Culley tries to tap Pinckneyville for soup kitchen support

Least of the Brethren Ministry founder and president George Culley Monday night asked the Pinckneyville City Council to support his plan to turn the vacated Pinckneyville Community Hospital building into a once-a-week soup kitchen and a 60-room Southern Illinois homeless center.

It goes without saying there is broad opposition to the plan of a homeless shelter one block off the square in Pinckneyville, but Culley is intrepid.

In a letter dated Friday, Oct. 23 he writes to the council:

"Betty and I think Jesus or all your help in financial donations and prayers for Least of the Brethren Ministry.

"In 18 years, Least of the Brethren Ministry has made a difference in feeding hungry and poor people. Hungry people drive 50 miles waiting to get food that my wife, Betty, makes up in the food boxes. Why the poor hungry people do this and car pool is because Jesus' Hands feed the hungry! Betty puts three times more food than other pantries because Jesus supersizes it!

"We have something new that Jesus has laid on our hearts. We'd like the Pinckneyville hospital board to donate the old Pinckneyville hospital ton the Least of the Brethren Ministry for us to use as a soup kitchen once a week every Tuesday.

Six months later, we like to start a 60-room homeless center the largest in Southern Illinois.

"Jesus is going to have a Spiritual Hospital in the old Pinckneyville Hospital to help the needy and homeless! This is going to be the Miracle Hospital of Jesus! Please keep us in your prayers and make that happen!. Thank you."

The council declined to adopt a resolution in support of the Culley proposal.