2024 ABHMS Palmer Grant Awardee
The church is one of 138 congregations that form the American Baptist region known as Mission Northwest. When church members were informed that its region was offering grants to fund new ministries, they further researched the idea of a laundry trailer that would also have showers. Then the congregation learned about the American Baptist Foundation’s Palmer grants. After having submitted successful proposals in 2024 to both sources, additional funds were raised from the congre- gation & community. That meant that they had enough financial resources for this important, new ministry.
Pastor McMahan observes:
“God has told us that we are indeed our brothers and sisters’ keepers. When one among us is struggling, we all struggle. A warm shower and clean clothes are really just the most basic things that give a human being dignity, not to mention better health. By dreaming big on behalf of our most vulnerable neighbors, and acquiring this ‘Living Water Mobile Shower and Laundry Trailer,’ we truly believe this is to be a place where the will of God will be done ‘on earth, as it is in heaven.’We are so grateful for the grants from the Palmer Trust and our region that have made a dream become a reality.”
Katrina Ellicot, the church’s Minister of Outreach, describes what might be possible as the church’s vision is fulfilled in 2025:
“Because it will be a mobile trailer, it can be situated in various locations where needs are evident. It’s also possible that other community organizations will
want to team up with our congregation to ensure the trailer is seldom idle. And even as our church has an outdoor food pantry that’s always available, we might expand this ministry that uses a trailer to include not only shower and laundry facilities but also a place for distributing meals.”
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