World Vision - Serving from the steps of City Hall

Pastor Bryan Bywater ministers to people experiencing homelessness on the steps of City Hall in Hartford, Connecticut. Through supplies donated by World Vision, his ministry helps provide for both physical and spiritual needs. (©2023 World Vision. Photo by Amy Van Drunen)

Serving from the steps of City Hall

Story by Laura Reinhardt / Photos by Amy Van Drunen

Rain pelts down in Hartford, Connecticut, on a frigid December morning. But that doesn’t deter Pastor Bryan Bywater. He’s downtown with his street church ministry no matter the weather. That’s because the needs of people living on the streets don’t dry up as the rain comes down. In fact, they only increase. Bryan faithfully sets up every Saturday morning on the steps of Hartford’s City Hall. He says that on good days, crowds can reach nearly 250 people. But on this wet, chilly day, just a few dozen gather to hear the message of hope and warm themselves with a hot drink. “It's the most beautiful church in the city. It doesn't matter who you are, where you've been, [or] what color you are; you go across denominations,” says Bryan. The ministry offers a meal plus some sort of essential supplies for people to take with them. The church first started as a ministry to provide underwear to people who are facing homelessness, and it grew from there.

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World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.