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Black Lives Matter

“Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Feed the Need Missions has always strived to love unconditionally. Our ministry was started to serve ALL who come, no matter what. Our hearts want to echo 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.” In fact, this is not just a calling to us as a ministry, it is a calling to all Christians.

It is clear that evil is present. We can see it in the form of racial oppression, political divides, and using patriotism and religion as license to take action out of anger or personal gain. This is the chaos that Satan creates, thrives in, and conquers all who allow it to enter. This is not the time for the Church to be silent. This is the time to show the love of Jesus, not the judgement of men, to all people.

Do not confuse Black Lives Matter with putting one race over another. This isn’t the point. The point is that Black Americans are hurting and need support right now. If you have multiple children and one of them tells you “I love you,” you don’t respond with “well I love all my children, not just you!” Even though this is true, this is not what our brothers and sisters need to hear in this moment. They need to hear that we love them, and that we’re here to stand in the gap for them and be the voice that needs to be heard in solidarity alongside of them.

What can I do? This is often the first question we ask. Many times we don’t get the answer we want or it is too hard to find out, it’s easier to try to ignore it and sit idle and return to things that feel comfortable.

But when you are comfortable there is no progress, there is no fight, there is no battle. The only thing defeated in comfort is the spirit of love that lives inside you. It’s time for that spirit to stay alive. Not just for a short time, but until Jesus comes back.

Start getting uncomfortable. Here are two things you can begin to do today.

    1. PRAY. Time and time again, Jesus shows up when we ask. Pray for our Black friends and neighbors. Pray our eyes would be open to the injustices happening, big and small. Pray that your heart would be empathetic and broken for the pain that people have experienced. Pray for direction in what steps you can take to make a difference.
    2. LEARN. There are so many great resources out there – books, voices, etc. Here is a great place to start. Listen to your Black friends. Talk with others about what you are learning. Have uncomfortable conversations. Read books that make you rethink about what you were taught about race. Try to truly understand what the changes and policies people are fighting for, not just what you hear from sensational news headlines. And approach all of this with a humble heart. It is okay if you were wrong, and it is okay to change.

When you start diving in and really focus on these two things, the actions you need to take will come to light. Don’t be idle, this is important.

In this time of racial injustice, we need to let God’s love show through and guide all of us to unity. The worst thing that can happen is that when the uproar has quieted, we go right back into the comfortable lives we were living before. Don’t let that happen, love is difficult, love is often awkward, love is uncomfortable. Do the hard thing. Love.

To our Black brothers and sisters, we love you and we want to support you. We want to learn and listen. We ask for your forgiveness in places we have failed, and we are willing to do the work to make things better.

There is nothing special about Feed the Need Missions. We just try to instill doing small things well again and again. God doesn’t need superstars, he needs ordinary people that He can do extraordinary acts through.

We hope you join us in praying and learning. We can’t wait to see where God leads us to love others.

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Meet A Volunteer: Caylie

Earlier this year, the Justin site was blessed with a young lady named Caylie, who was eager to volunteer. As a part of her school curriculum, she was required to complete service work in her community. She heard about Feed the Need Missions through her church and wanted to get involved.

Many seniors serve through their high school program, like Caylie, for service work with Feed the Need Missions. We appreciate the out pour of seniors that choose to complete their service hours by serving with us.

Caylie started to come to the site and help out, and became an official volunteer in February after completing the online orientation. Since then, she has been faithful to lend a hand, pray with others, offer her home and recruit family members to participate in this mission.

Congratulations to Caylie and the Class of 2020. In the fall, Caylie will attend The Culinary Institute of America to pursue a degree in Food Business Management and Culinary Arts. We are so proud of her accomplishments and other senior graduates.

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Volunteer Story: Shawna

As Shawna was trying to formulate her words about how Feed the Need Missions has helped her grow she realized that it was in so many different ways and that the impact was far greater than she thought. “I’m a single mom and have been coming to the Justin site for awhile and it has helped me by providing a meal for my children so are monies can stretch a little farther,” she said.

When asked how Feed the Need Missions has helped her personally she said “Because of you guys I have more confidence in myself. You have helped me understand more of what walking out my faith and being a Christian is. I am now serving and have a leader role at the site which I never thought I would be able to do and I can! We all can,” she said.

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MEET A VOLUNTEER: TONIE

Feed the Need Missions has brought Tonie and her family lots of joy. Being a mom of two little girls, one on the way, and married, her family is able to serve together. “We’ve been able to teach our girls about giving to others and also for them to not have a fear of talking and praying with people.” Tonie said.

Being involved in the community is important to Tonie, but what is most important is God and teaching her children to love others. “We are God’s children and we need to take care of each other mentally, physically and spiritually. Feed the Need Missions allows us to serve together and build relationships in the community. I love the simplicity of it.” she said.

Feed the Need Missions’ ministry is simply to feed people. We provide a hot meal on a weekly basis in communities across Texas. This weekly meal allows us to build long-lasting relationships and proclaim the love and message of Christ. Be a legacy like Tonie and get involved today!

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Volunteer Story: Life Transformation

I was born into a world of fear and spent my entire childhood, teenage years, and most of my twenties trying to find a way out of my dilemma. I knew that fear was not natural and that the side effects were debilitating, but it seemed to have an unrelenting grip upon my mind. I was a prisoner. I managed to get through high school and one year of college but I continually felt insecure. I did not have any confidence and was hopeless about the future. I suffered numerous bouts of depression that prevented me from completing the advanced degree I was pursuing.

I instinctively knew that prayer was the only way out of my desperation. If God did exist I needed to know now! And to transform my life into something different.

I married young and started having children and thankfully my husband was a believer. He knew what our family needed so we moved to Texas to start over. That was my beginning of desperation and loneliness.

Church became essential in my life. I accepted Christ while walking through a dark time with my son sick and in the hospital and watching His healing touch heal my boy day by day. I gave my life to Christ and watched my life transform.

It hasn’t been easy! In fact I’m currently working for Feed the Need Missions where we feed people physically and spiritually. I have learned through this process of serving others that God’s love is way more than we can ever fathom, but we can try and be more like Him and walk out our faith by serving others. I’ve learned to desperately call upon Him, and to teach others about Jesus.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for transformation is metamorphosis. The definition of metamorphosis is “a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism, as from the caterpillar to the pupa and from the pupa to the adult butterfly.”

A caterpillar is born already possessing the life that will cause it to become a butterfly. Although an outward change does occur during metamorphosis, it’s the result of an organic change from within. A caterpillar doesn’t put on a butterfly costume or strive to act like a butterfly. As long as it eats, a caterpillar can trust in the metabolic process to assimilate those nutrients into its body and cause it to grow. Eventually, it undergoes metamorphosis and becomes a butterfly. Have you made that change from within?

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Site Updates: Serving During Social Distancing

This is an uncertain time for all of us. Feed the Need Missions is doing our part to help ensure the health, safety, and food security of all of our sites and communities. We’re focused on the needs of the people we serve. We’re incredibly thankful and blessed for the outreach from our community wanting to support these efforts!

Feed the Need Missions is continuing to work with partners across our service areas to find innovative ways to serve our friends and neighbors. We currently changed our focus to provide a safe “to-go” serving style. As guests arrive in their car, or on foot, they are handed a meal to take home. Janice said, “I am thankful you guys are still doing this. With hours cut back at work this is going to help us get through. You guys have been a blessing to Stanley and me for a long time. Right now, we are in desperate need of prayer and food. We were worried you weren’t going to be able to do this.”

We understand that during this time our communities need to be served physically and spiritually more than ever before. Current volunteer sessions are being kept much smaller than traditional volunteer groups. This is to best accommodate the social distancing guidelines, while still serving our community safely. We will continue serving in this time of need and are so grateful for the support we’ve received in doing so. If you would like to serve with us during this time, please contact Jason Bray for important information on ways you can be involved.

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Meet A Volunteer: Timothy

Timothy and his family live in the Ukraine. They helped host our Feed the Need Missions team that went to the Ukraine in October of 2019. After the Ukraine trip, Timothy had the opportunity to visit the US. While he was visiting in Smithville, Texas, we got to meet up for dinner and shared more about the vision and heart of Feed the Need Missions.

Being in Smithville he had the opportunity to serve at the Smithville site. “I love to tell people about Jesus,” he said, “especially to those that listen,” he winked. Timothy spent time with a group of teenagers explaining the gospel and his culture back in the Ukraine.

Timothy loves the mission and vision behind Feed the Need Missions and is wanting to start a site in the Ukraine. Now that he has hands on experience, he’s even more excited to get something off the ground in his country. Pray with us for God’s guidance as we encourage and help the Ukrainians fulfill Jesus’ last words: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”– Matthew 28:19

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Meet A Volunteer: Bryan

Bryan was one of the first volunteers that was baptized at Feed the Need Missions during one of our feeding sites. Bryan is married with two boys and plays a big part in our disaster relief team. When he was baptized he turned around and baptized his wife, Brittanie.

“I finally understood the gospel when I went on a disaster relief trip. I saw all the people hurting but the way Feed the Need Missions served the people and loving unconditionally changed my heart.” he said.

What an incredible experience it was to see true transformation and a heart for Jesus.

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Volunteer Story: Meet Jeremy

Whether you’re helping to hand out hot meals at a soup kitchen, Feed the Need Missions, or another non-profit organization, your time and energy are valuable to both the clients and the staff. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community.

Jeremy is a new volunteer who has been serving faithfully at our Lake Bastrop Acres site. He is also finding his place as a new follower of Christ. Feed the Need Missions has helped him realize the difference between having much and having little. “People have it way worse than I have it,” he said. “It opens your eyes to a better understanding of what real life struggles look like. The people are willing to give up so much when they have so little. They don’t complain when we get low on food and they are always so appreciative.”

At Feed the Need Missions we are so thankful for people like Jeremy who take the time out of their busy lives in order to serve others. Volunteers provide a valuable service for non-profits like Feed the Need Missions. The lack of resources that is needed for the communities we serve, puts a strain on our small staff team. He said, “The smile on their face after giving them a burger is pure enjoyment. Why wouldn’t anyone want to serve with you guys? God wants us to love others and to share His love and this is a great way to do it.” 

Come out to one of our locations and be a part of the great work the Lord is doing!

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Meet A Volunteer: Keith

Keith has been serving at the Justin site for a little over a year. “I was brought up catholic and never really got into church after I grew up. I started using right out of High School. I was partying with family and friends until I was 25 years old. I put myself in rehab and I knew if I put myself there and could stay clean for the 2 weeks I was there, I could pull through,” Keith said.

After rehab he started working as a rancher and got saved seven years ago. He went all in for Jesus and decided it was best for him and his now ex wife and son to move to Texas for a better living environment. “The passion that God was showing me was so overwhelming I needed to listen to where He wanted me to go, so we went,” he said.

Keith heard about Feed the Need from Josh, who is a leader at the Justin site. Josh is also a leader in celebrate recovery where Keith is a part of too. “He told me about Feed the Need Missions on and off for a year or so. Things happened in Bridgeport and doors got closed so I moved to Denton. When I moved I got involved with Feed the Need Missions. I can now share my testimony of using drugs for 10 years, to the person I am today,” he said with excitement.

“I love Feed the Need Missions. I think people should come and experience it too, and get involved,” Keith said. “The smile on kids face and being able to pray with people and cry with people when they are struggling is what it’s all about, just being there like Jesus would.”

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