Community Partner Story – Champions Church

Champions Church is more than just a place of support – it’s a lifeline for the Redlands community. At its heart is a simple yet powerful philosophy: a hand up, not a handout. 

The service has grown dramatically in the past 18 months. “We have quadrupled in the last 18 months, and even since this time last year to now, our clientele has doubled,” says Grant, Senior Pastor at Champions Church. As the cost of living rises, more people than ever – including young families – are turning to Champions Church for help.  

“For so long we were servicing the pension age. What we have seen in the last 12 months is a switch, more young families coming through,” Brendan, Food Relief Manager at Champions Church explains.  

To meet the growing demand, Champions Church runs a community grocery store, a fruit and vegetable stall with refrigerated goods area and an op shop. Unlike some programs, the grocery store is designed to preserve dignity. “The ability to walk through, grab what you want, what you need…people spend hours here, sometimes just browsing. I think that speaks to loneliness as well. They just want to be part of something,” says Brendan. 

The need to connect extends beyond the store. “Our morning tea area, where we serve tea and coffee, is the most important part of what we do,” Brendan adds. A simple cup of coffee becomes a gateway to community and conversation. Volunteers take the time to check in, listen and help in whatever way they can. 

The impact of Champions Church extends far beyond its gates. The team visits Foodbank Queensland four times a week to keep shelves stocked and ensure no one in the community goes without. In response to the recent ex-tropical cyclone that caused flooding and power outages, they distributed over 130 emergency hampers to community members in need.  

They also support Redlands Special School, providing 60 FareShare meals every week to students in need. The community reach is vast, with people travelling from Russell Island, Redlands and even Beaudesert to find support, meals and connections. 

One of the most striking aspects of Champions Church is the commitment to treating everyone with dignity and care. They extend a helping hand as far as they can to provide support to their community, old and new. “We had one gentleman, just recently out of incarceration, walk in and said, ‘I’ve got $5 to my name, what can you do for me?’ He walked out with a massive trolley, and that’s why we do what we do. Thats what we exist to do,” Brendan shares. 

As the need continues to grow, Champions Church is working alongside the community and local governments to expand its facilities. Their vision is to provide not just food, but counselling services and spaces where people can gather, connect and support one another. Brendan said simply, “We just want to help more people.” 

Steve, a dedicated volunteer, sees firsthand how the community is changing. “We see two to three new families come in most weeks, mostly through word of mouth.” He’s also noticed a shift in who is seeking help. “First off, it was those driving old bombs. This is all they could afford. As the cost-of-living pressure has gone up, we’ve had some come in Mercedes. That’s the car they’ve had for years.” He adds, “and so they come in, and we have got to reassure them that what is here is for them. It’s for everyone.” 

Many of those who come through Champions Church are learning how to stretch their resources. “A lot of them are coming through and working out how to make the food spread further,” Steve shares. And for many, just having a place to turn to makes all the difference. “Some of them come in and say, ‘I’m so thankful you’re here.’ Wow. We are just providing a service for you.” 

At its core, Champions Church is about more than food – it’s about community, dignity and care. Whether through a bag of groceries, a shared meal or a simple conversation over coffee, they continue to lift people up, one act of kindness at a time. 

If you are in a position to help Foodbank Queensland provide more food across the state to support Queenslanders in need, please consider joining the fight against hunger as a regular giver.