Mike and Barbara Servello had been Pastors in Utica for almost 20 years. The congregation of Mount Zion Ministries had been growing steadily and Pastor Mike was praying about new ways to serve the city. As he testified, “I have always had a deep burden to see our city and region won to Christ.” As he was praying he was also reading the local newspaper and became aware of the crisis facing many poor families in the community. He said, “My heart broke as I heard the story of family after family being turned away because there was just no more food to give. I knew we had a mandate from the Lord to do something about it.”
During the next several weeks Mike and his pastoral team became increasingly convinced they were to serve their city by serving the poor of the city. They became convinced they had a biblical mandate to do so. In prayer Mike meditated on Job 34:28: “The cry of the poor comes to God; He hears the cry of the needy” (NCV). Their study of Scripture highlighted the need to actively embrace ministry to the poor. “I am commanding you to share your resources freely with the poor and with others in need” (Deuteronomy 15:11). “Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need . . . . Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark” (Isaiah 58:7, 10 CEV).
Their first assignment from the Lord was, “Get a large warehouse, fill it with food and feed every needy person in your city.” It seemed like a daunting task for a local church, one that all the social services in town together were not able to accomplish. Yet it was impossible to deny the mandate from the Lord.
In early 2000 they found just the right building with over 30,000 square feet of floor space. Through a series of supernatural events, the owner of the building ended up donating it to the church for $1.00, and the Compassion Coalition was launched. This was a sure confirmation that they were heading in the right direction. Pastor Mike and the Mt. Zion Ministries congregation had been praying for miracles, and now they were beginning to see them as they served the poor. “I have never been involved with anything as consistently supernatural as this ministry of helping the needy.”
They took possession of the building and set their vision. Their first goal was to distribute one tractor-trailer load of food every two months, or six loads per year. They met that goal quickly, and within six months they were distributing one load per week. By 2004 they were distributing ten loads of food to the poor every week.
It wasn’t long before the local government began to take note of the work of the congregation. Mike made an appointment with the Mayor and simply asked for input on how to best serve the poor of the city. They were amazed that anyone actually cared. Soon a close, personal relationship developed between Mt. Zion Ministries and the various local government agencies, resulting in far-reaching influence in the city.
Transformation in the community is now the natural result of consistently serving those on the margins. To Mike Servello the key was tapping into God’s heart for people. His conclusion was clear: “God promises to bless those who will carry out His desires. He promises to bless those who bless the poor (Ps. 41:1-3; Pr. 22:9; 28:27; 19:17). God will help them out of their troubles (Ps. 41:1; Job 5:20). He will protect them (Ps. 37:19). He will destroy the power (plans) of their enemies (Ps. 41:2; Job 5:1). God will heal them (Ps. 41:3; Is. 58:7-8).” God places such a high priority on serving the poor and powerless, identifying with his heart simply results in the blessing of the Lord. And that has certainly been the experience of Mt. Zion Ministries.
The members of the congregation have been newly energized by their compassion ministries. The church did well before, focusing on the usual congregational goals. Now they are aware of a more important focus outside of themselves, on the community around them, and as a result, they have far more spiritual passion and motivation for ministry. They are learning what it means to be a New Testament church.
Mike Servello gives specific words of advice to pastors and local churches who may want to embrace ministry to the poor in their area:
1. Begin by praying. Ask the Lord for a burden and a vision to help the poor.
2. Realize this is a ministry the Lord desires His church to embrace. It is a biblical mandate given to every local church in every city. It is central to the purpose of God for the church.
3. Learn how to discern needs in your area. Read the local newspaper. Prayer walk the streets of the city and ask the Lord to open your eyes to the needs around you.
4. Contact your local government and social service leaders. Ask your government officials about the needs of the city as they see them, and ask for their advice in how best to meet them. They will be shocked!
5. Don’t despise small beginnings. Start where you are able and grow from there. Let the Lord bring increase according to his purpose and timing.
6. Enlist the help of local businesses and suppliers. Communicate your vision to serve the city. Offer the help of volunteers from the congregation. Ask them to donate goods, services, and finances. You might be surprised at their response.
7. Have faith and be generous. The Bible says that God “will take care of the helpless and poor when they cry to him; for they have no one else to defend them” (Ps. 72:12 TLB). Pastor Mike advises, “Jesus used five loaves of bread and a few small fish to feed 5,000. He will use your efforts to bear abundant fruit in your city.”
During 2004, Mt. Zion Ministries laid the plans for a children’s feeding center. A couple in the church encountered very needy children in a housing project and began bringing them boxes of juice and snacks. It wasn’t long before the vision began to spread in the congregation. At one point Mike and members of his leadership team met with the Mayor and the Commissioner of Social Services. They were so supportive the Mayor turned a building owned by the city over to the church for use in feeding children. The Commissioner immediately helped to get a financial grant for the service.
As a result, the food center, Compassion Kids, was opened in July, feeding 30-40 children per day. Within two weeks they were feeding over 100 children every day. As of 2005, Compassion Kids is feeding over 1,000 children every day in seven schools.
It soon became apparent that the compassion ministries launched by Mt. Zion Ministries was too big a task for one congregation. This realization led to the promotion of a growing network of various congregations in the area, resulting in new expressions of Christian unity. They have also begun to serve the business community by sponsoring training events and marketplace consultations.
It’s one thing to have a vision for transforming a city. It’s another thing to see practical expressions of the gospel that will result in transformation. If Jesus was a Pastor in Utica, New York, how would he work for community transformation? I’m sure he would do so in the same way he did during his earthly ministry; by showing the love of God to those inhabiting “the highways and byways” of the city. Community transformation is possible, not by seeking power but by serving the powerless. That is the lesson of Mt. Zion Ministries, and many other like-minded congregations.
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