Dreaming Together
“Are you staying the night? We want you to do a morning prayer circle tomorrow!”
- Jesus Kitchen Guest
That’s what someone said to me (Ben) this August when I stopped by the regional Rainbow Gathering here in Minnesota. I had originally planned to bring the Jesus Kitchen as we usually do — a place where people can eat, pray, and experience the love of Jesus in community. But this year, things didn’t go as planned.
Normally, I have a dependable team of volunteers — some from our regular crew and others from a local church — but one by one, everyone had to back out. A week before the Gathering, there were just two of us left. The Jesus Kitchen trailer was two hours in the opposite direction, my truck wasn’t running well, and I wasn’t sure if we could even manage the trip. I wrestled with the decision and finally called my friend to say we needed to cancel. It wasn’t an easy call — but I’ve learned that the Jesus Kitchen only works when we serve as a team, grounded in prayer and community. That’s the heart of what makes it a “place of welcome.”
Still, I felt drawn to go — even without the trailer. I decided to stop by the Gathering on my way to visit a friend who lived nearby. When I arrived, I spent hours just sitting and talking with people. Over and over, I was asked: “When are you doing church?” “Will you have morning prayer?”
It filled my heart to hear that — a reminder that what we do matters. One friend shared a story that really struck me: apparently, a riot broke out at last year’s Gathering after the Jesus Kitchen had packed up and left. Another similar conflict had happened the year before. I was shocked — I’d been there both years and hadn’t seen anything like that while we were present. My friend told me, “When the Jesus Kitchen is here, the whole vibe changes.”
We’ve always said that the “good vibe” people feel is really the presence of Jesus. But hearing what happens after we leave makes it even clearer — what we do together makes a difference.
The Duplex
So much of our ministry is relational. Our goal is to create safe, welcoming spaces for people who are struggling — especially those wrestling with their faith. We want them to experience the grace and love of Jesus in ways that bring healing and open the door to renewed faith.
Recently, someone who stayed with us shared that after a long season of deconstructing their faith, they’re realizing how deeply they still value spirituality — and that maybe a re-formed relationship with Jesus isn’t out of the question. These stories remind us that faith is a beautiful and challenging journey, and it’s a privilege to walk alongside people as they rediscover hope.
This fall, we also welcomed a new guest into The Duplex — someone in transition who needed a safe place to rest and restart. They’ll be staying with us through January, and we’re grateful to provide that space of peace and belonging.
Dreaming Together
Lately, Teresa and I have been dreaming about what’s next for Places of Welcome. We long to form a small community of Jesus-lovers committed to creating intentional spaces of hospitality in the margins — a place to live, pray, grow, and serve together.
We imagine an intentional community where we can host guests, tend gardens, offer Christ-centered meditation and prayer walks, and create retreats focused on our faith. It’s just a dream for now — but we believe God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
Would you dream with us? Pray with us about what God might want to do next through Places of Welcome — beyond what we can see right now.
