“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-36
WHO THEY ARE
The Samaritan Ministry is a joint effort of :
– YMCA Kuala Lumpur – financial support and premises.
– Kenosis Home – cooking and logistics.
– Trinity Methodist Church Petaling Jaya – underwriting the project with both financial and material support and also recruiting volunteers to carry out the work.
The Samaritan Ministry gives opportunity to live out the call of the Gospel by feeding the poor and seeing the face of Jesus in those who are hungry not only for food, but also for love and compassion. Each week, teams of staff and volunteers will prepare meals, deliver and serve to guests at YMCA Brickfields and Trinity Drop-In-Center.
BACKGROUND
The Samaritan Ministry originally started as a street feeding project in Brickfields. Brickfields has a mixed population of mainly working class people. It has many social ills typical of a large city such as drugs, street violence, drunkenness, destitution and homelessness.
From the launching on 27th August 2007 there were only 18 guests, and now there are about 130+ guests every Saturday. While in the early days there were many of visually challenged people resulting in the laying out tables and chairs for them, the demographics today have changed and there are more street people.
A typical Saturday would start with volunteers turning up before 1.00 p.m. followed by a briefing for them at 1.15 p.m. This is followed at about 1.25 p.m. with a time of singing and a short message.
There is also a growing number of East Malaysians volunteering on Saturdays with songs of praise in Bahasa Malaysia.
A medical team is available and it sometimes serves up to 30 patients every week. There are student volunteers from the Methodist College Kuala Lumpur who come in to do their Community Service projects over 15 hours.
PURPOSE
To show Christian love to the poor, distressed, underprivileged and drug dependents by providing them :
1. nourishment
2. medical aid
3. counseling
4. spiritual support
WHEN & WHERE
- Every Saturday (irrespective of rain or shine) from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the YMCA Kuala Lumpur, Brickfields.
- The Samaritan Ministry also serves the homeless street people at the Trinity Drop-In-Center on every Thursday, 5.00- 7.30pm.
HOW
1. Provide and serve hot meals and drink.
2. Provide basic medical aid.
3. Provide counseling
4. Fellowship through songs, prayers, music classes and board games.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
1. By volunteering to help us serve.
2. By sponsoring a meal.
3. By donating medicine and books for children.
4. By providing music, fellowship
5. By funding – all finances are handled by the Social Concerns Committee of Trinity Methodist Church PJ. All donations to be directed to TMCPJ where a receipt will be issued.
Cheque donations to be made payable to :
“Trinity Methodist Church Petaling Jaya” designated for ‘The Samaritan Ministries’.
HOW YOU CAN WORK AS A VOLUNTEER
1. You will be assigned into a small group of five.
2. Servers will help to dish out food or make drinks and serve them individually.
3. Doctors or nurses will be assigned duties separately.
4. Be present at 1.00pm for duty. Wait for instructions before doing anything.
5. Dress code to be simple and comfortable. No ornaments or heavy jewellery.
6. Car pool if possible.
7. Giving cash gift to the people coming is not encouraged.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact :
Mr Paul David, The Social Concerns Committee Coordinator of The Samaritan Ministries, Trinity Methodist Church Petaling Jaya
OR
Pastor Richard Lee of Kenosis Home