The Evolution of a Mission Mobile

Every week, beautiful, custom built trailers roll in to sites across Texas, fully equipped to feed communities physically and spiritually. These are the Feed the Need Missions trailers. But it hasn’t always been this way. We sat down with Jonah Beyer, president of Feed the Need Missions, to learn about the evolution of these incredible “mission mobiles.”

In the Beginning

Feed the Need Missions trailers are vital tools used to deliver supplies and support the work of feeding communities. But when Feed the Need Missions began operating, there was no trailer. “We started with volunteers showing up with personal grills. Chairs and tables were hauled over in pickup trucks and flatbed trailers,” Jonah shared. But over time, leadership realized this wasn’t a sustainable plan. “We needed a place to store supplies, so that they would last longer. We needed a mechanism for maintaining cleanliness. And carting things to the sites every week was very wearing on the volunteers.” So the team put their heads together to try to come up with a solution. And the idea for the trailer was born.

The Flatbed Prototype

Trailers seemed like a good place to start. “Volunteers brought small box trailers in the beginning,” Jonah said. “Unfortunately, people kept bumping they heads on them, because they are so short.” Realizing something more custom-made would be needed, they began to dream.

They started by assessing needs. The trailers would need to fit everything needed to run the site, including chairs, tables, a grill, serving and cooking utensils, cutting boards, tents, cleaning supplies paper towels, food, and drink coolers. “When we built the first trailer, it was just me and one volunteer. I was learning to weld at the time. So we grabbed a flatbed trailer and started to try to modify it.” They soon realized this was a daunting challenge to modify. “So, back to the drawing board, we decided to retrofit an enclosed box trailer.”

Unit A-1: The Modified Enclosed Box Trailer

“We had very specific criteria as we set out to modify the box trailer,” said Jonah. “We needed to keep it compact, so it was easy for a volunteer with a half ton pickup truck to tow. We wanted it to protect all of the supplies and maintain the durability of the supplies and equipment. It needed lighting because in the winter months it got dark early. It also needed a water supply because some sites didn’t have water. But it also had to be low maintenance.”

In 2015 Feed the Need Missions completed and launched Unit A-1. An enclosed 10′ box trailer, it was equipped with solar power, lighting, and a gravity-fed water system onboard. A spigot on the front of the trailer would provide opportunity to fill drink coolers and wash utensils and supplies.

A-2: The Next Generation

“Once we put A-1 in the field, and did training, we realized that it was just too compact,” Jonah laughs. “The team kindof teased me because I packed everything in like a Tetris game, but it wasn’t simple for most volunteers to figure out how I had done it. It wasn’t easy to restock, the layout wasn’t user friendly—we realized we were going to need a little more space pretty quickly.”

So, two years later, Unit A-2, which was larger, was launched and dispatched to the north Texas sites in 2017. This time things were laid out and additions were made. It was completed just in time to dispatch it for Disaster Relief during Hurricane Harvey and helped us serve countless meals to those affected by the massive storm in Texas.

A-3: A Fully Equipped Mission Mobile

“The latest model of our Feed the Need Missions trailers was deployed just last week,” Jonah shared. Additional modifications have been made, including a solution to put hot water on board, which is helpful for north Texas especially, for winter season, and for cleaning.

“But one of the best modifications to these new trailers is that we have equipped them with AV,” Jonah said. “Years ago, my Grandad visited a site. I was sharing with him about Table Talk, our discipleship plan and he suggested that it would be helpful and beneficial to find a way to put a television on the side of the trailers to keep consistent messaging at all the sites. That conversation took place in 2013, and it’s reality now. On this new unit, there is a tv mounted in the side with a door that flips up and it has sound. It’s very exciting.” This AV equips volunteers to do effective and consistent ministry, to reach our guests with a clear presentation of the Gospel message.

A-4: Built to Last

In production now is Unit A-4. While A-3 captures the functionality of what each site needs, the next generation of trailer will tackle durability. “We are looking at what hasn’t held up well over the years and what needs to be built to last longer,” shared Jonah. One of the ways they are doing that is by tapping in to creative partnerships.

“We contracted with a local company called Spiradrill to help us build out a more durable unit.” Spiradrill is a local company that is a big supporter of Feed the Need Missions. The partnership in the trailer building arose because sourcing challenges and product shortages made if difficult to find a cost effective way to costom build what was needed. “We purchase the basic box trailer, which is easy to acquire, and Spiradrill is doing the upgrades like cabinetry and equipment installation. The labor is donated, and in return they get a beneficial visibility to the community.

 

The Current Model

Our weekly site trailers are designed to support 3 sites within an area. They are a self contained unit equipped with a grill, tables/chairs, freshwater, dish-washing station, water heater, lighting, solar power, all equipment to run a site, and supplies it has everything needed to be self-sufficient and convenient. Each trailer should be able to support 3 sites for a month (12 events). It is branded to help promote and spread the word about the mission. Contact us for more information about Feed the Need Missions or partnerships. 

 

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The Heart Behind the Hamburger

Motive Matters in a Mission

Mission statements are important.

Simply put, they are an organization’s what—as in “what we do.” Carefully crafted statements of intent, these manifestos are a tool that unifies a team with a task-focused purpose. Mission statements are a necessary part of internal communication, as they clarify specific objectives and expectations. They drive (or deter) activity. Externally, mission statements are important outreach tools. They enable people in need of a service to find it, and they also connect an organizations with individuals who might choose to join or support the cause.

However, as well thought-out and appealing as any organization’s “what” might be— the “why” is equally as important.

Mission statements are action-based, but they must be developed in tandem with a specific motivation. While mission statements provide information, it’s the heart behind an organization that stirs necessary passion. The “why” brings the emotional and spiritual aspects into play. It makes it personal, connecting people who share a set of values and beliefs to a set of goals. And this galvanizes resolve. Ageeing on the “why” behind the “what” strengthens individuals to push through resistance, change, discomfort, turnover, exhaustion, inconvenience, and sacrifice that inevitably come over time in any organizational endeavor.

The Motive Behind the Feed the Need Mission

At Feed the Need Missions, our mission is to mobilize believers to feed people physically and spiritually in their communities, while actively building disciple-making relationships.

In other words, we are a food-related ministry that equips Christians to fulfill the divine call on their lives to love others (John 13:34) and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). While that all begins with the firing up of a grill to fill hungry bellies, our ultimate goal is to build relationships so that we can grow the Kingdom of God in depth and breadth.  

But why do we do what we do?

If you’ve visited one of our eight Feed the Need Missions site locations, or attended one of our events, you wouldn’t have difficulty discovering why. The answer is printed on nearly everything, from the volunteer attire to vinyl signs, supply trailers and more:

We love because He first loved us.

-1 John 4:19

This Scripture reference serves as an ever-present visual reminder of our “why.” Simply put, we are compelled to share the love Christ because of the way we have personally experienced it. We do what we do because we have encountered the living God, Jesus Christ. Our action is in response to our gratitude for the hope He has instilled in us.

We do what we do because Scripture challenges us to reciprocate toward God by caring for others. And this is almost an instinctive reaction, because  we truly want others to have the opportunity to share in the joy, transformation and healing He makes possible. Whether at our site cookouts, when dispatch disaster relief teams, or in planning any planned event. The heart behind the hamburger is the love of God. All that we do is in order to put it on full display.

What is Love According to the Bible?

In basing our motivation on biblical love, it follows that we should be careful to understand the nature of biblical love.

First, it is distinctive from the world’s concept of love. Today’s cultural perception of love is often short-lived, because it is based on personal gain, fleeting emotion, physical attraction, or convenience. Biblical love, by contrast, perseveres because it is rooted in so much more than feelings or circumstances. Holy love is a commitment to a lifestyle of action. When the Bible instructs us to love, often its meaning is synonymous with others-focused service (1 John 3:18).

Jesus, the embodiment of divine love, spent His ministry years meeting the physical, social and spiritual needs of others. He loved by offering meals, grieving with those who had lost loved ones, giving encouragement, teaching and training, healing wounds, giving counsel, interceding, intervening with literally everything He had to connect people to His father and His church. He expects nothing less that this from us. In fact, he warns of the judgement to come in Matthew 25, making that the mark of a true believer is sacrificial loving actions toward “even the least of these.”

Biblical love is not based on deservedness. Flawed, selfish, sinful human beings receive grace as a gift from a perfect God. No one can possibly deserve it.  And yet, He reaches out. He pursues. He blesses. He heals and forgives. And so, as image bearers, we must extend the love outward to others in the same way. Without distinction. Without preference. As Christ-followers, we can help dismantle the flawed thinking that people have to ‘clean up” to come to God. Jesus was a diety who ran to others in humble service, rather than making demands. Just as God offered to us openly to consistently, and unconditionally, so we must do the same.

Share the Love with Feed the Need Missions

What is your “why?” Have you discovered a way to connect your values to a mission in active service? If you’re passionate about loving others God’s way, making disciples, sharing the Gospel, meeting physical and spiritual needs, or sharing your testimony, we would love to connect with you! Visit our website for more information about how to get involved.

 

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A New Home for the La Grange Site

Closing in on the one year anniversary of its kickoff, exciting changes are ahead for the La Grange, Texas Feed the Need Missions site. Beginning January 31, weekly gatherings will take place at the southeast corner of the Fayette County Courthouse Square. The meeting time and day will remain Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

Why a New Location for the La Grange Feed the Need Missions Site?

The La Grange team has experienced incredible participation and growth at the lot near White Rock Park. But the change in location comes in response to a few factors. Certainly the comfort and safety of guests and volunteers in hot summer months is important. “Shade has been an issue at this location,” shares site coordinator Jeremy Finch.

 

Another consideration in moving is the accessibility of the site to the community at large. “When we started the site, we settled on a spot near a community food pantry,” shares Jeremy. This created convenience and awareness of the site to those in dire need. “The White Rock Park site was not a centralized location, but it was a great starting point. Being here has allowed us time to learn and refine our process, and to get very comfortable with running the site. Now we are really ready to stretch out, and to be in a place that is more central,” shares Jeremy. “We want to reach out more and make it clear that Feed the Need Missions is here to meet physical needs, yes—but also social, emotional and spiritual needs. It really is for everyone.”

 

La Grange Site to Meet At the Square in La Grange, Texas

Over the last several months, volunteers have been discussing, praying over and visiting potential site locations. While considering options, Jeremy vistited a county judge to discuss the possibility of meeting at the Square. “It was a great conversation he actually granted us permission to meet there,” he shares. “We were still praying about it, asking the Lord to make our next steps clear, when a reporter attending a commissioners court meeting heard about the possible move, and reported it in the paper. We decided that was God answering our prayer; so we made it official. We are very excited about our new home!”

 

Be sure to visit the Jeremy and the La Grange team beginning Monday, January 31 at the southeast corner of The Square at the Fayette County Courthouse. The physical address is 151 N Washington Street. For more information about the La Grange site, or the Feed the Need Missions organization, visit our website.

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Getting to Know the Staff

Last month, Feed the Need Missions welcomed Sean Tangen as our new Program Director. Sean’s overwhelming drive is for people to find and serve in their purpose. With 29 years of vocational, leadership and volunteer ministry experience, we know he will be an incredible asset to our mission. Recently, we sat down with Sean to get a sense of his vision as he dives into his new position here. Check out the inspirational events that led him to our team.

Q: How did you discover Feed the Need Missions?

A: Four years ago, we served as a family on a missions trip in the dumps of Tijuana. That adventure jumpstarted my search for how to live a missional life. For two years I prayed for the Lord to direct our family in how to live that trust-filled life while sharing His hope as a family. I came across a video of Feed the Need Missions late one night in my prayer and research. In that video, I witnessed someone share the impact the mission had in their life. It wasn’t about the burger, it was about the relationship! It was so obvious that he found it in the Feed the Need Missions community. His story was not unlike so many others all around us. People hungry to discover their belonging and purpose. It was then I knew I had to get involved.

Q: Tell us about your previous work/ministry experience.

A: It is said, “Do what you love and you will never work a day of your life.” That has never been more true for me. I have always had a heart to serve others. It began when someone took time to invest in me at 15 years old when no one else would. During that time of mentorship, I learned the value of Scripture. I committed to live out 1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us!” That has led me to some of the greatest “jobs” you could hope for.

I have worked/volunteered with various ministries for almost 30 years. Most recently I worked for a ministry called Young Life. I served as an Area Director in four communities in three states over 20 years. I have also served as Program Director in a ministry focused on kids in the juvenile justice system. I have owned two businesses, helped start four others and currently help coach other non-profits in various ways.

Q: Tell us about you – your family, things you enjoy.

A: I have been married to my high school love, Erin, for 25 years. We have served together in life and ministry and believe that has been God’s plan for us since the beginning of our relationship. He has always showed us how to love each other well. This has be the catalyst in every aspect of our lives. 

I have two exceptional kids. Shayla is 15 and Asher is 13. Shayla is an incredible artist and writer. Her compassion for others is rarely seen in teens today. She has a heart for those in need and one day plans to “serve the least of these” through missions work. Asher is my son through and through. He loves being the center of attention and making people laugh. He also has an extremely sensitive side and goes out of his way to include everyone.

Q: Tell us what excites you about this new season.

A: I am so thankful that the Lord has led me and my family to Feed the Need Missions! The first part of my role is to help solidify and support the existing ministries that are currently happening. We have incredible volunteers that give so faithfully and I plan to support them in every way I can.

It is also part of my vision and role to grow Feed the Need Missions in 2022. We are looking to expand into three to six additional communities over my first year on staff, Lord willing. It is clear that this ministry can impact multitudes of people. I have seen a number of ministries with a similar design, but none have had the impact that Feed the Need Missions does regularly. I know firsthand the desire of wanting to be known. Feed the Need Missions offers that missing piece in our society today. I can’t wait to see what Jesus has in mind in the near future.

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Emotional Poverty

Emotional Poverty

A Biblical Understanding, A Missional Solution

What is Emotional Poverty?

The term “poverty” is most often associated with a lack of financial and material resources. When it comes to sustaining life, food and shelter are certainly the most essential needs. But survival is about more than having these basic needs met. Poverty can also have nothing to do with a lack of money, food, or shelter. Another type of poverty a person might experience is emotional poverty.

Emotional poverty is a deprivation of essential needs that connect to emotional and mental health. Counseling professionals have identified several crucial needs for human beings. A few of these include:

  • The security of a stable home life
  • The giving and receiving of attention
  • A sense of control over one’s environment
  • A sense of belonging and connection with a wider community
  • Meaning and purpose
  • A sense of achievement
  • A sense of emotional connection
  • Friendship and intimacy with others

A lack of these emotional resources is not limited to any particular demographic or set of circumstances. It may be a result of the stigmatization of financial poverty. But it could result from: 

  • A loss of a job 
  • A tough home environment
  • Strained relationships
  • Undiagnosed or addressed mental health issues

And while emotional poverty is not a clinical disorder, it can lead to problematic responses. These responses can be anger, anxiety, isolation, and a host of other negative behaviors. This type of poverty often manifests itself through: 

  • Loneliness
  • Mental challenges
  • Relational issues
  • Difficulty with life or coping skills

A Biblical Understanding of Emotional Poverty

The Christian’s response to emotional poverty comes from the imperative given by Jesus himself. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” When we see others experiencing any kind of lack, it is our responsibility to respond. Jesus modeled this with unrelenting action-based compassion for others. His service was not limited to those who were poor. Often he associates with people who are rejected, isolated, mentally unique or challenged, and grieving. He embraces them, does life alongside them, and commissions them for Kingdom Work.

How can we proactively meet the emotional needs of our neighbors? Paul the Apostle gives a helpful model as he ministers to his young protege Timothy:

Everybody needs love

Paul calls Timothy his beloved son (2 Timothy 1:2). He doesn’t just love him inwardly. He expresses it. People around us need to know we love them. We need to tell them they are precious.

Everybody needs someone to pray for them.

Paul prays for Timothy consistently (2 Timothy 1:3). Not only is prayer a powerful tool for accessing physical and spiritual resources, but it also lets a person know they are regarded. It gives them dignity as they feel a sense of importance to others, and to God. Regular intercessory prayer offered to a person fills up a person’s emotional bank.

Everybody needs somebody to believe in them.

Paul reassures Timothy that he is capable of great things (2 Timothy 1:5). Like Paul, we must speak life into others. We must encourage potential and affirm in a way that builds up confidence and boldness.  People need a cheerleader when they are emotionally downcast. They need to know that someone sees them, and is proud of them.

Everybody needs somebody that will help them.

Finally, Paul challenges Timothy with advice to help him succeed (2 Timothy 1:6). As Christ- followers, we need to be assertive and available as a resource to others. We can provide biblical truth, wise counsel, accountability and support. As God’s ambassadors, we should give it freely. It is our highest duty to connect people to the ultimate resource—Jesus.

A Missional Solution for Relieving Emotional Poverty

At Feed the Need Missions, it is one of our missional objectives to relieve emotional poverty.

Each week, our Feed the Need Missions trailers go to communities across Texas. Our volunteers assemble to prepare and serve free hot meals for anyone in the community. These meals relieve hunger and meet practical, tangible needs. We use these opportunities as a tool to open the door to providing:

  • Emotional filling
  • Social filling
  • Spiritual filling (which is also a desperate need)

The meals we serve and the consistency of our presence creates intimacy. We are actively working to build a sense of community, belonging, of acceptance. We create security, give attention, and build relationships. This allows us to minister to people in their emotional needs. Our guests are also invited to serve alongside us. This provides them an opportunity to feel a sense of achievement and purpose.

At Feed the Need Missions, we are about meeting people in every type of poverty. If you are lonely, isolated, or hurting, we invite you to come and let us serve you. If you are ready to step into a mission field where you can practically meet the emotional needs of others as a Christ-follower, Feed the Need Missions has a place for you to serve and help. Everyone is welcome. You are welcome.

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Psalms for Moms: Mother’s Day Thoughts

I love mother’s day, and here’s why –

For a long time, I didn’t know if I would ever have the privilege of being a mother. It was after a long, hard road that I stepped into it as a newly-licensed foster mama. I’ll never forget the late March evening my precious daughter was placed in my arms. I had waited so long and prayed so hard for her, I knew that moment I would never, ever, take it for granted. And I can honestly say, many years (and messy adventures) later, I am still so full of gratitude every single day for the precious gift that motherhood is in my life.

I remember as a new mom I stole away one morning to process this new season. I drove myself to the Starbucks just down the street from my house, asked God for wisdom, and dove in to the scriptures for what it means to be a mom, by God’s design. As Mother’s Day approaches, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share a few things I learned with all of you out there. 


Prepare to Launch

A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
-Genesis 2:24
To my dismay in that moment, I discovered that parenthood is about preparing your children to leave you, so that they can be fruitful independently of you. This was hard for me to grapple with as a foster mom. The vulnerable position I was in felt heavy on my heart every day. I knew our time together, our forever, was not guaranteed. I could lose her. I was terrified of that. I didn’t know how long I would have her. I’m not unique in that, really – the truth is none of us ever do. But God’s Word reassured me. The fact is, one way or another, our kids will leave our care…
So for as long as God entrusts his precious children to us, that is our mission, our privilege. Prepare them for launch, for flight, for separation from us. And so that day, I began to look at parenthood God’s way. Even as a tiny little person, my goal each day was to pour in to her what she needed in order to strengthen her for whatever was going to come next.


“Mama”

The Hebrew words for mother and father are very fascinating. It probably isn’t surprising that Ab, father, is a picture of an ox (symbolic of leadership or strength) and a house. The father’s role is as the leader of the home.

But what about a mother’s role in parenting?

The word for Mother is pronounced “em.” Same beginning letter for leader or strength, but the second letter means water. Mother means “strong water” in picture form.

The implications for that are pretty amazing. Ancient Hebrews made glue by boiling animal skins in water. As the skin broke down, a sticky thick liquid formed at the surface of the water. This thick liquid was removed and used as a binding agent—and they called it “strong water.” So, linguistically, the Bible shows us that a mother holds it all together, and boy doesn’t that resonate?!

Another way to translate these word pictures is “headwaters.” Headwaters are a molding force, the source and head of the way elsewhere. This certainly speaks to the influence of the mother in guiding and shaping a young life, of her instruction and her example. A mother leads by modeling as she yields to the authority of the father in godly submission. Her force, like water, is gentle, and repetitive, powerful enough to carve pathways out of hardened mountains and stone.
Interestingly, there are so many properties and effects of water that are so crucial to life and health: it elevates mood, increases cognitive function, regulates, protects, removes waste, helps with nutrient absorption, fights illness, increases energy –

It’s gentle yet powerful, it is cleansing and healing, it sustains life. I would say that’s exactly what mamas do and are on the daily.


A Greater and More Perfect Love

You may be wondering, what does all this have to do with God?
A mother’s love – known for its special intuition, its fierce protectiveness, and refusal to give up on even the lost causes, is all just a mere reflection of a greater and more perfect love of Jesus Christ. Just look at how Colossians confirms that He is the bonding agent and the headwater for us:

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Colossians 1:17-18
Here are three more of those maternal allusions, nestled in the psalms, that are used to describe Gods love for us: 

  • A Safe Place

God wants to shield us more desperately from our enemy than any mother in nature. And He gave His very body, His life to do so. The wings are the grace. And this undeserved, covenant favor preserves us just like those helpless, baby chicks. All we have to do is run to Him. 
Read: Psalm 17: 8-9 | Psalm 57:1 | Psalm 91: ALL

  • Sustainer

As I read this passage, there are three elements to what is described of the Lord. It starts with sustaining someone who falls. A physical misstep. Next it says He raises up those who are about down. An emotional pit. Finally it says He feeds them appropriately. A filling of food. When I read about all these things I see a common thread. And the thread is comfort and nurture, all met with appropriate filling. If there is a void or an emptiness, He can fill it.        
Read: Psalm 145:8-9, 14-16

  • Sacrifice

There really is not a better word to describe motherhood. From pregnancy to nursing and on, a mother must give of herself, nearly constantly, to her own exhaustion, depletion, to nurture and prepare another life. Often there is almost a complete surrender of identity – there is who you were before kids, and then there was you as a mother. It changes everything.
He will love us despite our undeservedness, because He sees the potential for life. As a mother protect her unborn child, so He will protect us, He will never let go of the promise of one day holding us in his arms. And He will pay any cost, even sacrifice His own life, for that to happen. We can trust in Him.
Read: Psalm 103:1-13

 

Happy Mother’s Day

Moms are definitely wonderful, and worthy of gratitude, and I sure am thankful there is a set aside time to be thought of. But I hope we all remember every day that as moms, we are entrusted with the privilege of reflecting the incomparable love of our God. So let’s not forget today, and every day, to give thanks and honor to the one from whom all these wonderful mothers with their wonderful qualities have come. He is our sealant, he is our source, he is our our safe place, our sustainer, our sacrifice. Thank you thank you God for showing us your love for us through mothers.

From all of us at Feed the Need Missions, we’d like to thank all you moms out there! You are appreciated and so loved!


About the Writer

Amanda joined our staff in September of 2020 as the Marketing Director. She is a pastor’s wife, Bible teacher and public speaker, and former church staffer. In her 10 years of adult ministry experience at one of the largest churches in the U.S., she fostered a passion and proficiency for church program development, discipleship and sharing the love of Christ.

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What Legends Are Made Of

If you are ready to maximize the ultimate measure of your life, you can rest assured that Feed the Need Missions is an avenue through which you can make a major impact on those in most need and also reflect the character and values of Dr King.

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2021 Challenge

Trade Personal Resolutions for Community Revitalization

In case you hadn’t heard, the first seven days of January have officially been dubbed “New Year’s Resolution Week.” This week the entire internet has been inundated with “new year, new you” messaging, social media posts touting ‘words of the year,’ and other similar personal goal setting.

Taking time to reset and self evaluate truly are so important. Personal Bible reading plans and a restructuring of priorities are vital for growth. But if 2020 gave us anything, it was ample time to do this. Last year, as we learned to adapt to quarantined living in the wake of COVID-19, we became homeschool parents and remote office workers. We focused on family. We gardened. We crafted. We became digital media pros. What was sorely missed, in all this inwardly focused time, was a sense of community. 

A New Year Shift of Focus

In 2020, loneliness was off the charts. People felt disconnected, so much so that the CDC published resources, warnings and health ramifications associated with isolation. We missed our friends, and churches, and our coffee dates. We longed for unmasked smiles, unreserved hugs and high fives. Personal contact. Togetherness.

As we move in to a new year, consider trading the typical personal resolutions for a commitment to personal involvement in community revitalization. If ever there was a time, this is the year to shift our focus outward toward others. Should you need biblical support for this, you need look no further than this charge from the Apostle Paul:

 

Selfless and sacrificial service should be the daily norm for every Christian— but we don’t often incorporate it into our New Years goal setting. And it’s too bad, because it has some pretty incredible perks. In addition to the obvious spiritual priority the Bible gives it and the benefits for others, a service oriented lifestyle is proven to decrease depression, add skills to our personal tool belts, reduce stress and help us build new friendships. The ironic truth is we could achieve most of our personal goals more effectively by focusing less on self and more on others. Just food for thought.

A New Year Commitment to Community

So what does resolving to be others-centered in 2021 look like? Glad you asked! First, let’s talk about the need.

We know our communities have healing to do in the wake of 2020. But defining that more specifically helps us to articulate how we can be part of the solution. At Feed the Need Missions, we define the needs based on what we call the Four Levels of Poverty:

  • Physical poverty – This is the more obvious understanding of poverty, including a lack of tangible resources impacting food, clothing and shelter. This lack occurs for a myriad of reasons, but many individuals experienced heightened poverty in 2020 in the wake of job losses and furrows.
  • Emotional poverty – This type of poverty manifests itself through loneliness, mental challenges, relational issues or difficulty with life or coping skills. As mentioned above, there is a heavy sense of isolation and anxiety related to 2020.
  • Social Poverty – Often social deficits go hand in hand with physical poverty. Most often, social poverty is the desire to feel valued, to simply be seen, to be heard, and to have someone speak into their lives.
  • Spiritual Poverty – We believe the most dire need of all people, in the era of COVID or otherwise, is for the forgiveness and unconditional love of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate solution, meeting every need associated with physical, emotional, social and spiritual poverty.

Feed the Need Missions is about meeting people in every one of these types of poverty. Our organizational mission is to feed people physically and spiritually. We do that through weekly pop up style dinner sites, where we distribute hot meals. As we address the physical need, we initiate personal interactions, offer prayers and proclaim the Gospel to anyone who is willing to listen.

A New Volunteer Service Opportunity

We do all this via an ever expanding army of volunteers. People looking for a way to make an impact. People just like you.

We often say, “the burger is just the tool.” We’ve found that, just as we see it play out in the Bible, physical needs being met opens the doors to fulfill every type of hunger. It gives us an opportunity to connect them to a Savior, Provider, Friend and Wonderful Counselor.

If restoring community in 2021 sounds like just the ticket for you, and you’re looking for a way to get started, we want to invite you to get involved in this vital mission as a volunteer, church partner, prayer warrior or donor. All you have to do is show up to one of our sites, and we’ll get you plugged in.

Ghandi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Are you ready to level up from Bible reading to Bible living? Are you ready to take Jesus outside the church walls? Then you are exactly who we’re looking to team up with in the new year.

Fellow believers, we’ve had our time to retreat and reflect. Now is a time for heroes to step up, ready to take action and be the healing hands of Jesus.

About the Writer

Amanda joined our staff in September of 2020 as the Marketing Director. She is a pastor’s wife, Bible teacher and public speaker, and former church staffer. In her 10 years of adult ministry experience at one of the largest churches in the U.S., she fostered a passion and proficiency for church program development, discipleship and sharing the love of Christ.

 

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How Churches Can Boost Volunteerism Right Now

Church Volunteerism in the Age of COVID-19

Even in the best of times, churches have to work creatively and proactively to keep volunteerism up.

In fact, 50% of pastors feel like this is the biggest challenge they face. One unique advantage churches have over other nonprofit organizations is the ongoing sense of connection fostered by weekly face-to-face interaction in classes, events, worship and other activities.
In 2020, however, that advantage has dwindled. 
Unprecedented closures due to COVID-19, decreased programming and staff, and long-term social distancing plans have made it difficult to maintain that sense of connection. Nearly half of worshippers are now attending an online churchservice. With the decreased accountability and visibility come the temptations to disengage, to shop around, and to become spectators rather than participants.
Wouldn’t it be nice, in times like these, if someone outside your organization could step in and help? 
That’s exactly what Feed the Need Missions loves to do – empower and activate the Church to meet physical and spiritual needs. As a faith-based nonprofit organization, we have been partnering with local churches and harnessing the power of volunteers for a decade. Despite the COVID outbreak, we have seen nearly 200 volunteers show up each week to serve rural communities across Texas. 
Our President, Jonah Beyer, often consults with pastors looking to grow a passion for service among congregants. The following are a few suggestions – and some practical solutions – from our family of faith to yours. 


Volunteer Opportunities Are Vital For Church Growth

If you haven’t embraced volunteerism as a huge opportunity for church growth, this is step one. The impacts begin with the individual and blossom outward to affect the temperature of the entire church body. The process begins as active volunteers begin to experience personal benefits: 
  • They feel purpose and belonging
  • They cultivate new friendships
  • They discover gifts and passions
  • They experience the satisfaction that comes with helping and influencing others
From this experience springs loyalty to the church and personal ownership over its success. These individuals are no longer just spectators. They show up faithfully each week, ready to invest in the overall vision. 
This translates into great things for the church as a whole. Staff members experience less burnout as they give away ministry. And as members attend services regularly, they mature spiritually. Part of this maturity includes members replicating themselves and giving away ministry to others. 
Ultimately, then, enabling volunteerism promotes overall church growth.

Practical Ways to Cultivate the Volunteer Spirit

Once you understand why building up volunteers is important, you can get to work making it happen. Below are three postures and practices we suggest for building a successful volunteer base. 


 1. Make It Personal

If you want to grow volunteerism, here is a rule of thumb: people over projects. “People are one of our greatest assets,” Jonah shares. “But when the task becomes more important than the person, you lose your ability to lead.” In short, make sure that the leader at the helm is someone who is personable. Don’t delegate and disappear. Check in with people. Get to know them. Listen to their stories, experiences, and suggestions. Celebrate them. Thank them. Investing in volunteers, rather than just using people up as a resource, will build excitement and loyalty into your team. 


 2. Make It Meaningful

People don’t want to do busy work. They don’t get excited about doing “anyone can handle this” jobs. Trying to make it sound innocuous may be tempting, but it will not incite interest and passion – or attract the right people. What will, however, is an understanding of the overall vision and the impact it will have. Help volunteers see that, big or small, visible or behind the scenes, their offering is changing lives for Jesus Christ. In our annual Gobble Kits effort, for example, volunteers aren’t just handing out food or collecting canned goods. They are providing hope by donating Thanksgiving meals to families who are in desperate need in their own communities. They are the hands and feet of Jesus. The way we frame things makes all the difference in the attitudes of the people we lead. 


3. Build a Partnership 

With many churches still planning programming conservatively these days, your staff may simply not have the bandwidth to organize a project or mission right now. If this is the case, find a local mission you love and build a partnership. This way, the facility, details and supplies are handled by a third party; you can simply show up, serve and grow together. Feed the Need Missions would love to help you begin the process of engaging and developing a volunteer spirit in your church. 
Feed the Need Missions Church partnerships take many forms:

  • Home groups or classes choose a night to serve dinner at one of our weekly sites 
  • Mini-local mission trips take place for ministry areas to practice testimony sharing, Gospel sharing, and intercessory prayer
  • Members with administrative skill serve as site coordinators and church ambassadors
  • Church facilities are opened as a donation supply pick-up centers for seasonal missions


Partner with Feed the Need Missions

If you are interested in how a partnership with Feed the Need Missions might benefit your church, we’d love to connect. Let us host a Church and Burgers informational event at your location. Here, we share our vision and cook a delicious, free meal for your congregation. You can also schedule a strategy session with our president, Jonah Beyer or visit our website. 
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