God at Work - First Alliance Church, Silver Spring MD

I have heard about churches that have so many volunteers there is a waiting line to serve, but I never dreamed that I would ever see it in our church. And yet, this is where we are today.

It all started several years ago when we were given the opportunity to partner with a Christian organization that carefully and tactfully forms a bridge between government social services and the local church. The immediate result was that we were given the opportunity to distribute food to people in need and to use the occasion to reach out with the gospel.

A lot of volunteers were needed as we had to empty a 16’ truckload of fruit and vegetables, sort it and then place an assortment into grocery bags for people to receive. At first, having enough help to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time was difficult. Announcements would be made, emails sent out and a variety of other appeals given, but we always seemed to be short of our goals. The strain on some of our lay leaders was great.

Then COVID came and we adopted a drive-through approach that needed even more volunteers. The trend of work to workers was going in the wrong direction. But then God turned things around. A few people that couldn’t physically do the work offered to hold a prayer meeting at the same time. Then people from outside the church asked if they could “get in” on this community service program. Most of our volunteers are Christians, but some are not, giving us the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them in the process. Even some of the people that receive the food now come out and help us prepare it for others.

Our church is not big enough to do what we have been doing, but God provided both the vision and the volunteers. What started out as something we did five times a year, now takes place twice a month, once as a drive-thru and once as an indoor pantry. Since 2019 we have given food to over 1,000 families and had, in total, 350 volunteers to get the work done. Each event involved between 50 to 100 volunteers serving up to 200 families at a time. Why the great fluctuation in volunteers? Because sometimes, we couldn’t control the number of people that wanted to help.

Providing food for people on a regular basis is meeting a huge felt need. It was true during COVID, but it is also true during these days of inflation and high prices at the grocery store. As we see people again and again, we are getting to know them by name. A few families have come to a church service. Several others have sent their teens to our youth rallies, and dozens have expressed interest in our English classes.

The harvest is plentiful, and the Lord of the harvest is sending us workers for the harvest field! Please join us in praying for the fruit that God wants to produce.