For The One with Church Under the Bridge: Your Story. Your Voice.

At For The One (FTO), our mission is to see, know, and uplift individuals by giving them a platform to share their voices and stories. This year, we are humbled to partner with Church Under the Bridge (CUB) in Waco—a ministry that has been walking alongside the homeless community for decades. Together, we are launching a movement that brings testimony and art to life, allowing our brothers and sisters in Christ to express their journeys in ways that bring both healing and hope.

Pastor Jimmy (left) & Pastor Kevin (right)

A Legacy of Ministry

Q: How did you get involved in homeless outreach and ministry?

For nearly half a century, Pastor Jimmy has been immersed in outreach to the homeless community. From simple beginnings—breakfasts, Bible studies, and invitations under a bridge—CUB has grown into a ministry rooted in dignity and purpose. He has witnessed losses over the years, including lives cut short by harsh winters, yet these tragedies only deepened his resolve to create shelter and belonging.

The result was My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), a shelter built with love and dedication. “We probably lost countless members to the streets,” Jimmy recalled. “That pushed us harder. People need more than food and clothes—they need connection, dignity, and a place to be seen.”

When asked to describe his time at Church Under the Bridge in a single word, Jimmy’s answer was simple: relationships.

Breaking Stereotypes and Building Connection

Q: How did you get involved in homeless outreach and ministry?

Church Under the Bridge

Pastor Kevin, who has spent 15 years working in child and social services, admitted he once carried the same biases many in society hold about homelessness and mental health. “I bought into the fear,” he reflected. But working with CUB shifted everything. Watching Jimmy gently connect with members by showing them love and compassion no matter what the situation transformed how Kevin now sees ministry: it’s about connection above all else.

Describing his own journey with CUB, Kevin chose the word unorthodox—a beautiful reflection of how the ministry challenges stereotypes of both church and homelessness. On any given Sunday, college students, business leaders, and people living under the bridge sit side by side. Without prompting, they share meals, laughter, and life. It’s a beautiful convergence of upper and lower class, housed and unhoused—a glimpse of the Kingdom of God breaking in.

Why Art Matters

Q: What are you most excited about For The One starting here at Church Under the Bridge?

“Art is another gift from God,” Jimmy said. “It becomes a vehicle to the Kingdom that we never really realized how important it is. This opportunity gives people purpose and a way to express themselves in ways they may have never had access to before. There’s a piece inside of them that maybe nobody ever saw, even themselves—until now.”

Kevin agreed, emphasizing how many in the streets have lost their voice. “Any way we can reassert value to their voice and give them an opportunity to express it in unique, creative ways—it matters. I’ve seen members who usually don’t connect suddenly become passionate when given the chance to create and just hear about what we will be doing with this project.”

The Road Ahead

Through this partnership, testimonies from CUB members will be shared on our website, amplifying voices too often silenced. Alongside their stories, members will create art that reflects their journey—pieces that will later be displayed at a community art show – all proceeds going to support the ministry.

This collaboration is more than an outreach. It is about dismantling stereotypes, fostering connection, and giving dignity and purpose back through creativity and story. It reminds the world that behind every struggle is a name, a voice, a gift.

At For The One, we believe every story matters because every person matters. And together with Church Under the Bridge, we are creating space for those stories to be heard, seen, and celebrated.