The Story of Jordan’s Crossing: From Farming through the 80’s Era to Serving the Homeless (Author: Bob Knick)

Jordan’s Crossing is a testament to the power of faith, compassion, and community. It began as a small outreach effort, providing food and support to the homeless and addicted in Columbus, Ohio. Over time, it has grown into a thriving mission that serves hundreds of meals daily, offering hope and rehabilitation to those in need.

A Journey of Faith and Service

Bob Knick relates his life story that eventually culminated in dedicating his retirement years to Jordan’s Crossing.. We grew up in what now is now Muirfield Golf Village and Dublin, Ohio. As we got older, developers gobbled up most of our rented ground, and we had a terrible year in 1979-1980. Many farmers went out of business, but we hung on and paid back our outstanding debts over the next several years. My dad retired, and I went on with Peg, my wife, at my side. We did well with smaller acres and livestock, Peg still worked off the farm. We raised three daughters, and I finally retired from farming to take a job in town. That was my first experience at having a time clock and set schedule. I survived this radical change and moved to another job before I found my job with the city. I worked for Hilliard, Ohio for 20 years.

I retired from there, and that’s when my adventure really begins. We are going to a non-denominational church called The Church Next Door. A friendly name and a community of like believers. It is still our home and family. We try to make everyone feel like family and we work together to bring more into our home.

After my retirement, our pastor’s wife asked if I was interested in working with outreach and missions. So we and another couple from church, Bob and Elaine Bartels, met with the Riesers, Fred and Donna. They had lost a son and heard God’s voice tell them to help the less fortunate in Columbus, Ohio.

Together, they began volunteering at Jordan’s Crossing, an organization dedicated to supporting the homeless and addicted community in Columbus. What started as a simple Friday night community dinner soon expanded into a full-scale mission.

Growth Through Service

In the early days, Jordan’s Crossing operated out of a small, rundown building. Volunteers provided meals, clothing, and recovery support. They worked tirelessly to clean and renovate the space, transforming it into a haven for those in need. Health services were also introduced, with Mt. Carmel Medical Center bringing a mobile clinic every Thursday to care for the sick and injured.
The ministry quickly expanded. Weekly Friday dinners grew from serving 100 meals to nearly 400. Volunteers like Bob and Elaine Bartels stepped up to cook meals three to five days a week. Eventually, churches from across Columbus joined the effort, contributing food, resources, and time.

Community and Commitment

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan’s Crossing became an essential resource, providing groceries and meals to those who had nowhere else to turn. Volunteers, many of whom were retired, worked tirelessly to prepare and distribute food. The organization partnered with Kroger, GFS, Costco, and Amazon, receiving surplus food donations. Government assistance programs provided additional support, delivering truckloads of food to local elementary schools.
Today, Jordan’s Crossing remains a beacon of hope for the westside of Columbus, offering fresh food three days a week and continuing its mission to serve and uplift the community.

A Call to Action

Bob Knick’s journey from farming to city work to ministry is a story of transformation and purpose. Through Jordan’s Crossing, he has found a way to merge his skills and experiences to make a lasting impact.
His story is not just about personal growth—it’s about how God can use anyone to bring about change. By sharing his experiences, he hopes to inspire others to get involved in outreach efforts, whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading awareness.
Jordan’s Crossing is more than a mission—it’s a movement of faith, service, and love. If you would like to connect with Bob, contact him at knickfarms@gmail.com. Or you can call Dan Janzen 6166766684 or email at dan@fcfi.org for ideas of how to engage in similar outreaches with FCFI. We have a vision to provide FFA students with outreach opportunities to reach inner city youth but I need a “champion”, or I will spread myself too thin. You may also wish to take the training that True Charity offers: https://university.truecharity.us/. Or the training that Community Health Evangelism offers: https://www.medicalambassadors.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Urban-CHE-Overview-09-2013.pdf You can find the training opportunities at Global CHE Network: https://chenetwork.org/calendar-of-events/ or at Equip International: https://equipinternational.org/training/ Another option for training materials is Chalmers Center: https://chalmers.org/