Mercy Ovuworie, who attends Grace Polaris Church, Westerville, Ohio (Mike Yoder, lead pastor), is featured as an “everyday hero” by the Columbus Dispatch for her work with Faith Mission. A portion of the story appears below. Click here to read the complete article.
Mercy Ovuworie: A Prayer Warrior coordinates special meals for less fortunate folks
Christmas morning holds common traditions for most—exchanging gifts, worship, spending time with family.
Westerville resident Mercy Ovuworie has a Christmas tradition, too, but it involves helping make the holiday as special as possible for hundreds of homeless and less-fortunate people at Faith Mission on East Eighth Avenue in Columbus.
For almost 20 years, the 62-year-old wife, mother and grandmother has spent about six hours each Christmas making sure the people who line up outside Faith Mission enjoy a meal with all the trappings.
“And if it’s something [we don’t have], she goes out of her way to pay for it, because she knows it is needed to round out a hearty meal,” said Vanita Nevis, a 2017 Everyday Hero who nominated Ovuworie.
The two women met around 2002, when Ovuworie became a member of the Prayer Warriors, led by Vince Davis. The Prayer Warriors also served dinners at Faith Mission, and after Davis died in 2006, Ovuworie stepped in. “I wanted to continue his legacy,” she said.
“I told her if she wanted to do it, I’d be there with her,” said Nevis, who continues to help with the planning of special-events meals at Faith Mission.
“It’s her who gets all the volunteers together and keeps it all going,” Nevis said.