OUR STORY / LEGACY
Pastor Jack Williams: The Foundation
Standing on the Word Outreach is an extension of Midnight Ministry, founded by the late Pastor Jack Williams, a man whose life is a powerful testimony of redemption and God’s grace.
Pastor Jack was once facing a life sentence in prison for murder and was affiliated with a prison gang. While incarcerated, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ and began a transformative relationship with Him. During this time, he cried out to God for freedom. God responded with a mandate:
“Go to the streets of Oakland and feed the homeless community, and I will get you out of here.”
When the time came for his parole board hearing, all of his paperwork was mysteriously lost, resulting in his release. True to God’s word, Pastor Jack immediately began fulfilling the mandate placed on his life.
He faithfully served the unhoused community on the streets of Oakland, providing food, prayer, hope, and love until his earthly life ended. His legacy of service, obedience, and compassion continues through the work of Standing on the Word Outreach.
Andre – C.E.O.
My heart for serving the homeless comes from personal experience. I once struggled with homelessness, sleeping in my car in East Oakland due to poor financial choices and bad habits while backslidden in my faith. God helped restore my life, and in 1997, I began serving with Midnight Ministry under the leadership of the late Pastor Jack Williams, eventually becoming a team leader.
Through obedience to God’s direction, He led me to First AME Church one Sunday, where I met my childhood friend and neighbor, Tracy. We later married, and I pursued higher education, graduating with honors from Cal State East Bay with a degree in Public Administration.
After Pastor Jack’s passing, Tracy and I followed God’s leading and founded Standing on the Word Outreach in 2015, continuing our commitment to serve the unhoused with compassion, hope, and purpose.
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” — Exodus 3:14
Tracy (C.O.O)
I grew up in Oakland, California, where I faced a long and difficult battle with drug addiction. Even in my darkest moments, I never stopped praying to God, seeking deliverance and hope.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:17-18
By the grace of God, I was freed from drug addiction and have been sober since 1999. I returned to school and earned two Associate of Arts degrees from Berkeley City College. Today, I am dedicated to serving the unhoused and homeless in the greater Bay Area, offering love, compassion, support, and hope.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
My journey is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of God’s love and grace. I consider myself a living miracle.