It's All Free
The last 2 Sundays of each month at 12:30 PM, a line forms outside the sliding glass doors that serve as our entrance to the Food Pantry and God's Closet. Each week as these ministries begin, the leaders and the line of people gather to pray. This simple moment spent unifying the group is more than just to keep everyone "nice," but rather to remind that whether someone finds themselves in line or serving or both, we are all in need of Christ. "Us" and "them" must be dropped at the door.
We are thankful that much of the line is our congregation. They are more than the name they sign in with at the entrance. Some are struggling to find work, disabled, widowed, in recovery, not so much in recovery, or low on income for a variety of reasons. Most of these people give to our church far more than they receive from their bag full of food. Many are living testimonies to God's saving work. They are our best evangelists, inviting others not just to Food Pantry/God's Closet but to worship and Bible studies or simply sharing about Jesus on their own (even better).
They are the reason we are thankful to be a Church of the Nazarene. Though some may look at that monthly line or our congregation and wonder, "What good could come from these people?" we know God is up to far more than we often see. Our God is the one who chose to incarnate Himself in Nazareth...the town that the disciple Nathanael declared, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Yes...Jesus can. His disciples can even stand in food pantry lines. Sometimes they also serve them. This is a beautiful work God is doing here. We pray for God to keep stretching these ministries and us beyond what we can imagine.
Much of the line is also people we don't know. They're also much more than the name they sign in with. Some call during the week to ask for the times and details, or they show up and quickly disappear. Some have been invited; some stumble across our info online. Regardless, we know that each person who comes is someone Christ loves, someone Christ died for, someone His image is within. May each person be welcomed in well - worthy of being looked in the eye, worthy of being called by name, and even being hugged if they'd like. No one needs to go hungry when the church is in Puna.
These ministries meet the very practical needs of our community head on. They are available to anyone and everyone the last 2 Sundays every month.These essential ministries are sustained by donations from within and outside of the congregation, and HOURS of time invested by our faithful volunteers. Our volunteers don't let a month go by without an hour and a half drive over to Kona to pickup some of the essentials from Costco, and another hour and a half drive back. Each week there is at least one shopping trip into town to pick up that week's deals, and keep our costs down. Saturdays are often spent bagging food, and folding/refolding donations for the hundredth time. We are always looking for more volunteers, funds, or donations for this ministry!
Let's reflect and act upon these words from Isaiah 55:1-3 NLT this week:
 |
| The food pantry is mostly non-perishable food, supplemented with produce as giving allows. We are in the process of beginning to grow food on our property and have huge hopes for this ministry! |
They are the reason we are thankful to be a Church of the Nazarene. Though some may look at that monthly line or our congregation and wonder, "What good could come from these people?" we know God is up to far more than we often see. Our God is the one who chose to incarnate Himself in Nazareth...the town that the disciple Nathanael declared, "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Yes...Jesus can. His disciples can even stand in food pantry lines. Sometimes they also serve them. This is a beautiful work God is doing here. We pray for God to keep stretching these ministries and us beyond what we can imagine.
Much of the line is also people we don't know. They're also much more than the name they sign in with. Some call during the week to ask for the times and details, or they show up and quickly disappear. Some have been invited; some stumble across our info online. Regardless, we know that each person who comes is someone Christ loves, someone Christ died for, someone His image is within. May each person be welcomed in well - worthy of being looked in the eye, worthy of being called by name, and even being hugged if they'd like. No one needs to go hungry when the church is in Puna.
These ministries meet the very practical needs of our community head on. They are available to anyone and everyone the last 2 Sundays every month.These essential ministries are sustained by donations from within and outside of the congregation, and HOURS of time invested by our faithful volunteers. Our volunteers don't let a month go by without an hour and a half drive over to Kona to pickup some of the essentials from Costco, and another hour and a half drive back. Each week there is at least one shopping trip into town to pick up that week's deals, and keep our costs down. Saturdays are often spent bagging food, and folding/refolding donations for the hundredth time. We are always looking for more volunteers, funds, or donations for this ministry!
Let's reflect and act upon these words from Isaiah 55:1-3 NLT this week:
"Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink -
even in you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk -
it's all free!
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.
Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David."
Come and drink -
even in you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk -
it's all free!
Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.
Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David."
May we give with the measure of our Lord's grace, and seek what truly satisfies from our good God.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For more info about the Food Pantry and God's Closet or to give financial support,
please visit www.cpnaz.net.
please visit www.cpnaz.net.
So you no longer have a relationship with the food bank or United way? Ohana Food Pantry used to receive $8000 per year to feed the hungry on the Big Island. �� It sounds like that all feel thru?
ReplyDeleteThat's right - we are now a self-sustained entity. We decided to break from our connection with Food Basket several years back when the requirements were increasing, and especially because we were unable to pray with people or talk about Jesus. Currently, our church budget via faithful tithes gives $6000/year to food pantry and $2400/year to clothing closet to support these ministries in additional to extra donations that come in each month.
Delete