New evangelizism idea. My wife thinks I'm being ridiculous

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So I was watching some youtube vids posted by my old Methodist pastor on Facebook, and got a wonderful idea. In my line of work, I only work 14 days a month (although my workday is 24 hours), so that frees up a lot of time. Now, obviously my idea won’t happen tomorrow, since I haven’t the money or resources, but it’ll get up and moving within 3 years.

I want to buy a food truck. Like a “roach coach”. Ya know, burgers, hot dogs, sodas, water bottles, all that good stuff. And I want to drive around and feed the homeless and lower income areas in Houston and the more rural areas surrounding my town. My goal is to use this food truck to not only offer physical nourishment but to pass out pocket NT’s, pray with people, talk to them, and show them the love of Christ in every way possible offered by the ministry to give them spiritual nourishment.

So, what do you guys think about it? I’m aware of the certifications and such needed for the food truck, and I’ll be completely legal doing this. I’ve never embarked on such a missionary thing. The most I’ve done is minister to strangers on the street and the prisoners at the unit where I work.

So, any opinions?
 
I say if you can afford it and you’re meeting your family obligations…sounds good and tasty 🍕🍰🍿
 
dsmantz said:
I’ve never embarked on such a missionary thing.
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Read up on Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Houses. She didn’t have roach coaches, but she’ll be a big source of inspiration for you.
 
There might be others who would partner with you.
Bet you’re praying about it! I think God appreciates those people who don’t mind doing the ridiculous for His glory and for the benefit of the less fortunate.
Sounds like a wonderful intention for the Divine Mercy Chaplet, especially with the Novena starting on Good Friday, right around the corner.
 
I suppose I should let it be known that my wife is fully supportive of this little endeavor. It’s just not every day your husband says he wants to do homeless ministry using a food truck, so she’s been taken a little off guard.
 
Hey sounds good - you also need to make sure you have the support of the parish and diocese you are in and that the materials you are using are Church approved - the Church may help you with this as well as possibly get you some pastoral training and clergy support.
 
joanofarc2008 said:
Hey sounds good - you also need to make sure you have the support of the parish and diocese you are in and that the materials you are using are Church approved - the Church may help you with this as well as possibly get you some pastoral training and clergy support.
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Everything passed out will come from EWTN or CA tracts. The parish I belong to is rather small, and money isn’t exactly abound to pass out. I still need to do some research in it all, but I’ve got a feeling that it’ll be a life long adventure.
 
dsmantz said:
Everything passed out will come from EWTN or CA tracts. The parish I belong to is rather small, and money isn’t exactly abound to pass out. I still need to do some research in it all, but I’ve got a feeling that it’ll be a life long adventure.
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Granted but you will still need education and to be Consecrated by the Bishop of your diocese In Accordance With “Co-Workers in the Vineyard” as it is written by the USCCB. Since you are doing street ministry this will be dependent on what level of education (it may only be a day of Virtus training or it may be the full pastoral associate program) the diocese is comfortable with you having since you will be representing the Magisterium. Just some thoughts.
 
dsmantz said:
So I was watching some youtube vids posted by my old Methodist pastor on Facebook, and got a wonderful idea. In my line of work, I only work 14 days a month (although my workday is 24 hours), so that frees up a lot of time. Now, obviously my idea won’t happen tomorrow, since I haven’t the money or resources, but it’ll get up and moving within 3 years.

I want to buy a food truck. Like a “roach coach”. Ya know, burgers, hot dogs, sodas, water bottles, all that good stuff. And I want to drive around and feed the homeless and lower income areas in Houston and the more rural areas surrounding my town. My goal is to use this food truck to not only offer physical nourishment but to pass out pocket NT’s, pray with people, talk to them, and show them the love of Christ in every way possible offered by the ministry to give them spiritual nourishment.

So, what do you guys think about it? I’m aware of the certifications and such needed for the food truck, and I’ll be completely legal doing this. I’ve never embarked on such a missionary thing. The most I’ve done is minister to strangers on the street and the prisoners at the unit where I work.

So, any opinions?
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I think that your idea is great. If I were you I would look into Mobile Loaves and Fishes. It is a charitable organization that does exactly what you are proposing. They are active in Austin and I think that they might be active in Houston too. If you setup or help the development of a group you can do much more than a one man operation. It takes a lot of volunteers to have something like this moving. This past Saturday we had approximately 15 pre-confirmation students that participated in the food preparation and distribution. It was a great experience for them too. If you are involved within the parish and work we volunteers you can also do a lot of evangelization within the Church. Remember that there are a lot of Catholics with huge hearts but poor understanding of the Church teachings and of the homeless people.
 
dsmantz said:
So I was watching some youtube vids posted by my old Methodist pastor on Facebook, and got a wonderful idea. In my line of work, I only work 14 days a month (although my workday is 24 hours), so that frees up a lot of time. Now, obviously my idea won’t happen tomorrow, since I haven’t the money or resources, but it’ll get up and moving within 3 years.

I want to buy a food truck. Like a “roach coach”. Ya know, burgers, hot dogs, sodas, water bottles, all that good stuff. And I want to drive around and feed the homeless and lower income areas in Houston and the more rural areas surrounding my town. My goal is to use this food truck to not only offer physical nourishment but to pass out pocket NT’s, pray with people, talk to them, and show them the love of Christ in every way possible offered by the ministry to give them spiritual nourishment.

So, what do you guys think about it? I’m aware of the certifications and such needed for the food truck, and I’ll be completely legal doing this. I’ve never embarked on such a missionary thing. The most I’ve done is minister to strangers on the street and the prisoners at the unit where I work.

So, any opinions?
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Anything you do for the homeless would be very much appreciated. Even if you only had a cardboard box and handed out sack lunches and demonstrated God’s love, you would be a great blessing. Food trucks are very expensive. Count the cost. I just had a thought Maybe you could convert an old school bus into a missionary vehicle. God will provide the resources if the Holy Spirit is telling you to do this. May God bless your efforts.
 
**Great idea !

There is a lady in Eureka, Ca. that started doing this over 20 years ago, all by herself out of her car.
She just started making food in her kitchen twice a day, and drove to different locations and handed the food out where she knew the homeless hang out. Ater doing this alone for years and years, word finally started getting out, and now she has companies donating things to help out. Someone also donated a catering truck they weren’t using.

I’m sure she can give you plenty of ideas on how to get started. She’s at:
BettyChinn.org.

I’ll keep you in my prayers.**
.
 
Find out what else is going on in your area, and partner with other agencies that are helping the homeless. You can tap into their expertise and their base of volunteers. 🙂

(Just make sure that doing this doesn’t cause your wife and children to be among the homeless, as well - and do get your Bishop’s permission, since you’ll be working as a Catholic Evangelist in his Diocese.)
 
Just wanted to add that I think this is a great idea. I feel that I am being called to evangelize too, but am still trying to figure out what God wants me to do. I will pray for you in this endeavour.
 
I sort of see where you wife is coming from. I love Christian food/homeless shelters, but a traveling one? Not sure…

But what the heck? I’ve been wrong before. Try it out.
 
Yeah, it really seems like the food truck thing is a long time down the road. But, my wife and I did just purchase a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan with tons of cargo space. It shouldn’t be too hard to spend a half day making PB&J, ham and cheese, and other sandwiches, driving around to the homeless areas and handing out Johnnies. It would certainly be a small step in the right direction. I’ll have a talk with my parish priest about getting in touch with Cardinal DiNardo and what would be needed in order to do such a thing.
 
dsmantz said:
Yeah, it really seems like the food truck thing is a long time down the road. But, my wife and I did just purchase a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan with tons of cargo space. It shouldn’t be too hard to spend a half day making PB&J, ham and cheese, and other sandwiches, driving around to the homeless areas and handing out Johnnies. It would certainly be a small step in the right direction. I’ll have a talk with my parish priest about getting in touch with Cardinal DiNardo and what would be needed in order to do such a thing.
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With those things in mind that sounds like a better idea than going straight to the Roach Coach - just a thought. BTW - Starbucks donates it’s food at the end of the day that is expired but eatable to charity to be distributed.
 
I think it is an awesome idea. I admire your courage in answering the needs of our brothers and sisters who are in need. Mother Teresa once replied, when asked how she was able to care for so many ill and dying people and not fear being infected with an illness, that she has learned to see the lord in everyone and when she sees someone suffering she sees the lord suffering and that makes it easy to help. I believe you will allow people to see the lord in you and that in itself is priceless. God bless you, i pray that all goes well for you and that the Holy Spirit works with you and through you.
 
dsmantz said:
So I was watching some youtube vids posted by my old Methodist pastor on Facebook, and got a wonderful idea. In my line of work, I only work 14 days a month (although my workday is 24 hours), so that frees up a lot of time. Now, obviously my idea won’t happen tomorrow, since I haven’t the money or resources, but it’ll get up and moving within 3 years.

I want to buy a food truck. Like a “roach coach”. Ya know, burgers, hot dogs, sodas, water bottles, all that good stuff. And I want to drive around and feed the homeless and lower income areas in Houston and the more rural areas surrounding my town. My goal is to use this food truck to not only offer physical nourishment but to pass out pocket NT’s, pray with people, talk to them, and show them the love of Christ in every way possible offered by the ministry to give them spiritual nourishment.

So, what do you guys think about it? I’m aware of the certifications and such needed for the food truck, and I’ll be completely legal doing this. I’ve never embarked on such a missionary thing. The most I’ve done is minister to strangers on the street and the prisoners at the unit where I work.

So, any opinions?
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THAT MY FRIEND IS AN AWESOME IDEA!

CHECK WITH YOUR PASTOR AND SEE IF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CAN HELP YOU OUT? Also check out some of your local charities; like Goodwill and Catholic Charities.

That is the very kind of charity Christ Himself would do.

God Bless and keep us posted!

Love and prayers,
Pat
 
I’m all for getting as much help as I can get. I have a feeling that I’ll have to have a few successful trips before I can really get some folks behind me. Right now, I’m planning 50 sack lunches complete with sandwich, chips, and cookie, along with a bottle of water or soda to be passed out. I was really hoping to have it like a mobile restaurant, but we all have to start somewhere.

I’m digging through CA, OSV, and other sites for small little pamphlets that can introduce people to Christ, similar to the 4 Spiritual Laws or the like. I’m not trying to jump too heavy into theology or morals just yet. We’re reaching out to the unchurched, and to do so effectively one has to assume that no prior knowledge of Christ and his Church is there, so you have to start at the very beginning. I had great success with the 4 spiritual laws when I was prepping to become a Methodist Deacon. I’m not sure if the Church agrees with such, but if so, I’m set.

We’re probably a month away from launching off, so I’ve got a few weeks to be confirmed, go shopping for the new baby, and still get this thing going.
 
dsmantz said:
I’m all for getting as much help as I can get. I have a feeling that I’ll have to have a few successful trips before I can really get some folks behind me. Right now, I’m planning 50 sack lunches complete with sandwich, chips, and cookie, along with a bottle of water or soda to be passed out. I was really hoping to have it like a mobile restaurant, but we all have to start somewhere.

I’m digging through CA, OSV, and other sites for small little pamphlets that can introduce people to Christ, similar to the 4 Spiritual Laws or the like. I’m not trying to jump too heavy into theology or morals just yet. We’re reaching out to the unchurched, and to do so effectively one has to assume that no prior knowledge of Christ and his Church is there, so you have to start at the very beginning. I had great success with the 4 spiritual laws when I was prepping to become a Methodist Deacon. I’m not sure if the Church agrees with such, but if so, I’m set.

We’re probably a month away from launching off, so I’ve got a few weeks to be confirmed, go shopping for the new baby, and still get this thing going.
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We do not agree with the four spiritual laws. As a matter of fact the four spiritual laws are dead wrong according to Catholic doctrine and dogma and lead you into a very Sola Scriptura stance as well as a Faith alone stance. Also it is in direct violation with Vatican II as it directly states that our Jewish forefathers cannot have salvation and that is not what we as Catholics believe. I would strongly recommend contacting your diocese - you may need to get some materials from them or the Catholics Come Home program.
 
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