The Bread of Healing Empowerment Ministry is a holistic approach to building up the Milwaukee community from the inside out. We provide free health care daily through the Bread of Healing Clinic. Our on-staff Employment Specialist offers job-readiness training Monday-Thursday by appointment. Taken together, they are three very important ways that Cross works to serve the people who live in our community. 

Bread of Healing Empowerment Ministry

What began over 10 years ago as a response to hunger in the 53205 zip code has been growing year after year. Now, with the growing poverty in the community resulting from the loss of good-paying jobs, this ministry is even more critical and necessary. Some of the most important aspects of today's program include:

• Serving a hot meal every Wednesday to more than 300 people living in poverty 
• Distributing an additional 200 bags of food each week from our pantry
• Providing meaningful community for people who may be disconnected from any community
• Offering a strong spiritual support for those who have lost hope, through our weekly Bible study, which numbers from 80-100 persons each week
• Providing care and support for 60 men and women who are on a path of sobriety as well, as helping them to grow to a place of strength and positive self-esteem as they manage other life issues.

 Linda Radder (Parish Nurse) and Easter Dethrow (Neighborhood Minister) oversee Wednesday programming and facilitate AODA support groups. They refer clients to programs for additional treatment, counseling, health care, housing and social services. Lutheran Social Services provides additional counseling services to those who attend the AODA support sessions, and a job coach from Goodwill Industries is working with individuals highly motivated to find employment. 

The weekly food service is staffed by members of Cross Lutheran and volunteers from our many Partner congregations. We exist to empower the individuals in our community, meeting them where they are in life's journey by reaching out and lifting up.

We welcome you to stop in on a Wednesday and discover what a powerful and special place this is, one where you are guaranteed to receive great food, while experiencing laughter, warmth, and love. In the words of one of our regular guests, "Lives are being changed. People are being delivered from addictions, and hope is being restored."

Wednesday Services

Hot Meal ~ 11:45-12:45

Bible Study ~ 1:00-1:30

Food Pantry ~ 1:30-3:00

AODA Men ~ 1:30-2:30 

AODA Women ~ 1:30-2:30

For more information, contact the church office at 344-1746.

Bread of Healing Clinic

A free medical clinic for the uninsured, the Bread of Healing Clinic (BOHC) provides:

• Medical services and pharmaceuticals
• Dental care and more.

Assisted by hundreds of physicians, nurses and area medical students, BOHC sees over 3600 patients annually. Through Medshares, BOHC also gathers, sorts and distributes pharmaceuticals to patients. Originally founded in 2000 by then-parish nurse Rick Cesar, Dr. Barbara Horner-Ibler and Dr. Tom Jackson as a Cross ministry, BOHC is now governed by an independent board and operates at Cross Lutheran and two other locations.

The BOH Clinic also welcomes volunteers including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, residents and medical students, receptionists, computer programmers, and more. Everyone has something to offer BOH Clinic.

For more information, visit the Bread Of Healing Clinic site.

Employment Specialist -- (temporarily vacant)

Until recently, Cross had an on-site Job Developer/Employment Specialist for Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, working in conjunction with Cross Lutheran Church, Pastor Kenneth Wheeler and the staff to provide a wide range of employment services and Life/Work skills to individuals referred by the church with barriers to employment and identified as individuals who are ready for employment.

Our employment services program is NOT a staffing service nor do we operate as a recruiter agent. We do NOT pay participants for job searching. To learn more about the employment services program or any other services here at Cross Lutheran Church, please call or email.