“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” 
James 2:14-17

The Christians that meet at Eastside have long sought to fulfill God’s commission by teaching and spreading His gospel and helping those who are in need. In 2004, following the years of destructive tornadoes in the greater Oklahoma City area, Eastside began construction on a family center that could serve multiple roles. This multi-purpose building would be built with both the community and the congregation in mind.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” 
1 Peter 4:10

The family center was designed with community outreach and disaster relief in mind. The already thriving Eastside Clothing Room was relocated to a much larger and more productive area in the new building. A large, industrial kitchen was designed and built for community and congregation use. Showers were placed in both the men’s and women’s restrooms and a cargo door was added to allow for pallets of relief supplies to be unloaded. Finally, the building was stocked with disaster relief supplies from FEMA and other organizations and registered as a disaster relief support location.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” 
Matthew 25:35

In the 15+ years following its construction the Eastside Family Center has been used many times for a multitude of reasons. In the fall of 2020 it became apparent that we could do more with our facilities. October and November of that year would bring ice and freezing temperatures, forcing many living areas to become untenable. Eastside would partner with the Global United Urban Ministries and open our building and its resources to help house transient individuals. In February of 2021 we would again partner with this ministry and once again open our building to house dozens of individuals for two weeks.
It was at this point that H.O.S.T. (Helping Others, Serving in Transition) was born. Over the next few months we would partner with the Midwest City police department, Midwest City fire department, Mid-Del Schools, and many other organizations as we planned and prepared for what HOST would become. The congregation as Eastside would officially open the doors of HOST in the summer of 2021, offering housing and amenities to those in need.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The HOST ministry at the Eastside church of Christ is dedicated to spreading the love of Jesus the Christ to the greater Midwest City community. We believe that we have been called by Him to teach the Bible and to serve all those in need. Our hope is to continue in this mission for as long as God allows, continuing to expand and grow as He sees fit.