It is said that good ministry always has a zip code. Christ UMC in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, is located less than a mile from a homeless shelter. Chartered in 1975 as the result of a merger between two congregations, Christ UMC came into being about the same time as the local Red Cross shelter opened. Their missional witness has been intertwined ever since. 

Christ UMC works intentionally to amplify the services of the Red Cross shelter. Congregants collect travel-size toiletries so that every person has what they need to stay clean. They also gather items for children—sometimes diapers and wipes, other times snacks to bring a bit of joy. 

The congregation does not focus solely on those served by the shelter; they are also mindful of people who may slip through the cracks. For individuals who cannot stay at the shelter for one reason or another, the congregation crochets, or plarns, mats woven from plastic bags. These mats provide protection from cold and wet winter conditions. They are lightweight and easy to carry. 

For years, only those with prior crochet skills helped make the mats. Then two men said they wanted to help. They didn’t know how to crochet, so they built a large wooden loom instead. 

In addition to supporting the Red Cross shelter, Wendy Coons leads congregational efforts to support Advocates for the Homeless, a nonprofit in Upper Bucks County that provides resources to unhoused individuals, including transportation. Christ UMC outfits Advocates’ vehicles with plarned mats in case drivers encounter someone in need. 

Their ministry extends beyond donations and drop-offs. Christ UMC also operates a food ministry, which Wendy has worked hard to transform into a warm and welcoming space. In the past, guests would visit the pantry, pick up a pre-packed box of groceries, and head on their way. Under Wendy’s leadership, the pantry has shifted to a shopping model, allowing guests to move through the space and choose what they need. 

This model offers greater dignity and autonomy, while also creating time and space for relationships to form. 

“We’ve gotten to know them,” Wendy shared. “At one point we had a couple with a little boy who wanted slippers for Christmas. We all chipped in different things and gave that boy his best Christmas.” 

When a man who frequently visited the food pantry fell ill and found himself hospitalized just before Christmas, the church made sure he received a prayer shawl and a get-well card. 

Generosity begets generosity. 

While there are regular volunteers who staff the food pantry, it is truly a ministry of the whole congregation. One woman who recently became a member of Christ UMC asked Wendy, “What do you never get?” 
“Juice,” Wendy replied. 
Since that day, the woman has faithfully brought 64-ounce bottles of juice to church every Sunday. “That’s her ministry,” Wendy reflected. 

Christ UMC recently completed a Reverse Advent calendar project. Instead of taking something out of a box each day in December, participants placed a food item into a box. 

“I thought only a few people might do the Reverse Advent calendar,” said Wendy, “But almost everyone did. We have so much food.” 

Bursting at the seams with donations from the congregation, the Boy Scouts who use the building, and the Relay for Life group that also meets there, Christ UMC is intentional about ensuring that abundance does not go to waste. Surplus items are shared with other ministries in the area, including nearby Morrisville UMC. 

Serving their neighbors is a congregation-wide commitment, and Pastor Lloyd Speer works to ensure that it remains accessible to all. He regularly lifts up practical ways people can support the ministry, including donating everyday items like egg cartons and paper grocery bags. 

Good ministry always has a zip code, and for Christ UMC, that zip code is Fairless Hills. By paying close attention to the needs right outside their doors, the congregation embodies a faith that is local, relational, and deeply rooted. Their witness is a reminder that when the church loves its neighbors well, ministry becomes not just something we do, but who we are right where we are.  If you have questions, or would like to know more, contact Wendy by emailing Christ UMC at: christunitedmethodist@comcast.net