Friday, June 8, 2012
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FELLOWSHIP CONTINUED FROM A1
they were not sure how they would finance the café. Not long after signing the lease a stranger knocked upon the door of the restaurant. “He was a carpenter and he was looking for work,” she said. She said she told the man she would be able to feed him but not pay him, but she was certain he would be blessed for his work. The man agreed. After that moment, every remodeling need was met by someone. She said those who helped were blessed and that continued to be a part of the heart and soul of the place. Wanda Ford said since that time, the doors of the restaurant were open to those in need and part of the mission of the café is to feed those who cannot always afford to eat. “We have helped addicts out of jail and homeless teenagers, single moms and dads, and many others who were hungry,” she said.
She said it has been encounters such as those that have created an atmosphere beyond mere ambience for the establishment. Greg Ford said the soul feeding atmosphere called for food along the same lines and the couple decided upon their southern menu. The southern soul food served at the café fills peoples’ hunger while the couple seeks to feed their souls. The fried and blackened chicken, the red beans and rice and okra, the catfish, collard greens and cornbread, all made from scratch, seemed an obvious choice. “I’m from Shreveport, Louisiana, and the jambalaya and gumbo and all of it is down-home soul food,” he said. The couple said all of the proceeds from sales go into paying the bills and continuing the ministry of the café. Kerry Perez, general manager for the café, said much of the work at the café is done by herself and the Fords. Other jobs and task are reformed by those who need a meal, a reference or simple job experience that will help the person
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get their life on track. “None of us has seen a paycheck,” Perez said. Wanda Ford said instead of offering a handout the café offered those in need a chance to earn what is offered without any condescension and those they fed were happy to lend a helping hand. The café will continue to hold prayer meetings and feed the hungry and offer a helping hand with clothing or simple fellowship, she said. Rodney Schroeder, of the Callow Tattoo Company next door to the café said the
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Patrick McDonough/staff photo
Kerry Perez, from left, Wanda Ford and Greg Ford hold up a plate of food at the God’s Work Café in Bremerton. The trio said the restaurant offers great southern food and a helping hand in the community. Fords are good neighbors and good cooks. “They are always helping us out if we need little things here and there, and they have really good food, too,” he said.
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