As most of you probably already know, the Chattanooga area BI-LO’s have been purchased by FOOD CITY. This includes the four Walker / Catoosa County stores that support this ministry. Over our past 10 years these BI-LO stores have been a huge blessing to us. Last year alone these stores and their customers contributed just over $17,000.00, making them our largest single financial supporter. This year they had donated just under $9,000.00 before the buy-out. This financial support has been in addition to the over 26 tons of food donations received annually.
We’ve had no contact as of yet with FOOD CITY, nor do we expect to until the changeover is complete. At this time they’re allowing the stores to continue to donate food items as usual. No financial support, however. We do know that FOOD CITY is not currently a member of the national food bank network, Feed America, as we and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank are. This is not necessarily a bad thing, BI-LO only joined a few years ago and our relationship with them was actually better before Feed America got involved. On the other hand, our relationship with Wal-Mart greatly improved when they joined Feed America. So, there are pros and cons. We’ll just have to wait and see.
The only thing consistent about ministry is that it’s always changing. Things around us are always changing, our support comes and goes, moves from this avenue of revenue to that one. What never changes, the thing that is always solid, is the source. We know that our God provides all things. He just allows those around us to be used as avenues of revenue. When one door closes, another door opens. When one well runs dry, a spring pops up somewhere else. In this way the honor and glory always remains His.
September is Hunger Action Month!
All across America food pantries are taking a deep breath, I know we are. June, July and August are traditionally the hardest stretch for us. Kids are out of school so the demand for assistance goes up, financial support and available volunteers goes down. Things slow down…a little…in September and October. This gives us a small break in the action. But, only a small one since we must restock and reload for November, December and January, the second most demanding stretch. So, here are some ways you can put your support into action during September;
- September 2nd VJ Day, 11th Patriot Day and 18th POW/MIA Day; show your support for our nation’s Veterans, Police and Firemen by making a donation in their honor or memory.
- September 7th Labor Day; blessed to have a job? Make a donation to show your gratitude.
- September 13th Grandparents Day; make a donation in honor or memory of your grandparents or your grandchildren.
- September 20th Mission Director Kendra’s 55th; if the Care Mission has blessed you or someone you know, make a donation to honor Kendra; $5.50, $55.00, $550.00, $5,500.00?
- September 23rd Brown Bag Wednesday; challenge your co-workers or fellow students to “brown bag” their lunch and donate the money they saved that day or all week.
- September 27th Buck Bucket Week; display a bucket at work, at school or at church and encourage others to donate a buck, or five, for each household member.
About eight years ago this ministry, and we personally, were under such a great spiritual assault that I cried out in my frustration to God, “LORD! We are under attack. A spiritual attack from every side and we are just barely hanging on!”
I’ll never forget His response, “Yes, you’re right. So, what are you going to do about it?” That was it. No great lightning bolt of wisdom. No Moses on the mountain top directions. Just a simple acknowledgement of my concern and a question that suggested I should know how to handle this. He was right of course, spiritual attacks are fought spiritually. I knew that, but in the heat of the battle I’d lost focus. I had begun looking at the storm rather than the One who has absolute power over the storm. I had begun to struggle against the flesh and blood and indifference of this world, rather than against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We established a Morning Prayer Time and called on prayer warriors to cover us in prayer. Guess what? It worked. We had a huge break through and God poured out His blessings.
We find ourselves very much in the same circumstance now. Our ministry, and we personally, are under spiritual assault from every side. Does the enemy sense that God is about to move again on this ministry? Or perhaps God just desires to grow us more. Whatever the reason, it is obvious that the enemy has amped up his attack, so we must amp up our attack.
Monday, August 31st, 6:00 pm at the Care Mission; we are meeting for prayer. If you are a sincere believer, a true spiritual solider of Christ, a prayer warrior, we invite you to join us. We will be fasting that day and if the Lord leads you to, we encourage you to also. Remember, the enemy will do all he can to stop you from standing with us, so don’t be easily persuaded to neglect this opportunity to fight back. This will not be a long drawn out event, the prayers of the righteous do not require theatrics. If you cannot join us, please stop and pray at this time from wherever you are.
Food for thought…
Several months ago a young mother came to us for assistance. It was her first visit. As I filled out the paperwork she asked, “What do you do for a living?”
I explained that my wife and I operated the Care Mission Food Pantry and Thrift Store full time, this was all we do. Her next comment caught me off guard.
“Wow,” she said, “ya’ll must really be rich.”
I had to turn my head and pretend to cough so I would not break out into hysterical laughter. After regaining my composure I asked, “What makes you say that?”
“Well”, she reasoned, “there’s no way the Thrift Store makes enough money to pay ya’ll much, cause the prices are too cheap. So, ya’ll must be rich enough to not have to work. God must have really blessed ya’ll, so ya’ll can do this.”
I thought for a moment. I considered the logic of her observation against the reality of life and then I smiled.
“Yep.” I answered, “We are rich and greatly blessed.”
Be Blessed!
Deon and Kendra