The Crab

On Monday, September 19th, I took a long walk on the beach to just "think". We were on vacation at Murrel's Inlet, SC. This was days before our vacation tragedy.

I was working out a few events in my life and trying to make sense of senseless things. The only thing that comes of that is frustration and a few tears. So I sent a haggard prayer up to God and asked once again, "Lord, teach me your lessons today so that I might walk through this valley and be wiser on the other side" and just kept walking. 

I saw in front of me many birds feasting on the ocean's leftovers that the tide had deposited on the beach. I figured if the birds found somthing good surely there would be something of interest to me. So I walked right into the flock of seagulls feeding on smallish creatures left behind by the tide. I walked through the shells, seaweed, and bird droppings and found a stone crab whose shell was as big as my fist. Thinking it was dead I nudged it with my toe.

The crab was not dead. It was about ten feet from the water and just sitting there. Why wasn't it fleeing to the safety of the water? Each time I nudged it with my toe it moved. This crab appeared to have just given up on life. 

So what should I do when I discover something that appears to have given up on life? I could walk away and know that this crab would eventually become food for birds. That was probably the most merciful choice since the creature obviously wanted it's misery to end. 

But what if that crab and I had crossed paths for a reason? How many others had passed this crab before me and simply didn't care? Maybe they didn't recognize there was still life within the shell. The reality was, at that moment in time this crab was in my path and I had a choice. I could walk away and know it would probably perish and it's misery would end today, OR I could pick it up and throw it back into the life giving water with hopes it would live to see another day.

I threw it back.

Life is precious, one of the truest gifts from God. It should never be negated or belittled or left to perish. A life that perishes before it's intended time has not been fully lived. 

I choose life, not only for myself, but for all who cross my path. I'll let God decide when to let His creations perish. 

And then God spoke very clearly to my heart. 

Each and every meal we (Forever Fed) serve in His name is like living water for a hopeless person. This crab represented the many hopeless individuals who have been kicked to the curb time and time again. Many of the guests we serve are on the brink of giving up, some already have. But when Forever Fed volunteers show up with food, fellowship, and love we celebrate life. We are the light of Christ and the Living Water.

Here's the thing...to cross paths with hopeless individuals, you have to go to their turf. You may have to walk through some unpleasant things to reach those in need. They don't come to your home or your work place or your Church. They live in the streets and under bridges, sometimes they live in apartments where several families live in one dwelling with no utililites. They live in poverty. 

The love of Christ--is Intentional. 

Forever Fed, A Mobile Food Ministry. 

Selah

See the Need, Meet that Need.

Over a year ago Forever Fed began serving a monthly meal to the residents of the Scott Mill Neighborhood because we identified that area as being impoverished and “in high need”. We partnered with Canton Adventist Church and decided Forever Fed would provide the meal and they would provide the use of their Church Campus, and desserts.  One year later we are still working together each month to meet the needs of our neighbors. In fact, since that time another congregation has begun worshiping at that location and they are now helping as well. Just last night we served 158 meals at that location.

Last spring a gentleman approached us (Forever Fed) and asked how his Bible Study from Watermark Church could help and participate in this same monthly event at Scott Mill Chapel. Mark shared that his group had a heart for sharing their faith and knowledge with the children during this monthly outreach and he said they’d like to hand out some Bibles. Mark’s Bible Study now comes and leads children’s games, hands out Bibles, and interacts with the neighborhood children attending this event. Last month they even brought a bounce house for the kids! Mark’s group saw a need and met that need.

This summer, one of the houses at The Goshen Valley Boy’s Ranch in Waleska asked if they could bring some clothing to give away to the residents at this same event. Of course, our answer was “yes” and now, each month, they bring tables and tables filled with clothing to give away. Last night, they gave away hundreds of clothing items. In fact, they were the most popular ‘draw’ of the night! We begin serving our meal at 6 PM but people were so busy going through the clothing, no one came through the food line until 6:30! Kimberly, Ronnie, and their fostered family of boys saw a need, and they met the need.

Last month Anne Rex, the pastor of Field’s Chapel UMC asked us, “Is there anything our Church can do to help at a Forever Fed event?” I said “Sure! Come and serve the food at the Scott Mill Chapel event next month”. Last night, a large group from FCUMC came and assisted with set up, served food, washed dishes, and even stayed through the closing prayer. FCUMC was told there was a need, and they met that need. I can't tell you how their service blessed Bob and I. 

Forever Fed partnered with one Church a little over a year ago in hopes of serving food to some hungry folks. One year later, I actually feel guilty about calling this event a “Forever Fed Block Party” because it has grown to be so much more. This event is more like a “Body of Christ Block Party”. Multiple congregations are now converging together and impacting our community with an outpouring of outrageous love.  This event started because we saw a need and set out to meet that need. Today this outreach has grown well beyond our smallish goals of feeding people and I believe God is truly glorified as the needs of His children are being met. 

See the need, meet that need.

Empower others to do the same.

God Bless!

This is Too Amazing Not to Share!

In the last year Forever Fed has served over 10,000 meals. Needless to say it’s been an amazing journey filled with some very remarkable stories along the way.

Well this story is just too amazing not to share.

Clay and Amber Coyle went to serve a meal this evening and that meal was canceled at the last minute. Unfortunately they didn’t discover it had been canceled until they showed up to serve it and found a note on the door.  So, Clay and Amber had to decide what to do with the food they had prepared. They chose to take some of the food to the homeless camp close to where they were serving.

When Clay arrived he said there were “eight guys” in the camp which is truly an unusually large group for that camp. We typically only see two to four men in the camp at any one time.  Clay noted that there was even one man coming into the camp who was carrying his belongings in a trash bag and it appeared that this gentleman was into the camp as well.

Clay then asks the group of men, “Would you like some food?” and then two of the men immediately fell to their knees praising Jesus. They exclaimed, “We are so hungry! Thank you, Thank you!” and there were shouts of joy and praising all around.

On this night, August 22, 2011, Forever Fed’s plans were interrupted by God for a purpose.

Some of His children…were hungry.

God is good.

Drive Away Hunger

Please check out this program from Auto Trader benefits the Atlanta Food Bank.  Drive Away Hunger.

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TURN CANS INTO TICKETS

For every 10 cans you donate at participating Atlanta area Chevrolet dealerships, you'll earn a free ticket to see Atlanta play New York on September 16.

TEST DRIVE A NEW CHEVROLET FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN ATLANTA BASEBALL VIP EXPERIENCE

Test drive a new Chevrolet at participating Atlanta area Chevrolet dealerships and AutoTrader.com will donate $10 to the Atlanta Community Food Bank which will feed a family of 4 for 2 days. And you can register for a chance to win an Atlanta Baseball VIP experience, including a 16-seat luxury suite at the game between Atlanta and New York on September 16.

A Matter of Perspective

     I had the privilege of meeting with a really cool couple last night over coffee. They were curious about Forever Fed and we met to discuss how their Church can get involved in what we do. Now I could have done my whole "Forever Fed Pitch" over the phone but in the last year I've learned that it's hard for folks to hear and see our sincerity and passion when we're not meeting face to face.

     Ministry leadership is filled with meetings and to be painfully honest I usually look upon them as a ‘necessary evil’. But through the numerous meetings I attend I'm abundantly blessed. When ideas and knowledge are shared with the Body of Christ everyone wins!

     Some days I wish I could just take a wet soapy rag to the blackboard list of our American "Religions" and just wipe the slate clean of all the different labels we've given to different Christian denominations. We're all on the same team so why is it that those religious and denominational labels seem to divide the Body of Christ us instead of uniting us?

     Forever Fed is celebrating our first year of service tomorrow. (August 13th, 2011-Scott Mill Chapel, Canton 6-8 PM) It's been amazing to see a ministry birthed and progress through its infancy and I've no doubt there will be many changes and new growth this coming year as well.  Yes we've had a successful first year filled with feeding many needy individuals, praying with many guests, and serving the Lord with all our hearts but I wonder if one of our greatest successes has been bringing the Body of Christ together while meeting the needs of our neighbors.

    When we first started this ministry I was hoping to fulfill the Isaiah 58 scripture regarding feeding the hungry and helping the oppressed.

“And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach.” (Isaiah 58:10-12) 

     Having completed our first year of service, I'm discovering that through giving ourselves to the hungry we are in some small way, rebuilding the ancient ruins of the Body of Christ. Could it be that the "age old foundations" and "breaches" being repaired are actually the breaking down of denominational walls that seperate rather than unite the Body of Christ?  Generations of Christians before us have spent lifetimes defining what makes thier denomination different from others. Perhaps our generation can change that by helping everyone see we are all on the same team!

     I think it's ironic how we quickly assume the Isaiah 58 passage is about helping the physically hungry and afflicted. In the last year I'm discovering how this passage may actually be more about fulfilling the needs of the spiritually hungry and afflicted, it's all a matter of perspective. 

Have a blessed weekend everyone and if you have a chance, drop by and join our birthday party!