Since its grand opening in October 2000, the St. Louis Dream Center continues to reach the people of the inner city of St. Louis with a caring hand of hope. Each year, through a team of volunteers and trained staff, we reach out to thousands in the community—providing food, clothing, friendship, and spiritual help. The St. Louis Dream Center has established several ministries that serve people of various ages with different needs.
Street Ministry
Every Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m. a trained ministry team from the St. Louis Dream Center goes into the streets of the inner city to minister to the homeless. We share the love of Christ by providing things like food, drinks, blankets and clothing, as well as interacting with the people. In 2007, we reached out to over 25,000 homeless people.
Nursing Home Ministry
We also send out ministry teams every week to visit anywhere from 600 to 650 people who are living in senior complexes and nursing homes in the St. Louis area. At each gathering, they share songs, scriptures and testimonies to encourage and teach the residents about salvation, healing and the Holy Spirit. Last year, we made more than 30,000 visits to the elderly through this incredible outreach.
God Loves the Children
There are many programs to meet the needs of children and youth taking place at the St. Louis Dream Center. Whether it’s a KidZJam school assembly teaching children about character, after-school tutoring, or one of the children’s classes taking place on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings, we are continually providing the next generation with the Word of God. In 2007, we touched the lives of more than 65,000 children in all.
Helping Men Break Addictions
Another adult outreach that is changing lives is the Genesis Men’s Home—a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program for young men in the community. The men commit to a 12-month stay in the Genesis house, where they get immersed in God’s Word, learn new life skills, and break free from addictions.
Feeding and Clothing the Poor
In 2007, we provided over 100,000 meals to the poor and hungry. Whether it’s through our weekly food distribution outreaches, the DC Café, or even our DC Grill—an oversized portable grill that travels to various locations providing free food—our goal is to share the love of Christ through this basic need.
Also at the Dream Center is the New Image Clothing Boutique. It has the appearance of a regular store—without the price tags. In 2007, close to 13,000 outfits were distributed. This ministry is blessed with a constant flow of donated clothing items that can be given to those who cannot afford clothing.
“The poorest man I know,” says St. Louis Dream Center Senior Pastor Jeff Allensworth, “is a man who doesn’t have a dream.” Without the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries, thousands of men, women and children in North St. Louis would be dreamless and living nightmarish lives of poverty, drug addiction and hopelessness. Now, because of your generous giving, many people are finding the love of Jesus Christ and being set free from the various bondages that still affect far too many people here in the urban core of St. Louis.
Men are being healed of addictions, children are being fed nutritious meals and receiving character training and discipleship, people are being trained for ministry, the homeless are receiving food and clothing, elderly people are receiving attention and love, and the truth of God’s Word is penetrating the hearts of thousands of people. Thanks to you, the St. Louis Dream Center is keeping dreams alive.