SPOKANE, WA – Zeal Church is receiving mixed reactions after the ministry’s lead pastor, Ray Valdez, gave a statement on why he chose to terminate the lease for Shalom Ministries, which previously rented space at 518 West 3rd Ave. The pastor highlighted the grievances brought to his church’s doorstep as a result of Shalom’s “Dine With Dignity” outreach program.
Shalom Ministries provided breakfast to the unhoused in Downtown Spokane for 32 years before being told by Zeal Church earlier this month that it would no longer be able to use the 3rd street location as its base. The ministry’s “Dine With Dignity” program reportedly served 80,000 meals last year with plans to maintain the same pace this year. Zeal Church, however, purchased the property in May and informed Shalom on August 14, 2026, that it would no longer be able to use the facility’s basement to serve food and offer other resources to the unhoused in the city effective September 30, 2026.
Pastor Ray Valdez provided an explanation for his decision to cut ties with Shalom Ministries before the sermon at Zeal this past Sunday (Aug. 23).
“This is a spiritual issue,” the pastor said. “Food does not cast out devils of (sic) people. In fact, food was the first thing the Devil brought to tempt Jesus with.”
Valdez went on to share evidence of drug use on the church’s property as well as break-ins that could be traced back to the “Dine With Dignity” program spearheaded by Shalom Ministries. The pastor became quite graphic with his descriptions of individuals overdosing on or near the property after having meals provided by Shalom.
“Spokane does not need more meals,” Pastor Valdez declared in his statement. “They need an encounter with our Jesus,” he added.
“This is not about food,” Valdez further explained. “This decision is not because we hate those people or Shalom, or that we are against feeding people. We are obeying God and we are setting a standard, and this is God’s house.”
Some Spokane residents and supporters living outside of the city praised Pastor Ray Valdez and Zeal Church for putting an end to criminal activity on his newly purchased church property. “This is how you spiritually lead,” wrote one Zeal Church supporter online. “He has a point,” said another.
Other residents and opponents of Zeal Church were not so sure. “These Zealots should research the meaning of redemption and restoration,” one critic wrote in response to Pastor Ray Valdez’s statement making local news. Another opponent said, “The church before Zeal paid security to come and be there during the meal service. Maybe Zeal should have done the same thing.”
Zeal Church was planted in Spokane, Washington, by Shantel and Ray Valdez near the end of last year. The pastors conceptualized the idea of starting a church in 2018. Zeal holds its first conference, called Fire Conference, this weekend.