In the heart of Pensacola, Florida, a quiet revolution of compassion is changing lives one person at a time. The Pensacola Dream Center reaches out to the hurting, the homeless, and the hopeless with practical help and the unwavering love of Christ. From sheltering abused women to feeding people on the streets, fighting human trafficking to walking beside those battling addiction, this ministry refuses to look away.
The Dream Center movement began in 1994 when Pastor Matthew Barnett took over a struggling church in inner-city Los Angeles and started feeding the homeless in Echo Park. That small act of obedience exploded into a worldwide network of urban ministries focused on holistic restoration. In 2009, Pensacola’s own Terri Merrick traveled to Kolkata, India, and witnessed extreme poverty that broke her heart. She began asking, “What is the value of a person? What is the value of a soul?” Her life was forever changed. Inspired by the powerful work of the Dream Center Network in other cities, Terri felt called to bring the same vision home. The Pensacola Dream Center opened its doors in 2017 and now serves thousands of marginalized people every year. Its mission remains simple and bold: “We exist to reach the least, the lost, the left behind with the love of Christ by meeting both physical and spiritual needs.”
One of the Center’s cornerstone programs is Canopy of Hope, a residential shelter for women escaping domestic violence, homelessness, or crisis. This year, more than thirty women have called Canopy of Hope home. They receive safe beds, hot meals, life-skills classes, counseling, Bible studies, and help finding jobs and permanent housing. Many arrive broken and afraid; most leave strong, stable, employed, and ready to rebuild. Volunteers and staff walk with them every step, proving that no one is beyond healing.
Every 4th Saturday, outreach teams hit the streets of Pensacola to serve the homeless population and do various other local missions projects. If you see a need in the community, let them know.
They distribute hot meals, haircuts, bike repairs, hygiene kits, socks, blankets, seasonal clothing, and so much more. What makes the work sustainable is an impressive web of partnerships: Feeding the Gulf Coast, Chick-fil-A, Buffalo Rock, and Starbucks supply food and drinks; Beds of Hope provides beds to the homeless or those in transition; local churches and organizations send volunteers; and area businesses regularly donate supplies. Because of these alliances, the Dream Center served over 1,800 people in 2025 alone…