Last week I visited Ripple Church in Allentown, the third-largest city in Pennsylvania. Though Ripple has 60 members, they are blessed with six pastors. At first, I found it weird that such a small congregation would need to have six pastors, but after my visit, I saw the need for all six of them. (All six of the pastors are less than half time.)

Pastor Danilo Sanchez invited me to check out Ripple’s drop-in center. It’s a safe place where people experiencing homelessness and housing instability can come and relax during the day. It provides shelter from the elements, food, water and healthy activities for the community.

When I walked in, several members of the community immediately greeted me. A group of folks invited me to sit down and grab a coloring book. As we were sitting around talking and coloring, one of the women, Wendy, asked me why I wanted to be a pastor. Now, I have gotten this question several times before, but for some reason I felt nervous answering. This question on this day didn’t feel like the same question hundreds of people had asked me before. This question felt as if it carried more weight. I answered with my typical answer of how I feel called by God and how I love and want to help people within the ministerial role. Wendy looked at me and smiled, then went back to coloring.

After spending some time at the drop-in center, I was invited to the community garden to assist with some of the gardening. As I arrived at the park where the garden is located, I noticed there were about 10 children helping in the garden, working to improve the garden. I asked the pastors where all the children came from, and they responded that they are always here to help with the garden. The children are invited to participate in serving their own community.

My visit with Ripple had a profound impact on my views of ministry. I have predominantly seen rural, white, educated Mennonite churches. Ripple was a different look at the Mennonite church for me. It was a church that didn’t only see itself as serving 60 congregants, but it was serving the entire community.

Ripple doesn’t have an abundance of resources, but it uses them well to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Allentown. As I reflect on my time there I remember putting by hands in the dirt at the community garden. As my hands were covered in the soil I felt the life of the Ripple community. Ripple, like the soil, is alive, and is going in the right direction in their efforts to bring life to a hurting community.

Jerrell Williams is a Master of Divinity student at Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Theological Seminary and is interning this summer with Franconia Mennonite Conference and The Mennonite.