A Lenten Ministry - Feeding the hungry

Easter Sunday concluded Ignite’s ministry project of providing 10 meals, created and delivered by various individuals/families each week, for those who are hungry in our community.  This was inspired by our Lenten sermon series, “Lead Me to the Cross,” as we focused on Mark 8:34, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross and follow me.”  Many people in our community were moved by the love God had blessed us to give, and we were thankful for God calling us to such a beautiful experience. Pastor Paul Whiteley.

IGNITE 2018 Lenten Ministry 

This Lenten Season, Ignite is focusing on the verse "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34) This verse presents a 3-step spiral process of becoming a more faithful disciple of Christ by responding to God's call through faith and service. In fact, Ignite has chosen to collectively respond to our call by preparing and delivering lunches each Sunday that includes an entrée, snack, dessert, water, and a message of encouragement for those who are homeless in our community. To further expand on the experience, here's a testimony of one who delivered the meals: 

"As you know Sunday meal delivery was a rainy morning. We planned to go north on Navarro to find some people in need of meals. We were full of faith and optimism as we started our journey. Before we turned, we spotted a lady, who had been carrying a sign, walking quickly to find shelter, we stopped, handed a bag, she said "God bless you" and we headed on. We noticed so many people out walking, are they homeless? Just walking? It was interesting to think, how do you identify homeless people? Panhandlers, are mostly what we think of. But with the weather, we didn't see them, the guy by the highway, wasn't there today, the guy in front of Walmart, not there. So we looked, and really looked. By the Sherwin Williams dumpster, a guy was hanging out there in his wheelchair. There is clearly a homeless camp behind the Kohls, but no people were there. We did eventually find a few people, under awnings, by a gas station, by a closed business, etc. You had to really look. No one wants to be out standing in the rain! So we had one bag left, we decided to head back towards downtown. A block from the church, we see two people with backpacks walking. Are they homeless? Need food? He looks clean, well groomed, healthy. The lady with him has a lanyard around her neck, but we can't see her face. Really unsure, we still turn and stop, and ask, "do y'all need some food?" Their eyes lit up, at this point we can see the lady's face, clearly we asked the right people. She smiled, and the man said, "oh yes please, we were just out trying to find somewhere they feed people". All in all we found 11 people, it took about an hour. People seemed genuinely happy to be receiving a bag of goodies. This was hard for us, we were uncertain about how and where to go. But at then end of our deliveries, we are left knowing we were a little part of being the hands of Christ. May the Lord bless those that received today as much as we were blessed by the experience." 

Greg, Kim and Nikki Cannon 

We are blessed to bless! Praise God!