‘Worship Wagon’ Brings Church to the Homeless in Kansas City

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Aug 05, 2016

‘Worship Wagon’ Brings Church to the Homeless in Kansas City

A ministry to the homeless in Kansas City, Missouri, called “Worship Wagon” is bringing the Gospel to those in need.

CBN News reports that “Worship Wagon” is the brainchild of Bruce McGregor and Joe Ratterman. The two men have a passion to serve the city’s homeless population, so every Monday evening they set up a makeshift church under a bridge near downtown Kansas City.

McGregor shared what a typical Monday night looks like with Worship Wagon:

"It's really funny cause we'll set up sometimes about 5:30 in the evening and no one will be here and then we'll get the music going and you'll see people just drifting out of the woods, which is behind us, along with the Missouri River where about 100 people live. A hundred homeless people live there year round and those are our parishioners.”

McGregor, Ratterman, and the other Worship Wagon volunteers show up to conduct services rain or shine, summer or winter.

“We've been down here when it was in the teens, howling north winds and we're all shivering in our caps and gloves," Ratterman said. "And we've been out here (when) it's been a hundred degrees and there's been thunderstorms rolling around as well, rain."

One volunteer with the ministry, Melvin Cole, said that he tries to make the church attendees feel at home:

"Some of the people will just get up and high-five you right in the middle of the song and dance around, I dance with them," Cole said. "You really want the people to feel connected and that we all are worshipping God together."

Others have stories of how God has used Worship Wagon to change their lives.

Beverly Cole, who used to be a drug addict, said her life has been transformed after she heard the Gospel at Worship Wagon services. 

"God works with us where we're at and I think that's the biggest story here about Worship Wagon is bringing God and being his eyes and ears, hands and feet where the people are at instead of thinking you can bring the people to where you're at," Ratterman concluded.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: August 5, 2016



‘Worship Wagon’ Brings Church to the Homeless in Kansas City