what are most needed. Online sources offering irregulars and seconds are most cost effective. The food sign-up has been progressing as well. Still needed are starches (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes), cranberry sauce, veggies, and canned sodas. We also need someone to make a very large pot of gravy! If you would like to participate, please contact us! We will add you to our list.

Last but not least, the ministry is starting to feel a critical need for financial assistance. A donor, who sponsored the men's house, is no longer able to help. Pastor Oscar has been unable to work in recent months, and donations have been down over the summer. Monetary donations and/or sponsors are needed to cover shortfalls in rent and utilities at Real House (men's transitional home), gas and repairs for the ministry van, and for prescription and other assistance for the homeless. Your gifts would be a true blessing and can be mailed to Keepin' It Real Ministries, 1037 Elmwood Ave, Box 11, Columbia, SC 29201. 

We pray that God will continue to bless the homeless through this ministry. Thanks be to God! We are ever grateful for your support and assistance! E-mail us at keepinitrealministriessc@gmail.com if you have any questions. Blessings to you!

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.