The New Testament Church

The New Testament Church and Mission in Sebring, Florida, provides shelter for the homeless, drug- addicted, and poor people throughout the area. “We started out as ministry on the street,” says founder Mike Karl. “Feeding and housing people were out of the question because we didn’t have facilities for that. We [saw] that was a greater need, and we could preach the Word of God. But it was empty, ‘cause we couldn’t meet their physical needs.” Pastor Mike found a building and asked the owner not only to let them it for outreach, but to give it to them for free. “I kept telling them to pray about it. After three months they give us the building on a handshake,” he tells The 700 Club. Mike and his wife Pat have now ministered for 30 years in that building. With five employees, volunteers, and a lot of faith, they feed between 2,000 to 3,000 people a month. “I have a covenant with Jesus Christ, both my wife and I,” Pastor Mike says, “and that covenant is, if we run out of food, then we can stop working with Him. We’ve never been able to run out of food in 30 years, and we’ve tried. We’ve loaded up the truck, filled it with food, take it on the street and pass it out, and when we come back, there’s more food coming in than we left with.” Men, women and children in need can stay up to six days in the shelter. People in need are ministered to in nightly church services. They also receive training and counseling so they can get out of the rut that’s been holding them down. Carol is a volunteer with New Testament church. She says, “I’ve seen lives changed. I’ve seen people come to the Lord. They’ve turned their lives around, and when you see the fruit of the ministry, then you know the Lord is blessing it.” Workers and volunteers plan to stick around and preach the Gospel as long as there’s a need. “I found the Lord here,” says Katie, the church administrator, “and I plan to stay until He returns.” Good news for the thousands of people whose lives have already changed by walking through the doors and meeting Jesus. Kenneth is one of many who was helped by the church. He says, “I’ve always figured that Jesus didn’t give up on me, but it’s more like it’s hard to not give up on yourself sometimes. When you hear a positive message coming from a man of God, it sort of builds your faith up. I believe that’s what it’s about, building people up and letting them realize that no matter what your circumstances are, it’s gonna be great. You’re gonna get another day.” For giving people food to nourish both body and soul, The 700 Club congratulates New Testament Church and Mission of Sebring, Florida.