06/18/2026
Meet Ira! Ira leads New Life Church’s Homeless Ministry, crewed by volunteers who deliver the Gospel to the streets and demonstrate the love of Jesus to the homeless in Colorado Springs.
For nearly 20 years, Ira, his wife Caitlin, and their four children have lived, worked and served people all over the world – including England, Germany and Korea, as well as stateside. About a decade ago, their hearts for caring for vulnerable populations matured into a call to missions. And that calling followed Ira, an Army military intelligence officer, right into downtown Colorado Springs.
“I was driving down South Nevada one day and thought, ‘Who is telling these people about Jesus?’” he recalled. “And God clearly said, ‘You are.’”
What began with Ira, armed with a backpack and some gospel tracts, has grown into a weekly ministry of volunteers, who show up each week to pray, feed, encourage, build relationships, and share the Gospel with a largely forgotten population.
“What they need more than anything is hope, and the only hope that is going to last is in Jesus,” Ira said.
Every Sunday afternoon, Ira and his volunteer team walk in love, living out the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, to “go and make disciples” because holy worth is not tied up in someone’s circumstances. Scripture is clear that all are created in His image (Genesis 1:27) and all have enormous value in God’s eyes (Ephesians 2:10).
Volunteers fill their backpacks with most-needed supplies - such as food, water, clothes, blankets, socks, and basic hygiene and medical items - and a Bible and set out to build relationships with people living on the streets in downtown Colorado Springs. A larger outreach effort takes place on the first Sunday of every month, when they serve hot food in Dorchester Park across from Springs Rescue Mission.
“I can’t abide that someone will be born, live and die in darkness because they have never heard the word of Jesus and the love that He has for them,” Ira said. “God has this huge plan. He uses the whole world to bring people to faith. He’s got a small part for each of us, and this is my part.”
If God is nudging you out of your comfort zone and into greater obedience, Ira invites you to just show up. Teens, including middle schoolers, are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
“The homeless are not a problem to be solved. They are people to be loved,” he said. “You don’t have to be a street evangelist to help. You can simply hand someone a granola bar and tell them, ‘I hope you are doing OK. God loves you.’ Just for them to know that someone sees them makes all the difference in the world.”
