The church has transitioned the CCC to a nonprofit ministry with a separate board and separate funding, leasing the CCC a six-acre downtown plot and facilities for $1 a year.
Comprising CCC’s ministries are Samaritan Inn, the Men’s Care Center, the Children’s Shelter, the Pregnancy and Family Care Center, the Women’s Care Center, the Fresh Start Job Program, and the Benevolence Center housing the largest food pantry in Lake County.
In cooperation with a local hospital, the CCC oversees the Community Medical Care Center, a free dental and primary health care.
“All eight of those ministries work together in a very holistic way, to meet physical needs and share Christ while we do it,” Jones said.
About a fourth of the CCC’s budget comes from a donation comprising 4 percent of every dollar given to the church, and about 30 percent of the budget comes from the church-operated thrift store.
“Overall, through the church efforts, it provides about 55 percent of our budget” Jones said, “and the other 45 percent is other churches, other civic groups, foundations, businesses, organizations, individuals that partner with us financially.”
The work is a vital service to the community, he said.
“It’s always a measure, if we were to leave, what would we leave? And the work that we do, there’s no one else doing that work in our area,” Jones said. “The Bible is clear that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus; we are to care for those that are considered the least in our community.
“We want to do the very simple things that God’s Word tells us to do and to care for physical need, but while we do it, we don’t want to forget about their greatest need, which is their spiritual need and a relationship with Christ.”
Draxinger, a husband and father of two sons, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Louisiana Christian University. He resigned his associate pastorate to concentrate more fully on Samaritan Inn, he said.
“It’s a special job to me,” he said. “I think first and foremost, I don’t ever lose sight of the fact that the church took a chance on me. … They put me in such a high position, coming where I come from. It was something that I really took a lot of pride in, and I ran with it.
“The Bible talks about how God will use every piece of our life to honor and glorify Himself, even the pain the suffering.”
At Samaritan Inn, Draxinger embraces opportunities to serve those who are suffering as he has suffered, encompassing homelessness and petty crime.
“It’s just put me in a position to relate to these folks in a way that I don’t know most could.”
This article originally appeared here.
