Zeal Church Terminates Lease of Longtime Spokane Food Ministry

Zeal Church in Spokane, Washington, has ended its month-to-month lease with Shalom Ministries, a food charity that operated on the property for 32 years. Senior Lead Pastor Ray Valdez announced the decision on August 23, stating that the church, which purchased the campus in May, observed illicit drug use, vandalism, and loitering associated with the ministry's operations. Valdez alleged that some individuals involved with the charity allowed unauthorized access to the building and that the site was being used for illegal activities, including the distribution of drugs to the local jail.

Shalom Ministries, which reported serving approximately 80,000 meals last year, received notice on August 14 that its lease would conclude on September 30. Following the announcement, the charity temporarily suspended its meal services. While Valdez stated that he holds personal respect for the charity's board members, he argued that the ministry's approach was ineffective and emphasized that the church's mission requires addressing spiritual needs alongside physical ones. The pastor noted that the church has received threats of violence since the decision but maintains that the move is necessary to uphold safety and moral standards on the property.