Welcome to Bread of Life
At Bread of Life, we are committed to serving the hungry and homeless in our community, one meal at a time. Our mission is to offer nourishment, hope, and dignity to those in need, while working alongside local churches, organizations, and volunteers to make a lasting impact. Through our partnerships and community-driven efforts, we aim to meet immediate needs while striving for long-term change.
The heart of Bread of Life comes from the vision of our late founder, Michael Miller, and his friend Sharon Helton. Their dedication to feeding the hungry and providing a sense of community for the most vulnerable in Lexington and beyond laid the foundation for what we continue to do today.
Michael’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and love for others. His journey to founding Bread of Life was deeply personal, rooted in his own struggles and transformation.
Meet Our Founder: Mike Miller
His Story
I was raised in Maryland. When I was a child, I lived on a farm. We always had plenty of food and a lot of people eating with us because we grew a big garden. I never knew we were poor because we fed so many people. I got into some trouble at 10 years old and spent my 11th birthday in reform school. It did not help; it taught me how to be a criminal; I came out a total mess. I was just starting high school, and everyone wanted drugs, but we lived in a rural area, and there were not many to go around. I met a few dealers, so I started selling drugs in school. At 13 years old, I was making so much money that I thought I was a big shot. This went on for a while until I got hooked on heroin. Things kept getting worse and worse.
I started thinking if I moved everything would be okay, but it didn't matter where I moved; I was stuck in my old ways. I traveled for a while with a carnival; it was easy to self-medicate. No one asked questions, and there was a steady supply of dealers waiting to sell their drugs. Every town we went to, they were waiting for us when we got there. I started thinking I was going to die in this mess.
I ended up in London, KY, installing ceramic tile. Shortly after, I began a job at a local church. Each day the Pastor would eat his lunch with me; when he would get up to walk away, he would always say "Jesus loves you." I did not know at the time, but he was sowing seeds of the love of Jesus. After I finished the job, he invited me back for the grand opening. I said okay but had no intention of being there. I left town that night and came back a month later. I happened to see a sign that said the dedication was that night. I took my son Kalab; he was about 2 years old. I ended up running out of the church with him because I felt conviction but was not ready. The next day Kalab's mom brought him to me and said she was done with him, that "he was my responsibility now". I was at a loss for words. I started thinking he would be better of in state custody. I took him to day care, let him out, he started to walk away but turned around and said "I love you daddy". That felt like sticking a knife in my heart. I started driving, and ended up at church. That day I turned my life over to God, that was December 13, 2000.
I moved to Lexington a couple years later, where I started attending the Lighthouse program and got clean for the first time in years. When I completed the program, I stayed on staff for 4 years. I learned a lot of things while being there. I met Sharon Helton while I was there; we became great friends. We talked about starting a feeding ministry. Once I left Lighthouse she called me and suggested we start Bread of Life Ministry. The following day we made 30 bag lunches and gave them away in the park to the homeless. We kept feeding people all through the summer, then winter, into spring, then summer, and fall. It was always very hot or very cold. Then one day we were invited to serve at Broadway Christian Church for the winter; we thanked God for making a way for us to get in out of the cold. We operated out the basement of their church for about 3 weeks until we were invited to stay. That was 6 years ago. We are very grateful that Broadway Christian Church is allowing us to use their basement free of charge in order to feed the homeless and hungry in our city. Now, we are able to cook a hot meal for each person that comes through the door. We give them a big plate of food the first time while I share a little out of the Bible in order to remind them that God loves them more then they could imagine. We always give then a second plate if we have it. Sometimes we have 80 people, sometimes 250. We strive to be the the hands and feet of Jesus.
Thank you everyone for your interest in Bread of Life.
-Mike "Whosoever" Miller
Continuing the Legacy of Mike "Whosoever" Miller
A New Chapter for Bread of Life: Carrying Forward Mike’s Vision
On August 14, 2024, we lost our beloved founder, Michael Miller. His dedication to serving the homeless and hungry through Bread of Life (BOL) made a lasting impact. Though he is no longer with us, his vision continues.
My name is Becky Barnes, and I am a Bachelor of Social Work student at Eastern Kentucky University, set to graduate in Spring 2025. I have been a patient advocate for 15 years and am deeply committed to serving underserved and vulnerable populations. I first met Mike through my best friend, Scottie Bartlett, who often received meals from Bread of Life. Through those encounters, I became friends with Mike and saw firsthand the incredible work he was doing. Sadly, Scottie has also passed away, but the impact of both of these men in my life continues to shape my commitment to this mission.
Mike worked tirelessly to keep Bread of Life (BOL) running, but finding volunteers was often a challenge. When he was unable to continue running BOL due to his health, there weren't enough volunteers to keep the organization operational, and sadly, BOL had to stop serving meals at Broadway Christian Church in Lexington.
As the new steward of this mission, I have taken steps to reinstate Bread of Life's status with the Kentucky Secretary of State and am working to reestablish the 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Currently, Bread of Life is focusing on reinstating the 501(c)(3) status, which requires a $600 application fee and filing documents for missing years. While we cannot accept donations yet, I am working to ensure BOL can continue serving the most vulnerable in our community.
Upon approval, we will proceed with plans to serve Madison County, where I reside and where there is significant need. Madison County has only one homeless shelter, which only operates as an emergency winter shelter. My goal for BOL is to collaborate with local churches and organizations to meet community needs and continue Mike's work.
I am open to reestablishing Bread of Life in Lexington in the future should the opportunity arise and enough volunteers step forward to support the work.
In the meantime, I am focused on securing the necessary resources to reactivate the nonprofit status and build partnerships to ensure that Bread of Life can continue its mission. If you are interested in supporting this cause, or if you have ideas or resources to share, please reach out to me. Together, we can continue the work that Mike started and make a lasting impact on those who need it most.
-Becky Barnes
Contact Information:
Website: www.breadoflifeky.org
Email: beckybarnes@breadoflifeky.org