Thanks to FCC for supporting the Gospel Mission

Earlier this week I was at a board meeting for the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.  The Gospel Mission is a life changing organization, led by Kim Slavings, that seeks to care for the people of our county through a wide variety of services.   The mission operates a food bank , a clothing closet, and helps connect clients to a variety of other services.  The main office and thrift store is here in Dexter.  There are two satellite offices as well, one in Puxico and the other in Advance.  Through these three locations the Gospel Mission is able to reach people throughout the entire county.

Much of the funding comes through the thrift stores, but the Mission also receives support through gifts from individuals and congregations.  Sometimes these gifts are financial, and sometimes they are material.  Financial gifts go the furthest and are the most flexible.  They allow the Mission to purchase food items, pay salaries, and to keep the lights on.  Material gifts include not only the donations to the thrift stores, but also produce from local gardens that are then distributed via the food bank.  Additionally, many people give of their time by volunteering to help with transportation, sorting, distribution, and maintenance.

At Tuesday’s meeting the board was reviewing the gifts received over the past several months.  It was exciting to see how many gifts involved the people of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  The proceeds from the church-wide yard sale, paper products for the food pantry, and Easter meal boxes were all recently given to the Mission by our congregation.  Members of our church continue to be involved in the community-wide corned beef and cabbage dinner.  A portion of those proceeds were given to the Mission as well.

Part of the conversation during the board meeting was an expression of appreciation to the men and women of our congregation.  I was asked to pass along their gratitude for everything that you do.  I told them I would.  That is why I am writing this particular column.  Personally, I would like to say thank you to everyone who helps to support the work of the Mission.  Special thanks go to the Christian Women’s Fellowship and the Evening Ladies Group for organizing the Easter boxes and the yard sale.  Your work has a made a direct and lasting impact on our friends and neighbors right here in our community.

If you have not had the opportunity to be a part of the amazing work being done by the Stoddard County Gospel Mission, it is not too late.  This summer we will have another opportunity to be part of the summer food ministry Feeding Christ’s Children.   This is an effort organized by Tommy Horton, a member of our church, to help provide meals for students who receive free and reduced priced lunches during the school year.  This a partnership between the Gospel Mission and churches throughout the community.  The Mission provides the distribution and case management, and congregations band together to collect and pack the food.  It is an incredible ministry and I encourage everyone to join us for the first packing night on Tuesday, June 7, at 6 p.m.

Once again, thank you to everyone at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for all that you do to support the work of the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.  Thank you, also, to all other churches in the county who support the Mission each and every day.  Finally, thank you to Kim Slavings and all of the staff and volunteers at the Mission.  Theirs is a difficult and exhausting calling.  Stoddard County is a much stronger place because of the ministry that they provide.  It is a blessing to be a part of a community that so clearly understands Jesus’ call in Matthew 25:31-46 to feed the hungry and care for the stranger.  Thank you for letting me see it in action firsthand.