Food Ministry, One Year Later

April 15 marked our one-year anniversary of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church food pantry, and overall, it’s been an honor and a blessing alike to not only serve Saline County but also a privilege to lead as the coordinator. For the struggles we’ve endured throughout the year such as sourcing a location and not casting the proverbial net so far, deep, and wide, I truly appreciate all of you for who you are, whom you belong to, and what you have brought to the table. I also want to give a huge thank you to the leadership team and congregation alike for believing in what God has commissioned us to do in an era when people can easily keep their Saturday mornings to themselves and instead we’ve given of ourselves for a minimum of four hours per month trying to be that little light many of you have heard me reference during the Praise Service prayer.

It would be too easy to shout out all of the volunteers who regularly come out to support yet someone would be offended if I messed around and forgot a name (hey, Armstrong has a hundred thoughts at one time and can get sidetracked – forgive me). Thank you to all who have donated good food from their own cabinets and pantries as well as purchased items from the grocery stores during the week!

This fiscal year (January 1 - December 31) is going to present fresh opportunities and equally new challenges, so let us all continue to stay in prayer for not only one other but also this ministry to grow exponentially in His will. Moving forward, I know there are a few things I’ve been meaning to do and this also concerns both of our lieutenants in the spiritual army:  As we feed physical food, consider that for some people we are the only example of God they see during a given week. Be vigilant of what we say, our expressions, and always respect the applicants for we must not allow for our own prejudices get in the way of Kingdom building nor would we wish for a lawsuit in this litigious environment or any harm that can sully our names and reputations either as individuals or MZMBC as a collective unit. Monitoring the foods’ expiration dates (presently, we only deal with dry goods) is of the utmost importance and we also need to keep in mind this idea:  Would you eat the food in this box or can if it looked any kind of way? Presentation still means a lot, and we all know how some folks like to talk.

Are there still rules? Of course – applicants still have to bring a driver’s license or valid ID card and a utility bill from his or her current residence with one order per household. What that means is no double-dipping. While we do not have a set limit on visits, we cannot afford to be Momma and Daddy regarding how food is distributed. A list of pantries is available online and is included with each order; at the current date Saline County has seventeen pantries and food banks. One would surmise that out of nearly one hundred churches around here that we would have that part taken care of, but Jesus reminds us that the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few in Matthew 9:37. Everyone has a gift and an innate ability to do something as we are all part of one body in Christ, so let us pursue that present with gusto!

In related news, I am looking for someone exceptional who is more at ease than me at soliciting donations from local grocery stores to make the phone calls and finally completing the applications for the Arkansas Food Bank and Feeding America, among other places. I know I’m a monster with logistics, but some of the little things get overlooked by grand visions of the big picture. Another wish is to begin preparing annual reports for compliance purposes upon member or prospective donor/volunteer request; hence, the volunteer list we leave out the Sunday morning before our drives.

If I don’t reiterate myself, thank you once again for who you are, whom you belong to, and what you are doing in the effort to advance Kingdom building in a me-first world that looks at us a bit strange for being different in following this Scripture below:

This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12