Faithful service to the city for more than 25 years...

The Soup Kitchen Ministry at Centennial ARP Church has been faithfully serving the homeless community of Columbia, SC, for more than 25 years.

The ministry originally began as serving soup and sandwiches every Saturday morning in the Fellowship Hall at a time when there weren't any meals being prepared for the homeless in the area on the weekends. After a while, it became impossible to handle the number of people who came to eat. At that time, the leadership consulted with the Oliver Gospel Mission and our Soup Kitchen Ministry began to prepare lunches and take them there for the Oliver Gospel Mission to serve and distribute. 

Every Saturday there is a team of faithful helpers who prepare these lunches. There are more than 70 people between nine teams who are dedicated to serving our city through Centennial's Soup Kitchen. Six teams are from Centennial ARP Church, two teams are from Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, and one team is from Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church. Each team serves on a rotating schedule.

In its 25-year history, this ministry has never missed a Saturday or preparing food for the city's less fortunate. In 2014, when Centennial ARP suffered a fire in the Fellowship Hall, despite losing its preparation room and stock of food, the teams still banded together and met at team members' homes, offices, and other places so that they could continue to serve without missing a single Saturday.

Are you looking for ways to serve the Lord and your local community? Consider serving at Centennial's Soup Kitchen Ministry and make a big impact in this city.  To get involved this year, find a current team and join them in their current schedule. A schedule for the entire year is created and developed every January.