Community Stories: Bastrop South

Every week until the end of the year we will be sharing stories from each of our six communities. Each of our communities serve anyone who stops by, but we have noticed that at each site similar stories start to pop up. We see God using our volunteers and those that come to grow and build relationships with those in Christ. Here are just a few of the stories from our oldest location, Bastrop South.

BASTROP SOUTH serves on average 240+ meals every Monday at Primera Baptist Church. We also serve alongside of Hope House, which is an addiction program for women. This site serves a lot of homeless people and addicts. Sharing the love of Christ has helped many that attend get through tough times.

TINA

Tina was searching for more. She struggled with alcohol addiction and was at a very low time in her life. She knew she wanted to be involved in ministry to some capacity, but wasn’t sure how to get there because of her alcoholism. While searching for this “more” she found herself drinking more and more and feeling sorry for herself, she knew she was being disobedient to Christ.

Tina made a phone call to Hope House, reaching out for help. She completed their program in six months, and during her time at Hope House she came to serve with Feed the Need Missions. “Serving in the community helped me because it’s a place that I learned how to serve even when serving was hard. I use to be scared to talk about Jesus and now I feel more comfortable sharing the gospel with people. I didn’t feel adequate enough. Drinking messes with your head and doesn’t allow you to do the things you want to do.”

Tina would serve on the line at Feed the Need and was very quiet and shy. She was angry about her situation and embarrassed to be there. She was worried about what others around her would think. Then she realized she wasn’t the only one that felt the way she was. She said, “it’s a great place to come and get out of yourself to be able to love on others. It’s also given me the opportunity to have my kids come down and serve and learn more about Jesus. He can see what others are going through.” Tina’s son is 9 years old.

Through Tina’s struggles she finds peace serving others. It brings healing to her and it’s been helping her stay sober. “People struggle in life. But my struggle isn’t any different than anyone else’s. When I serve I’m reminded I’m not alone and I can serve at a place that allows me to be there.”

BRENDA

“I have volunteered for different ministries and food pantries throughout my life. I actually gave up on serving because of the way I was treated. I was a little skeptical about coming to Feed the Need Missions, but I came and you guys are so loving and treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. I come to be served and to serve,” said Brenda from our Bastrop South location.

Brenda can relate to a lot of those who we serve because of the struggles that she endured in her upbringing and the path she chose to head down. She recently graduated from Hope House, a women’s program for addiction. “I’ve made bad choices in my life. But Feed the Need is a good choice. This is a place of healing. And to be mistered to and to minister to others.”