First Fruit Ministries is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, and caring for those in need. We administer a food ministry, a clothing and furniture ministry, transitional housing programs, and a caring ministry, which includes street outreach, case-management services, counseling, teaching and life-skills preparation. Our purpose is to provide the means by which those who hunger for achievement may develop sustainable living habits and progress toward their fullest potential. We focus on the mental, physical, and spiritual health of our recipients. Our main activities are as follows: Morning Coffee; Street Outreach; Daily Lunch; Mobile Feeding Ministry; Tuesday Night Group; Thursday Night Street Church; and Wilmington Dream Center, transitional housing programs for men, women, and families.

Case management, counseling, life-skills education, and basic healthcare are provided at the Dream Center and through street outreach. Feeding and clothing programs become vehicles for delivery of more comprehensive and deep reaching care on the street. Entry in our women's and men's homes begins a process of personal rehabilitation and education with twice weekly meetings and individual attention at every turn. When one comes under the care of our Ministry we expect they will be fed, clothed, and housed, will receive treatment for their addictions and illnesses, be counseled and referred to those who can service individual needs, attend meetings to educate and edify themselves, and work with other service providers to restore themselves to their highest potential.

First Fruit Ministries has received a grant from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand the Women's Transitional Housing Program within the Wilmington Dream Center. The expansion will be composed of eight units of housing: two units for families and six units for individual women. Each family unit will contain one family of up to five members. Each individual unit will house two women. Our supportive services will expand to provide for the needs of all our new residents, as well. This will bring our total capacity to 16 beds for single women, six beds for single men, and two apartments for families, along with nursery space for infants.

As the work at First Fruit Ministries changes lives we have seen the following take place:

• Numerous drug addicts have had entry and transportation to rehabilitation centers provided.
• Beyond 100 people have made measurable progress toward better lives through our outreach.
• Battered women have found shelter, medical help, and total care services.
• Counseling and discipleship through First Fruit has saved many lives.
• 23 of the 32 graduates of Wilmington Dream Center in 2001 are recovered from addictions and living sustainable, healthy lives.

Our success rate in 2001 is 72% in achieving permanent housing; 74% have succeeded in maintaining active recovery from severe substance abuse!

Board of Directors and Structure

Our Organization has a very basic and useful structure. First, our nine member board of directors guides and advises all parts of First Fruit Ministries. Rev. Ron Burcham acts not only as chairperson of the Board of Directors, but also as our foremost volunteer and faithful servant. The Chief Executive Officer, our Senior Pastor, is Rick Stoker. Rev. Lee Anna Stoker serves as the Executive Director of the Ministry. Rev. Susan Miller is Director of Women's Ministry. The Men's Discipleship Home is run by Mr. Paul Franklin. Counseling is provided by Mr. Nicholas Capps and Ms. Melissa Capps. We are spiritually covered by a number of local churches, notably Bethesda Christian Life Church, as well by the Los Angeles Dream Center. Our volunteers provide the foundation of our ministry, many of whom are our board members. All parts of First Fruit Ministries work very closely together and advice and input are exchanged regularly.

We invite you to come with us as we feed under bridges and in back alleys. Come, and minister to the needs of homeless people throughout our area by giving clothes, food, and love. Explore a Wilmington many never see.

If you would like to donate to First Fruit Ministries, our address is:

First Fruit Ministries
P.O. Box 15354
Wilmington, NC 28408

May the Lord bless you and keep you always.