'Busy' couple finds time for compassion ministry

By Eric Tiansay (7/11/04)

A Florida couple with an already full schedule is taking time to minister in practical ways to show God’s love.

Since March 2002, Palatka-area residents Steve and Deena Rose have organized ministry teams that have held cookouts and clean-up days in various Putnam County neighborhoods, given free clothing to the needy and provided transportation to the elderly and shut-ins for doctor’s appointments and grocery trips.

Through their Christ Centered Home, the pair, who started the ministry through First Assembly of Palatka, also counsel couples, teenagers and singles, and provide financial advice to families. Palatka is located 60 miles south of Jacksonville.

The couple’s dedication is amazing, considering their busy life. Steve has been a sheriff’s lieutenant for three years and full-time college student. Deena is a stay-at-home mom caring for their daughter, Kristen, 6, and son, Steve, 4, while taking Global University courses. She also writes a weekly e-newsletter called “Treasures From the Word,” in which she teaches from the Bible.

Steve, 35, attributes the effective time management to God’s grace. “Our kids go with us everywhere when we’re ministering, except counseling,” he says.

The Roses’ interdenominational ministry, which is patterned after the Los Angeles Dream Center, “adopts” a community, including mobile home parks. Their team of 13 believers, who are part of various churches in Palatka, visits every house in the neighborhood, bringing residents a gift such as a fruit basket.

“We don’t preach to them, unless they have a prayer need,” Steve explains. “Over the next few months, we try to build relationships with them.” At the end of six months, the ministry sponsors a block party that includes a cookout plus distribution of Christian literature, Bibles, clothing and toys.

Deena, 33, says it’s not a typical gospel outreach.

“I’ve done door-to-door evangelism, but this is different,” says Deena, whose father is an A/G minister. “We love people and hate to see them go to hell. That’s what drives us. Christ went to the downtrodden and down and out.”

Ted Stackpole, senior pastor of 250-member First Assembly, is delighted with the compassion outreach. “They’ve really poured a lot of sweat and blood into their ministry to try to go beyond the church walls,” Stackpole, 34, says.