Compassion By Design

I had the joy of accompanying the founders of Angel Food Ministry to the Compassion in Action Roundtable held in the Executive Office Building at the White House last week. What makes this unique is that Angel Food is a program that is operated almost exclusively through local churches. By providing essential nutrition to anyone who needs it, and using fresh high quality groceries with a healthy dose of meat, instead of surplus or donated goods, Angel food has grown from 34 boxes off a back porch in Georgia, to nearly a half million per month. In fact, currently in its peak months, Angel Food serves more people than the USDA Food Commodities Program. It is kind of like the 800 pound Gorilla of food ministry that is quietly serving all over the nation. It won’t be long until this ministry is at a million boxes a month and grows from 35 to 50 states.

What is probably more important, is the practical and meaningful way that this ministry allows churches to energize their outreach. Rather than making food available only during the holidays or based upon whatever food can be gleaned, Angel Food is allowing local churches (some 4,000) to touch people with meaningful encouragement twice each month—once when they order from a monthly menu and then again when their food is delivered. This bi-monthly contact that is tied to quality food, in addition to the dignity that is built-in (order from a menu and participate financially along side of people from all need levels and backgrounds), make it a great outreach tool for many churches looking for a way to serve. It allows these churches to help their own members as well as show practical kindness and friendship to lots of people outside the church—ideal community service.

This quote from an experienced pastor says it well:
“We have been doing Angel Food for about three months now. What an outstanding ministry. We usually deliver about 1,000 thanksgiving baskets, but I have always felt like that is putting a band aid on a gaping wound. Angel Food is a real helpful solution. We expect to be handling 700 to 800 families by the end of the year.
 


Pastor Don Hamilton Capital Area Christian Church, PA

If you are looking to find a way to start community service, Angel Food could give you a big start. It addresses practical nutrition needs, mobilizes and helps church members, and can even take the edge off rising food and gasoline prices.

You can learn more or apply here.
Angel Food Press Release

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 4:32 am and is filed under Church Growth, Church Planting, Community Ministry, Compassion Ministry, Missional Churches. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.