Outreach: Food Ministry

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-16 NIV)

The members of Trinity Church International in Lake Worth, Florida, have taken this scripture to heart. According to their Website (tci.org) they are a "family church with a world vision." Their outreach seems to begin right in their own community with an active ministry of love that takes many forms.

One form of outreach is their food ministry. Pastor Dan West (TCI's Pastor of Living Free Ministries) and his wife, Sandy, have been instrumental in many of these outreaches. In talking to them, I learned that since December 2002 each morning the church sends volunteers to several grocery stores to collect food that is soon to be outdated, bring it back to the church and distribute it to those in need. Currently, they distribute to more than 26 agencies plus individual families - 30,000 pounds of food a month - all donated!

As people come to collect their food, the volunteers are able to witness to the recipients and to invite them to TCI's Living Free groups - small discipleship groups that help people turn to God and his resources when dealing with life's problems. In fact, the director of the food ministry not only tells the recipients about Living Free groups, but goes to where they are to hold the meetings. Reaching out to people by meeting their felt needs, these volunteers are serving as a bridge from the community to the church. TCI's biggest single food-related outreach happens at Thanksgiving when they give away turkeys, canned goods and dried goods. In 2005 they distributed approximately 2000 turkeys for Thanksgiving (for about 8000 individuals).

TCI recently received a grant for a refrigerated truck to help with this ministry.

Want to learn more? Check out Trinity Church International's Website at tci.org.

To learn how your church can develop small groups that make a difference, visit Living Free.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States. Angel Food works through churches and community organizations in over 32 states.

Christian Community Food Ministry maintains a community operated food pantry to help meet the needs of local families.

COMPA Food Bank Ministry exists to serve and to support churches, food pantries and neighborhood agencies who provide food for needy families in the Rocky Mountain region.

"How to Start a Food Ministry" by Sarah Sandori.

Testimonials: How God is at work in Hunger Ministry

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Food Ministries

Do you know about a food ministry that is making a difference? Please send me the details - I'd like to consider featuring them on this page so that others can learn!