Back More than 1,400 give nearly 27,000 pounds of food to Graceworks Ministries during annual food drive
August 30th, 2010
Yesterday, Scott Harris took the stage in Senior Pastor Mike Glenn's absence and preached a message called “Lost and Found” from Luke 15. During the service, he introduced members to two Brentwood Baptist families—Joey and Courtney Lankford, newly commissioned Brentwood Baptist missionaries, and Mike and Hayley Jones (sister of Courtney), who are adopting eight siblings from Africa.
The moving message and examples of radical, servant-hearted living spurred the congregation to participate in the annual Graceworks Food Drive that afternoon. Members were challenged to take the grocery list passed out in services, fill up their carts at the local market, and bring bags filled with necessary food and cleaning items back to the church for needy people in our community.
Graceworks Ministries, a local non-profit organization, provides physical, emotional, spiritual, material, and referral services to those in need while helping them break the cycle of dependency on government assistance. It also benefits those who are faced with unexpected circumstances such as the sudden death of a spouse, catastrophic illness, or a lingering disability.
From 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., 702 cars carrying 1,425 people rolled through the church parking lot, dropping their items off in the makeshift circle drive at the north parking lot. Volunteers—include Missions Ministry regulars, deacons, and LifeGroups—ran to meet them, unload their gifts, and transfer them to large moving vans stationed there. One woman from Michigan, visiting from out of town, even participated in the churchwide event.
Becky Gross, Community Ministries Minister who coordinated the food drive and celebrated her birthday yesterday by serving others, said, “One lady was actually pulled over by a policeman for speeding on the way here. She pleaded mercy, told him the whole story about shopping for Graceworks, and how she needed to be at the church by 6:00 p.m. because that was the deadline. He checked out her groceries and Graceworks grocery list and let her go. She made it to the church by 6:00 p.m. and was all smiles.”
Even though the rains came down starting at 4:00 p.m. and the operation was moved under the portico at Entrance A, nearly 27,000 pounds of food was brought in—up 24,000 pounds compared to last year. And, though it wasn’t requested, $525 in cash was handed through car windows yesterday to benefit this Hope for the World Missions Offering partner.
Groceries continue to trickle in today and the Brentwood Baptist Missions Ministry expects to see more throughout the week. Steve Nichols, a Brentwood Baptist Deacon and volunteer truck driver yesterday, said, “This is my favorite ministry. You really see how big the church’s heart is for God. I enjoy being a part of it every year.”
These annual gifts from Brentwood Baptist members keep the Graceworks food pantry stocked for a year. However, the needs are still great and requests come faster than they can keep up with. While members stepped up and met an incredible challenge this year, this ministry still needs our support. Continue to pray for additional food and supplies for the needy in Williamson County in the coming months.
Graceworks Ministries is one of our Hope for the World Missions Offering partners. Find out more about how you can give to this offering or get more details on how you can get involved in this ministry.