Dear Friends,
In Luke chapter 14, Jesus says this, “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Each year the Mission puts on a Thanksgiving banquet for our guests. We want each guest to feel special, to be known and to feel valued and loved. The holidays are really hard for the guests we serve. They can be a reminder of what others have that they do not. So, we do a Thanksgiving banquet with all the great food that defines the holiday. That food is prepared and served with love.
The truth is that we do this not only during the holidays, but every single day. I would like to share why we do it.
First, it is impossible to make the best decisions about your life when you are hungry. I don’t know about you, but when I get hungry, I get hangry! That combination of anger and hunger. That is absolutely not when I am able to make the best decisions or deal with significant challenges. First, I need to eat, to quell the hunger. The same is true for our guests. You cannot think about leaving homelessness, getting a job or getting help with your addiction when you are hungry or not sure when or if you will eat again.
Second, we have a tag line we use that is “Hope Starts Here.” I love that! The truth is often hope starts with a meal, then a conversation, then the beginning of a long journey out of homelessness.
hope starts with a meal, then a conversation, then the beginning of a long journey out of homelessness
Third, we do this because Jesus told us to. In the scripture above Jesus commands His followers to invite the poor, the sick, those who cannot repay, to your banquet. Jesus says we will be blessed as we become a blessing.
You are an important part of this ministry. We could not feed the hungry without you! Thank you for partnering with us and helping us provide meals for those who are hungry and opening the door to ministry and a pathway out of homelessness!
Grace and peace,
Dennis Van Kampen
President/CEO
This post is part of November’s Changing Lives Newsletter. This month, we’re sharing Wayne’s story of how a Thanksgiving meal became more than food in: A Place at the Table
