Driving by a beige colored strip mall near the I-10 and California street exit, you’d never know the most tender BBQ tri-tip awaits your visit...except for that wafting cloud of hickory smoke rising from the smoker running 24 hours a day.  

Practically everyone who’s not a vegetarian or a vegan loves Bar-B-Q, and who knows, maybe there’s even some vegetarians with BBQ tendencies? The homeless and less fortunate, regardless of their current position in life, also love Bar-B-Q.

That’s one reason why a group called LifeQuest Network, a group of small churches meeting in homes in Southern California and across other states, partnered with the very generous and community-minded owner of Mill Creek Bar-B-Q, John Lenertz, to help give free lunches out to the homeless and less fortunate across Redlands. "I was glad to help LifeQuest, I just didn't want them trying to 'save' me", he joked.

Finding the homeless or less fortunate wasn’t too hard for the LifeQuest Network as they have one favorite place they visit monthly to bring some sandwiches and drinks, and to offer a smile, an encouraging word or even a prayer for those they are serving.

Mike Giordano, who helps lead and organize the volunteer effort at LifeQuest, gathered the volunteers around a man who had been a long term resident at the local hotel they visit every month, who was looking for a good job, and was always glad to receive a sandwich and an encouraging word during LifeQuest’s visit. “John is moving out tomorrow and leaving for a new job in Alaska earning $87 per hour!” Mike proudly announced to the group of volunteers gathered. 

Tears of joy rolled down John’s face as Mike continued, “We’re so happy for you man, and we’ve been praying for you almost every time we saw you here.” John’s gratitude was apparent from his demeanor and tone, and as he loaded up his bright orange safety vest and hard hat into his truck preparing for the journey to his new job in Alaska, he shared a zinger with the LifeQuest group: “I really appreciate all your group has done for so many of us here...I’ve been praying for you too.”

We hope that John does well in Alaska and that he checks in to keep us all up to date in his progress from surviving to thriving.