A megachurch in Nebraska plans to build a food pantry and an auto repair shop to serve low-income community members.

The 3,000-member Brookside Church of Omaha will add a food pantry and an "Auto Care Center" in expanding their ministry.

In an email to The Christian Post, Brookside explained that the care center will serve people referred by a local agency or nearby school.

The auto center will offer services at a discount or no charge based on the kind of service needed.

The congregation is currently working to raise funds for the project. The church plans to begin construction this fall.

Lead Pastor Jeff Dart noted that the church is broadening its care services because "issues like these tend to snowball into each other."

"Loss of transportation can lead to loss of employment or inability to get to school, which leads to needing the basics of life like food and clothing," Dart stated.

"As we strive to follow the example of Christ, meeting these needs in our community is a part of living out our faith. We know that meeting physical needs often leads to meeting people's spiritual needs."

Dart believes that people who arrive at the auto shop or the food pantry "will experience the love of God as they are treated with dignity and respect by volunteers."

Brookside began in 1981 when six families convened for worship services at Willa Cather Elementary and later bought its own property in 1989. The church has a secondary campus in Elkhorn.

Brookside provides online worship and a bilingual service and has a prison ministry at the Douglas County Correctional Center.

Similarly, Chicago-based Willow Creek Community Church has a Christian Automotive Repairmen Serving Ministry.

According to the church's website, the ministry "provides reliable transportation to those in need through refurbished, donated vehicles with the help of volunteer mechanics."

"We welcome anyone with an aptitude and knowledge for automotive repair," the website explained. "Volunteers serve behind the scenes working on vehicles that are donated to the ministry which will then be given away to qualified recipients or sold to generate revenue for the ministry."

Source