“For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord…” 1 Kings 17:16
Last week at WAM , by God’s grace, we served over 1,200 meals.
Just a few months ago, we were only doing one meal a week. I was asked recently how we are handling the increase.
Our answer: We have no idea, only God in his infinite wisdom knows!
WAM is now providing breakfast to the needy in our community 6 days a week and dinner 4 nights a week. Last year, when we sat down to plan our year, providing more meals to the community was not even a blip on the radar screen.
We plan, God laughs, right?!
We did not feel that we had the time, financial resources or volunteer power for such an undertaking. The thought had not crossed our minds to even try.
Sometimes God’s plans are a bit bigger than ours….
Our friends and partners at Cherry Street Mission began providing breakfasts and some dinners each week at our building last December in hopes that the community would eventually be able to take it over. This summer, through a series of unplanned events, WAM was able to step in. We have several wonderful churches who help us out on a monthly or weekly basis with dinners, but mostly the work is being done with volunteers and workers from our own community. There is a collaboration and unity of the body of Christ in South Toledo. Western Avenue Ministries, Vision Ministries and St. Lucas Lutheran Church now provide a breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week for our community. Hunger and food insecurity need no longer be an issue.
With an average income of roughly $800 a month, the average house renting for $500 a month and the skyrocketing cost of utilities, there isn’t much left over at the end of the month for food. This has caused the number of meals we are serving to swell to up to about 200 per evening at the end of the month. “It helps a lot to have the meals available here”, one single mom told me recently, “ I don’t have to worry if I don’t have enough money for food. My kids love coming here and I love the feeling of community I get when I am here. It lets me know that I am not alone and that someone cares.”
She is thankful, and we are thankful.
We are thankful for all of the workers and volunteers who get up early and stay late to faithfully provide nutritious meals to their community.
We are thankful for our Church partners who sometimes spend the whole day cooking to provide a meal for those who are struggling in our city.
Grace United Methodist Church
Maumee United Methodist Church
Cedar Creek Community Group
Trinity United Methodist of Gibsonburg
Faith Baptist Church of Lambertville
Gateway Community Church
Waters Edge Community Church
Church of the Good Shepherd in Malinta, Ohio
….. you are all the hands and feet of Jesus and the people of South Toledo are BLESSED by your service!
We are thankful that somehow we have been able to keep up with the increased demand for breakfasts and dinners.
We are thankful for a God who cares for the needy in South Toledo.
We are thankful for a God who sees the plight of the single moms and struggling families
And…
We are thankful that God has bigger plans than we do!
Is God calling you to help with this undertaking?
Here’s how you can help:
1. Would your church or small group like to serve God by providing a meal on a weekly or monthly basis?
2. Would you be able to contribute financially to the cost of providing a meal?
3. Can you pray that the “oil and flour” would not run out and that God would continue to provide the resources (human and financial) to fund this unplanned for and unbudgeted increase? Our funds are dangerously low.
4. Can you pray for perseverance for Gidget and our volunteers who share the burden of cooking these meals on a daily basis, sometimes putting in 12 hours a day?
If God is calling you to contribute financially, your contributions can be mailed to : Western Avenue Ministries, PO Box 20098 Toledo Ohio 43610
