
Jesus Kitchen – Ocala 2019
Every summer in a National Forest, up to 30,000 come together for a Rainbow Gathering. Since the early 70’s, old hippies, homeless youth, travelers, modern-day vagabonds, and misfits come together for several weeks in search of community – “Welcome Home.”
The Jesus Kitchen has been a presence in this community for 20 years and built a positive reputation with a culture that is typically anti-religion. Hundreds of meals, prayer and worship out in the open (morning, midday and evening), and a prayer tent happen daily. Many daily spiritually significant conversations and individual prayer have resulted in first time commitments to follow Christ, baptisms in the woods, and young people coming back to live in transitional homes have all been fruits of this organization.
Source staff, Ben and Teresa Pothier (and 2 children) travel across the country each year to co-lead the Jesus Kitchen. National Rainbow Gatherings are backwoods camping. A full backwoods kitchen and supplies for 2 weeks is typically set up 1-2 miles from any roads. Bringing in 50 gallons of water daily, making cooking tables out of trees, digging latrines, setting up a campsite for dozens to eat at a time, and keeping food fresh, are just a small part of the work that needs to be done. Not to mention being outside in the elements.
Jesus Kitchen Dates:
- 6/15 2pm-4pm: Jesus Kitchen / Rainbow Info Meeting 1
- 6/18-6/20 Jesus Kitchen prep times TBA:
- afternoon, Thurs. (afternoon/evening), and Fri afternoon
- 6/19 3pm Jesus Kitchen Info / Training 3
- 6/19 Fallout Meal 5:30pm (4pm prep) – Jesus Kitchen outreach
- 6/21 6:30pm Jesus kitchen prayer gathering with the Fire Starters
- 6/23 10am Jesus kitchen sendoff service at Merge
- 6/24-7/6 Jesus Kitchen at the Rainbow (Near Lake Superior)
The Rainbow Nationals will be hosted in MN/WI for the first time ever. Over 30,000 will be in attendance mid-June to July 4th. The Jesus Kitchen will need lots of prayer, volunteers and resources. Contact us for Volunteer opportunities, providing food and prayer gatherings later this spring and summer.
– Be Prepared: You will be backwoods camping and need to come prepared physically, have your own supplies to camp, like your own tent, and be prepared for bad weather. Also, you will need your own items like plates, mugs, water bottle, and silverware. No paper products are provided or desired in the woods.