A few blocks' walk eastbound past the flashy area of downtown Los Angeles is Skid Row. Within the U.S., Los Angeles is home to the most individuals who are homeless, and within Los Angeles, most of those who are homeless call Skid Row their home. And in the middle of Skid Row is 5 Breads 2 Fish, a ministry that serves those who are homeless and poor in the name of Jesus. It's one of the most significant ministries a part of the Oaks of Righteousness ministry founded by Pastor Jimmy Lee in 2011 as he received God's call.
5 Breads 2 Fish simply gives food to some 1,000 families in Los Angeles and the surrounding region, with no strings attached, each week in the name of Jesus. Supposing a family consists of approximately three individuals, 5 Breads 2 Fish is serving a truly significant number of people. Initially, the ministry opened a free restaurant for those who are homeless, but due to some opposition, the restaurant closed down about four to five years ago. However, the ministry instead focused on delivering the food to individuals through food drives. And the ministry remains alongside those who are homeless in Skid Row.
Food received from Trader Joe's and other sponsoring food companies are loaded onto the 5 Breads 2 Fish truck each day and is taken to the "Father's Warehouse,' where the ministry staff and volunteers sort the food according to whether it is edible or not. The work requires many hands to be able to sort enough food to feed hundreds of people, but thankfully the work load is shared by many volunteers from various Korean churches who come in to serve each day.
Every Wednesday, members of Together Presbyterian Church come to serve. As the truck arrives at the "Father's Warehouse' at around 10:30 AM, suddenly the church members also gather around in the warehouse. They exchange brief greetings with Pastor Kevin Kim, who watches over the warehouse, and everyone moves quickly to sort the food. This is to ensure that the food can be delivered to those who are waiting in a timely manner. After the sorting is complete, the food returns into the truck and is sent to various places throughout Los Angeles. And in those respective places, more volunteers are waiting to distribute the food.
The work required by the 5 Breads 2 Fish ministry sounds as though Jimmy Lee might have his hands full, but he also distributes food in Mexico, and lives with his wife in Brazil, serving 200 children there.
The miracle that Jesus performed 2,000 years ago with five loaves of bread and two fish was so significant that it was recorded in all four gospel books in the Bible. And Jesus, along with those who believe in the miracle, have been performing that miracle for people in Los Angeles each day.
This article has been translated. For the original in Korean, visit kr.christianitydaily.com.
