Food as a Tool

Because we are children of God and servants of Christ, we can make it our aim to be involved in
representing Him well. Romans 12 paints a great picture for us. In that chapter, we can read:
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

We serve the Lord as we serve other people, as we are sensitive to their needs and place the needs of those around us and those whom God has called us to serve higher than our own.  We are called to exhibit His compassion and we can look for ways to use the resources that God has given us, whether they are tangible or intangible, in order to touch people for Him.  We can be known for our charity, for our hospitality, for the way that we desire to serve.

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Jesus directed His disciples to go forth and to do the work of ministry. A panoramic description is found in Matthew chapter 10:
7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

Last week, I highlighted the importance of recognizing God as Creator.  He has created so much for His glory and our satisfaction, and we can give Him glory for His provision.

He gives us food to eat so that we might be nourished for His service, so that we might grow and be healthy.  And, food can even be a tool - much fellowship has occurred around a meal.

Two high school students in Ashland, Kentucky see food as a tool.  According to a story on the CBN.com website, Gavin Coutour and Cassie Stevens, who attend Paul G. Blazer High School and serve on the Student senate there, "learned that a number of their peers in the Ashland Independent School District don't have a permanent address, and even more rely on free or reduced-cost breakfasts and lunches."

Their answer: "renovate the district's existing box truck into a fully-functioning food truck in order to deliver hot fresh meals on days when school is not in session." The school district received a $10,000 grant this spring and the project was underway.

Cassie is quoted as saying, "When the Summer feed program first started, they were serving 7,000 students. Then they started using the box truck just to deliver food and it jumped to 15,000," adding, "We hope by turning it into an actual food truck that we can make that number jump a couple more thousand."

She also related to CBN News that, "This is way bigger than I thought... it made me start thinking we need to spread awareness to other people who are like me that know there is something wrong, but not how big of a problem it actually is..."

And, in St. Louis, the "food as a tool" concept is being implemented.  ReligionNews.com reported on the program called, "Grill to Glory," which consists of neighborhood cookouts. It's described as "a partnership between local churches and Better Family Life to build community in North St. Louis, an area plagued by violent crime."

James Clark, who serves as vice-president of community outreach for Better Family Life, described as "not a religious organization," stated: "It becomes a neighborhood magnet and conversations begin. Members of the church are there, and they are not aggressively trying to push the Bible. They are just saying, ‘We are the church. We’re here. Come fellowship with us. And if you are free tomorrow morning, why don’t you come to service?’”

Clark saw the effect of one church in the area, Leonard Missionary Baptist Church, which early last year began to hold Saturday barbecues, drawing around 60 attendees a week, according to Clark, who thought, according to the article, “what would happen to the neighborhood if we could get the collective church body to buy into this model? And it’s low-hanging fruit. The ask of the church is relatively small.”

These are a couple of stories that can inspire and challenge us to evaluate: What tool has God provided for you to use to reach your neighborhood?  Is there a resource or even a creative idea that the Lord has provided that will enable you to reach your community?

It may be something very simple, such as the leadership group which formed the OUR Montgomery prayer walks a few months ago - the most recent occurred in Regency Park this past Saturday.  It's a visible expression of compassion for a community and shows people that they are cared for.  It also sends a message that in order to solve some of the dilemmas that we face as a society, prayer is a key element.

There can also be outreaches that are a bit more complex - this week marks the kick-off of a very special church season, as a number of churches are launching Vacation Bible Schools.  These are incredible opportunities to reach a community with the love of Christ.  Children attend, adults serve as volunteers, and God can be glorified. You can see the Faith Radio Vacation Bible School calendar here.

In building relationships, there may be a meal involved - great things can happen when people share food together.  The churches in St. Louis are a testimony to that.  It could be a one-on-one meal with someone or a group meal in order to get to know someone. As our examples today remind us, don't forget the food!