Today we’d like to introduce you to Pastor Mary Kearney.
Hi Pastor Mary, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When people ask me how “Off the Grid Christian Ministries” started, I tell them—it wasn’t my idea. It was God’s. This ministry came from a calling, not a career choice. I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to be a pastor to the streets. The Lord called me—loud and clear—and like many before me, I had a choice to make: obey or delay. And I chose to obey.
Years ago, during a season of prayer and deep introspection, God began to stir something within my Spirit. I couldn’t shake it. I couldn’t unsee the pain, the poverty, and the brokenness of those living on the margins, people sleeping under bridges, children going to bed hungry, mothers crying out for help, men battling demons no one else could see. These weren’t just statistics to me. They were Souls—God’s sons and daughters in need of knowing they weren’t unseen, alone, forgotten, and that the Lord loves them.
And then the Lord spoke to me. Not audibly, but unmistakably:
“Feed My sheep. Love My people. Go to the ones no one else sees.”
That divine directive broke me—and it built me. I was not called to a pulpit, but to a pavement. Not to a platform, but to the people. And so began the humble beginnings of Off the Grid Christian Ministries—a ministry that lives outside the traditional walls of the church, where the Gospel is taken to the streets, the shelters, the tents, and the parks, straight to the people.
We began with what we had—faith, a few helping hands, and a desire to obey God fully. The vision was (and still is) simple: Bring the Gospel, bring food, and bring redemption to the homeless, the forgotten, the displaced, the children, and the families. That vision came to life through what is now known as our cornerstone outreach:
“Soulful Sunday: Food for the Soul.”
Every Sunday, we don’t wait for people to come to church—we bring the church to them. We show up with hot meals, warm smiles, and open Bibles. We serve physical food, yes—but more importantly, we serve the Bread of Life. We offer more than resources; we offer a relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s the heartbeat of Soulful Sunday.
This calling is not glamorous. It’s messy. It’s gritty. It requires faith, sacrifice, and complete dependence on God. But it’s Holy. It’s sacred. It’s Kingdom work.
Over the years, we’ve seen lives changed, hearts healed, and families restored—not because of us, but because Jesus still saves, still delivers, and still redeems. We’ve watched hope rise in the eyes of the hopeless, and we’ve stood in awe as the Holy Spirit has moved in places most have given up on.
As Pastor of Off the Grid Christian Ministries, I don’t take this mantle lightly. I’m not just a leader—I’m a servant. I’m a vessel, nothing more. My life belongs to the Lord, and every meal we serve, every prayer we pray, every soul we touch is for His glory alone.
This is more than a ministry, it’s a movement of obedience, a declaration that no one is too lost, too dirty, or too broken for God’s love.
So I continue to walk this path, guided by the Holy Spirit, trusting in God’s provision, and anchored in the call. Because the Gospel belongs to everyone, especially those who feel like it was never meant for them.
And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this:
God never forgets His people—and neither will we. Amen!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. It absolutely has not been a smooth road. In fact, if I’m being real, it’s been a road paved with resistance, sacrifice, and Spiritual warfare.
When God called me to Off the Grid Christian Ministries, I knew I was stepping into a battle, not just a ministry. I was called to a field most people avoid. I was sent to serve the people others overlook. And because of that, I’ve faced opposition from all sides.
Some of the hardest struggles didn’t come from the streets—they came from within the Church. I was judged, questioned, and criticized by other ministers. Some didn’t understand why I would spend my Sundays preaching and feeding the homeless instead of preaching behind a pulpit. Some said I was “doing too much,” that it “wasn’t real ministry” if it didn’t happen in a sanctuary.
But I knew what God had said to me. And when God gives you an assignment, you don’t need validation from man—you need obedience to our Heavenly Father.
We’ve also faced harassment and resistance from city officials and local authorities. There were days when we were told to pack up food, shut down gatherings, and move out of public spaces. We’ve been threatened with fines, permits, trespassing, and policies designed to discourage compassion. I’ve stood toe-to-toe with people in power who saw our work as a nuisance rather than a necessity.
But I’ve also stood on the promise in Isaiah 58, where God calls us to “loose the chains of injustice… to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter.” That is our mandate—and no city ordinance will stop what God has ordained.
There have been and still are times when the funds run low, the volunteers are few, and the weight of the work feels overwhelming. There were days I wept after leaving the streets—heartbroken by the stories I heard and overwhelmed by the needs I couldn’t fulfill.
I’ve faced discouragement. I’ve wrestled with burnout. I’ve asked, “God, are we really making a difference?”
But every time I felt there wasn’t an impact, and I wanted to change my methodology as a pastor, God reminded me of why I started and the long-term vision for the Kingdom He placed in my Spirit.
He reminded me of the man who stopped using drugs and gave his life to Christ after a prayer in a park.
He reminded me of the mother who found safe housing for her children after one Sunday meal and a conversation.
He reminded me of the little girl who smiled for the first time in weeks after someone called her by name and handed her a hot plate of food.
This road hasn’t been easy, but it has been anointed and filled with purpose. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Because this isn’t about me — it’s about Jesus Christ.
It’s about meeting people where they are and reminding them that they are still seen, still loved, and still worthy of redemption.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth, but God has remained faithful every step of the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
About the Work: Ministry Beyond the Walls
At Off the Grid Christian Ministries, our mission is clear: Bring the Gospel, fellowship, food, and redemption to those the world has forgotten—the homeless, the displaced, the addicted, the impoverished, and struggling families.
We are a boots-on-the-ground, Spirit-led, no-frills ministry that meets people exactly where they are—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We focus on what I call “ministry beyond the walls”—taking the Church outside the traditional sanctuary into the streets, shelters, parks, and alleyways. where real pain lives and where real people need hope.
We’re known most for our outreach called:
“Soulful Sunday: Food for the Soul”
Every Sunday, we serve home-cooked meals, offer prayer and counseling, and preach the uncompromised Gospel in some of the hardest-hit areas of our city. However, this isn’t just a feeding program; it’s a full ministry experience. We bring praise & worship, the Word, warmth, and love, sometimes under an overpass, in a parking lot, a grocery store, or beside a tent encampment.
We don’t just pass out food—we build relationships. We remember names. We follow up. We walk with people through recovery, restoration, and redemption. We are known for showing up consistently, not just when the cameras are rolling or the holidays are here. We’re there when it’s hot. We’re there when it’s cold. We’re there when it’s raining. We’re there when it’s hard.
What Am I Most Proud Of?
I’m most proud of the consistency and the fruit.
We’ve seen the Lord move powerfully in places others have written off. We’ve seen miracles-addicts set free, families reunited, and people who once lived on the streets now serving alongside us. We’ve baptized new believers in public parks, at the beach, and watched the Holy Spirit of God fall in places where no one expected revival.
I’m proud of the team God has assembled, my family, and ordinary people with extraordinary hearts. Volunteers who come early, cook faithfully, serve humbly, and love deeply.
But more than anything, I’m proud that we’ve stayed true to the call. We’ve never compromised the message. We’ve never chased fame. We’ve just kept showing up, letting God do what only He can do!
What Sets Us Apart?
What sets Off the Grid Christian Ministries apart is that we don’t wait for people to come to church—we bring the church to them.
We don’t just offer help; we offer hope.
We don’t just offer food; we offer faith.
We don’t just speak about Jesus; we demonstrate His love in action.
We also refuse to see anyone as too far gone. We serve with dignity, consistency, and no judgment. We serve without conditions. You don’t have to sit through a sermon to get a plate, but you’ll still hear the Gospel. We believe in meeting physical needs as a doorway to Spiritual transformation.
Big sponsors do not back us. We’re not doing this for applause. We’re doing it because Jesus Christ said,
“Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it unto Me.” (Matthew 25:40)
That’s our posture and heartbeat. That’s our WHY!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey is this:
Obedience is greater than comfort, and presence is more powerful than perfection.
When I first stepped into this form of ministry, feeding the homeless, walking into encampments, sitting with addicts, and praying with the broken, I thought I needed to have all the answers, all the strategies, and all the resources.
But God showed me something different.
He showed me that what people need most is someone who will just show up and stay. Someone who will see them. Listen to them. Love them where they are. Not someone who preaches at them from a distance, but someone who steps into their pain and brings the presence of Jesus Christ with them.
I’ve learned that obedience to God often appears foolish to others, especially when you’re serving people who can’t repay you or when you’re engaged in ministry that doesn’t come with applause or titles. But if God says “Go,” you go. If God says “Stay,” you stay. That’s where the oil is. That’s where the favor flows.
I’ve learned that transformation doesn’t always happen in a moment; it often happens through consistent love over time. And sometimes, what we call “small acts” of kindness —sharing a plate of food, praying for someone by name, or remembering their story —can become the doorway to someone’s salvation.
But above all, I’ve learned this:
God is faithful.
Even when the road is difficult.
Even when resources are scarce.
Even when people turn away.
Even when you feel unseen.
He always shows up.
And if He calls you, He will keep you, equip you, and sustain you.
That’s the lesson that anchors me.
Not just doing ministry for God—but doing ministry with Him, every step of the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.offthegridchristianministries.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/off_the_grid_ministries/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@offthegridchristianministries
Image Credits
Pastor Mary Kearney, James Kearney, James Kearney II, Jaysson Kearney, Jay Kearney, Jessica Kearney, Jacqueline Bennett, Monesha Geter
