Using Food as a Ministry, Part 2

Here is the second of the two interview blogposts that I have been able to do. Jenny Fink has had a huge impact on the college students who attend our church. She and her husband have often had the college students over for meals on Sunday afternoons and she is always more than willing to provide food for others. Through the many challenges that she and her family have faced, namely that of losing their newborn son Carl a few years ago, Jenny has still been a wonderful blessing to those around her with the gifts God has given her.

• Q: What is some background that has been instrumental in your ministry of providing food for other?
• A: My dad always loved to cook, I remember us always having people over, and cooking for church functions. My husband’s parents also love to cook and have people over. Combine Kim and I both growing up that way and our love for talking and being with people makes it a pretty easy job of ministry. God has given us houses since marriage that are very good for having crowds. (I also love to have people over because it pushes me to clean my house really good) :-) When we lost Carl, food being brought to us was a great comfort also.
  

• Q: What is your life verse?
• A: I have changed my life verse recently. It used to be Psalms 19:14, which is still a great verse. But one that I cling to now is Habakkuk 3: 18-19 "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high place."

• Q: How have you used food as a ministry?
• A: "Whatsoever you have done onto the least of these you have done unto me.” It really is not hard to cook for a few more. Anytime there is a sign up for meals, my name is on it. If I go to a funeral, I bring a dish. If someone needs a Sunday meal, (college students, evangelists, missionaries) we try and do it. Taking a meal ministers to a person’s basic needs. We would not have survived without people ministry to us with food. I could not think far enough out for a whole month to think about food for my family when we lost Carl. I was in shock and it was the last thing. I will never forget the thoughtfulness of people in that way. So, bringing a meal to a family in the time of loss is a great ministry.
  We also try to have church members over once in a while just to get a little one on one with each family. It is also fun to see people’s reaction to a dessert that you have made. They may say that the meal is good, but they always rave about the dessert.

• Q: Do you have personal goals in serving others through the ministry of food/hospitality?
• A: My goal is to be in God's will. I need to listen to his bidding when it comes to having people over. There are times I don’t want to have people over and that is when I know I need to. Also, just to be any encouragement to others I am around. By nature I am not a good verbal encourager face to face. It is easy for me to send cards and cook and have people over.

• Q: What is your motivation for ministry?
• A: "What you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me." You never know what is going on in a person life, and what a simple meal can do for that person. It says you care without actually having to say it. It puts feet to your words. Christ is the perfect example in hospitality. The feeding of the large crowds is quite the example.

• Q: Advice (spiritual/practical) that you have for others?
• A: Don't be afraid that what you make won't be good enough or that people won't like it. Move out of your comfort zone. Be hospitable. It is the thought that counts. Mary and Martha were two very different people but still opened up their home for others. Use the home that God gave you for his glory and this is one way that you can do it.
  

• Q: Favorite dessert?
• A: I have many favorite desserts, but if I get to request one it is cheesecake, preferably one that has chocolate in it.

One of the most important areas that I have learned to be a light for Christ is through the basic necessities such as food. Our church, Bible Baptist Church of Utica, has been a wonderful blessing to Andrew and I, as well as all the other college students, through their ministry of providing food. Jenny, as well as many others, has had a huge impact on my life as I seek to be hospitable in my ministry in the future.

Using Food as a Ministry, Part 1

The next two blogposts are interviews that I have done, one with a friend whose mother uses food as a ministry and another from a friend at our church who has personally blessed Andrew and I with her food ministry.

The first of the two interviews I did was with Jackie Shoemaker, whose mother, Nancy Shoemaker, has used food and her cooking skills in an unexpected ministry. The following questions are what I asked Jackie about her mother’s ministry.

• Q: Tell me a little background about your mother and her ministry in your church?

A: My mom knew she wanted to help in the church in any way she could, but felt like she didn’t have other talents, so being to make food for everything. Whenever there was a function with food, she would always have made the best food there.

Soon everyone was asking her to make food for numerous activities. She began talking with people and was asked to do a breakfast for the community to share the Gospel weekly. It was so professional and she spent hours on it weekly. We have had tons of people getting saved every week from her ministry.

• Q: What would you say your mom’s motivation to serve others?

A: She has been doing this for many years. If there has been anyone who needs a meal, she will make food without being asked. She just wants to serve. Her motivation for ministry was because she wasn’t focused completely on the food (other than making appealing), but she was more focused on the point and the people.

• Q: From your perspective what is some advice she would want to give?

A: For cooking: use whole ingredients and don’t skip steps or take short cuts. Always practice! I always expected that my mom would say that to me as I made food! But, more importantly, in ministry: look at the talents the Lord has given and use them. Even if I’s not a typical talent, you can use it in or out of the church.

• Q: Favorite dessert?

A: Peanut butter bars with chocolate on the top. They are soo good!

Nancy Shoemaker has used her talents for making food as a ministry in their church. Not only has the ministry grown to be a help for people’s basic necessities, but also been a great avenue for providing for the spiritual needs of others. As Jackie said, many people have come for food and left having been introduced to Christ. Providing for the physical needs of others is a wonderful way to share Christ’s love and help them know where they will spend eternity.