The All Nations Adventist Church in Fresno, California, has become the hands and feet of Jesus by supporting their local community by distributing food. Each church in Fresno County can sign up through the local Fresno Food Bank to give out free food to the community. Fifty-two Sabbaths per year, there is food being distributed by one of the churches in the Fresno area.
“They bring a full truckload!” said Dolores Jones, head elder of the Fresno Adventist Church. “We have little stations for things like potatoes, broccoli, grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, fresh corn on the cob, cabbage, beans and rice, raisins, and just all kinds of fresh vegetables that you normally don't get at something like this.”
This food distribution has been a powerful way for the church to impact the surrounding community, and they are now in their third year of participating in this supportive ministry. June 1 was the most recent Sabbath the church distributed food, and 141 cars lined up to receive the gift. They represented 551 families—and about 1,650 individuals—in need of food assistance. Approximately 30 volunteers began distributing food at 8 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m. all the food had been given out.
“We missed our Sabbath school, but we were having Sabbath School outside by giving blessings to the people. They were so appreciative, telling us ‘God bless you.’ We told them that we are here for them, we are in the community, and we're here every week. They are welcome to come,” said Jones.
Each year on the first Sabbath of June, members of the All Nations Church continue to support their community by giving to them, talking with them, and connecting with them in ways that cannot be done without stepping outside of the church building.
At one of the recent events there was a woman driving down a nearby street, unsure where she would find her next meal. “She said she was talking to God. She had lost her job and was having a hard time,” explained Jones. “She didn’t know where her next meal would come from. And she saw the signs we had that said free food. She drove up into our church and we welcomed her to come get in line. She cried while we were putting food in her car. She cried because she couldn't believe that God had answered her prayer and pointed her to our church.”
Learn more about the All Nations Church and their ministry through the Fresno Food Bank at www.allnationchurch.org or https://www.facebook.com/allnationsadventistchurch/.
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