There’s a chapter in Craig Gross and Jason Harper’s book, Jesus Loves You…This I Know titled Jesus Loves the Forgotten. In this chapter Craig writes, “Jesus was intentional about making a beeline to get his arms around the forgotten… Jesus loves the forgotten and the marginalized. He is committed to loving them through the disastrous, deadly, self-worth eliminating effects of being overlooked”. Who is more overlooked or forgotten than the homeless? When I heard about Bridget Willard’s Pardoned Prodigals motel outreach I had to share it during Love Your Neighbor week. Record numbers of families are living in motel rooms in the United States. It’s not uncommon to drive by seedy motels here in the Detroit area and see children playing in the gravel parking lots. Jesus loves them and so should we. I’m proud to share how Bridget is showing love to these forgotten, marginalized neighbors.

NW: What exactly is Pardoned Prodigals Outreach?

BW: We are a group of people who have a heart to reach the downtrodden, discouraged, dejected people of Orange County.  We spun off of More of Jesus Ministries which started in 2001 on the corner of Beach and Ball in Anaheim, CA in a parking lot. On Friday nights we go to a motel, serve warm food, distribute donated clothes and bread, and have a church service (sermon, worship, prayer).

NW: What does a typical Friday night look like? What all do you do?

BW: There are three families that take turns each week preparing the meals that are served. Clothes are also brought and given away as they are donated. After our social time we have a worship team of four (2 guitars, 2 vocals, and cajon) lead worship then we have a memory verse, sermon, and prayer. A typical night goes like this: 6:45-7:15 dinner; 7:15 – 7:45 worship; Memory Verse. Then the children go into their own room (my husband and I teach them) for a children’s program. The adults have a sermon and prayer (laying on of hands) until about 9:00PM.

NW: This ministry is amazing and much needed. Where did the idea come from?

BW: It’s actually a funny story. A friend of mine Keith, (who played the guitar horribly and sang worse), was convinced he should go to Starbucks and sing a few songs. Worried that he’d be immediately thrown out onto the street, I begged our friend Randy to intervene. That night he and Keith and another brother drove around Anaheim praying. During that time of prayer they thought we should be at the parking lot on Beach and Ball. Two weeks later, Tom and his son, Randy, my husband, and I (reluctantly) drove around Anaheim with a generator, toiletries, a coffee maker, and the goods to make egg salad sandwiches.  Randy kept stopping at places yelling “Are you homeless?  Do you know any homeless people?” We ended up at Beach and Ball and decided to stop and make one guy an egg salad sandwich. The rest is history.

NW: How did you you determine a location and get a motel to allow you to do your outreach on their property?

BW: A few months after our weekly meetings in the parking lot, the Anaheim Police told us we had to relocate (prostitutes had retired, drug pushers didn’t want to be around us — so the businesses were loosing money). We took it in stride and in prayer.  Half a block down was Anaheim Community Church where another group THE BRIDGES met.  We received permission to have our outreach in their parking lot. The brothers would go two by two out on Beach Blvd to the strings of motels inviting people to come over. There are now several groups off of that original group doing the same thing… going to different motels as the Lord leads.

NW: What has the response from the motel residents been like? BW: Generally, people are eager for physical help. Spiritually, they’re not always too quick to respond. Some places are “easier” than others. In 2003 (the official formation of “Pardoned Prodigals”) we went to The Arena Inn and Suites in Anaheim. For a year, all we did was hand out food and sing in the parking lot.  People wouldn’t accept prayer, or fellowship or the Bible or anything. The Police told us we should be scared because it was a regular Meth drive-thru, but by that time we were no longer afraid–we knew the Lord was with us.  Slowly but surely, we started adding in the missing elements (prayer, worship, sermon).  By the time the motel was sold (2007) we were a fully functioning “normal” church body with regular sermons, worship, prayer, fellowship & food.  We ordained our teaching pastor, had a funeral, and even a wedding!  Right there in the parking lot! You can see some pictures on our website.

NW: What kind of impact has this ministry had on the residents?

BW: People have gotten SAVED. People have returned to the Lord. They have been healed. They have gotten jobs, gotten their kids back, moved into housing. God began to redeem the years the locusts have eaten. They became filled with hope.

NW: What type of impact has this ministry had on you and the other leaders?

BW: It’s encouraging. There is no longer an “us and them.”  We are a church body.  We care for one another, encourage one another, pray for one another.

NW: What recommendations do you have for other church groups who may be interested in starting a similar ministry?

BW: There is no “method.” Just Start.

Still looking for more? Check out this audio slide show from the Denver post titled Motel Life. The footage of families living in transitional, motel housing will move you. You should also watch this short clip from a similar ministry to see motel outreach in action.