Cru® Inner City is saddened to share news of the death of a beloved ministry partner in New York City on March 27. Omar Hargett, pictured above at the Box of Love® event in November, has been a huge presence in our ministry family — physically, spiritually, relationally — for many years. A bit of his story:
After a stint in the armed forces, Omar was injured and wheelchair-bound. He ended up in a Brooklyn homeless shelter, depressed and angry at life. Every Sunday morning, Brother Lee from a nearby church visited the shelter, asking if anyone wanted to come to church, emphasizing the great music and the free meal afterwards.
Omar turned him down, consistently, for a long time. But one Sunday morning Brother Lee picked Omar up in his arms, smelly and dirty, put him in a van and took him to church. And Omar enjoyed it! Through God’s pursuing him and Brother Lee’s sacrificial care, Omar heard the gospel week after week. Eventually he came to trust in Christ at that church and began a whole new life.
Omar and his wife Gwendolyn have represented Jesus to so many for so long. They established Agape Social Services to reach out to needy neighbors, young and old, in their Red Hook housing project. They tirelessly served those affected by Hurricane Sandy which devastated their own community. Omar’s been a faithful supervisor at all of our Cru “packing parties” for years, as well as responding to any opportunity to share what God has done in his life.
When Gwendolyn called last Saturday to tell us of Omar’s home-going, we were packing 6000 Easter Bags for ministries to reach out to children and families this week. Gwen wanted to make sure that their ministry received its Easter Bags! In the midst of her own grief, her thoughts were focused on those who need to know the love of Christ this Easter.
Join us in thanking God for the life of Omar Hargett! He will be greatly missed by many.
By Carole Kleinknecht. Carole serves with Cru Inner City New York with Human Resources.
