Bags of Hope: College Student Leads Ministry to Bring Comfort to the Homeless
At just 19 years old, Andrew Mercado, from the Tullahoma, Tenn., Church is leading a ministry to make an impact in his local community. The initiative, called “Bags of Hope,” aims to provide both physical necessities and spiritual encouragement to homeless individuals.
Inspired after attending the 2024 Generation. Youth. Christ. (GYC) session in late December, Mercado felt a strong calling to start a ministry.
“At GYC, they preached heavily about starting a ministry, and I prayed a lot to God to open my eyes,” Mercado said. “That’s when I remembered ‘Bags of Hope,’ something Pastor Gil Floyd and Mrs. Vera Floyd used to do when I was a kid… I’ve always had a burden on my heart for homeless people. Starting this ministry felt like God was answering that prayer.”
When he came back home, Mercado revived the “Bags of Hope” ministry, assembling care packages filled with essentials like toothbrushes, snacks, blankets, jackets, and most importantly, spiritual materials such as “Steps to Christ” booklets and GLOW tracts. In his first month of the ministry, Mercado, with the support of his church, prepared and distributed more than 100 bags in the surrounding community.
“I encourage everyone to keep a bag in their car and give it out whenever they see someone in need,” Mercado said. “I think this is not just for the homeless—it’s for anyone who feels hopeless.”
Despite juggling college coursework and personal responsibilities, Mercado’s passion for serving others remains a priority. He says the support from his church has been key to the ministry’s growth. The church has provided financial assistance, and other ministries, such as the church’s It’s My Very Own: Bags of Love chapter, which provides care packages to children displaced from their homes, have donated blankets to support his efforts.
As the ministry grows, Mercado plans to expand the types of supplies included in the bags and continues to encourage his church community to reach more people.
“There are times when I feel like I’m not the right person for this, like I’m not good enough,” Mercado said. “But reading the Bible reminds me that God uses unlikely people all the time. If He could use Joseph, sold into slavery, to become second-in-command in Egypt, He can use me too.”
