Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a Georgia-based church donated over $10,000 and food exceeding 8,100 pounds to another church’s food distribution ministry to serve the local community.
On Sunday, Wesley United Methodist Church of Evans delivered the donations to Macedonia Church of Grovetown after the food and funds were collected during Lent.
In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Milledge Austin, communications director at Wesley UMC, explained that the donations included 8,100 pounds of food and $10,456.83.
“At the beginning of the new year, a group of our staff brainstormed ways that our church could have an impact on the local community,” Austin told the outlet.
“We realized that during the summer months, there are a lot of families that lose school breakfasts and lunches for their kids, a staple they rely on very heavily during the school year,” he continued. “We wanted to help alleviate that loss by collecting food to distribute to those in need in Columbia County throughout the summer.”
Austin noted that all donations for the food ministry came from “our generous congregation,” adding that “even during the peak of the pandemic, our congregation has proven to be very giving, and they want to help their neighbors.”
The food distribution ministry was launched by Macedonia Church last year in response to lockdowns because of COVID-19. Since its inception, the food ministry has managed to serve over 50,000 people.
During the peak of the pandemic, the church served over 1,000 people a week with its weekly food drive. Nowadays, about 200 people are served each week.
In a statement to The Christian Post, Wesley UMC Senior Pastor Greg Porterfield asserted that the donations to Macedonia Church were intended for collaboration between both ministries, not competition.
“When we were looking at how best to distribute the food, we learned of what Macedonia has been doing since last year. We knew that we wanted to contribute to their ministry, not copy it,” he added.
According to Austin, this is the first time both churches have worked together, but he hopes they can work together again in the future.
“The biggest thing we hope people take away from this sizable donation is our desire to help those in our community and those in need, and to spread the Kingdom of God here in Columbia County and beyond,” he said.
“We simply want to spread God’s love and good word. Not just by worshiping on Sunday mornings, but by going out and doing good for those around us.”
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.