LifePointe Ministries Opens Doors to Homeless in North Brevard

February 1, 2024 | By Wendy Scheuring

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During the pandemic, the only cold night shelter in northern Brevard County closed down, creating a hardship for the homeless. Pastor Royce “Scooter” Morrison of LifePointe Ministries was at a Titusville area park helping feed people there as temperatures were dropping and was moved by how many homeless had nowhere to go.

Then, divine inspiration revealed what he could do: Open the doors of the church, located at the Titusville Civic Center, and turn the heat on. Since then, the impact has been tremendous for the homeless community.

“I was homeless in Cocoa and really hungry,” said Greg Summerall. “I was told about LifePointe in Titusville and rode the bus there. There is also a warehouse where we could get clothes and hygiene items. I met Pastor Scooter and he told me about the cold night shelters.”

When open, the cold shelter can take between 50 to 60 people, both men and women. A warm home-cooked meal, as well as a hot shower, clothing and hygiene items are provided.

The purpose of LifePointe Ministries is “to introduce the people of Florida’s Space Coast to the living Christ and help them become like Him by providing a place where all are accepted, valued, nurtured, and loved unconditionally,” according to www.lifepointeministries.org.

The True Community outreach team, made up of volunteers from many churches and organizations in the area, are the backbone of the operation known as CREW29. Crew stands for community, ready, equipped, willing.

As part of the community connections, every Thursday afternoon, doors open at 4:30 p.m. for Common Table.

“Everyone can come and get a meal, take a shower, get hygiene products,” said Beth Perdue, administrative assistant for Pastor Morrison. The showers are provided by the nonprofit Streetside Showers.

Resources are available to get people Medicaid or a free cell phone. Toys for kids, as well as books, magazines, shoes, shorts, pants, tops, socks, underwear and bathing suits for showering also are available.

The volunteers of CREW29 power this outreach ministry, as do donations of food, hygiene, and money from the community.

Examples include nurse Carrie Chambers, who cooks every Thursday. Mary Dowty, the Community Impact Director, sets up and organizes volunteers for the cold night shelters. Local cook George Mizell prepared 969 Thanksgiving meals and 711 Christmas dinners. Many of these meals were delivered by volunteers to homes and homeless camps. The Children’s Christmas Project, founded by popular local Santa Guy Naylor, provided Christmas presents and food baskets for 53 children, including resources and assistance to 30 homeless high school students. The ministry also has a good relationship with the Titusville police.

“They often bring people to us, even families,” Perdue said.

According to Perdue, some homeless have mental illness or are involved in drug use. The ministry stocks Narcan, an over-the-counter opioid overdose treatment, that can be administered by a nurse in the event of drug overdoses.

Greg Summerall and several others are no longer homeless and now volunteer for the ministry.

“I’m not homeless anymore thanks to them. I was addicted to drugs and they helped me get over that, too,” Summerall said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”