Ever wondered about the power of compassion and service?
Let me introduce you to Janet Smith, the remarkable coordinator of God's Table Outreach Ministry in Bowie, Texas. In our enlightening chat, Janet relates the faith journey that guided her to Bowie and into the heart of God's Table's mission - an inspiring story of growth from a simple hundred-dollar bill and prayers to an essential community haven for food, fellowship, and spiritual nourishment.
The behind-the-scenes of God's Table is no less inspiring. This community organization, armed with dedicated volunteers and generous food donations, serves hot meals to those in need. Miraculous tales of provision unfold as we discuss the challenges and triumphs, including the pandemic and successes of their fundraiser, Hymns for the Hungry. We draw back the curtain on the faith-based community feeding program that focuses on empathy and connection, showcasing the importance of God's provision and the integral role of volunteers.
We complete our journey by exploring the transformative effect of serving others. From our experiences at God's Table, we understand the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances. Janet confides in the role of local churches and law enforcement in supporting God's Table, offering our listeners insights into how they can contribute to their communities. This episode is a testament to the powerful impact of God's Table and the ripple effects of kindness and service. So, tune in, be inspired, and discover how to make a difference.
First Free Will Baptist
505 Strong St
Bowie, TX 76230
940-872-4536
Music by: Kim Cantwell
Bowie Mural: Located at Creative Cakes
Connect w/Aaron: www.aarondegler.com
Ever wondered about the power of compassion and service?
Let me introduce you to Janet Smith, the remarkable coordinator of God's Table Outreach Ministry in Bowie, Texas. In our enlightening chat, Janet relates the faith journey that guided her to Bowie and into the heart of God's Table's mission - an inspiring story of growth from a simple hundred-dollar bill and prayers to an essential community haven for food, fellowship, and spiritual nourishment.
The behind-the-scenes of God's Table is no less inspiring. This community organization, armed with dedicated volunteers and generous food donations, serves hot meals to those in need. Miraculous tales of provision unfold as we discuss the challenges and triumphs, including the pandemic and successes of their fundraiser, Hymns for the Hungry. We draw back the curtain on the faith-based community feeding program that focuses on empathy and connection, showcasing the importance of God's provision and the integral role of volunteers.
We complete our journey by exploring the transformative effect of serving others. From our experiences at God's Table, we understand the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their circumstances. Janet confides in the role of local churches and law enforcement in supporting God's Table, offering our listeners insights into how they can contribute to their communities. This episode is a testament to the powerful impact of God's Table and the ripple effects of kindness and service. So, tune in, be inspired, and discover how to make a difference.
First Free Will Baptist
505 Strong St
Bowie, TX 76230
940-872-4536
Music by: Kim Cantwell
Bowie Mural: Located at Creative Cakes
Connect w/Aaron: www.aarondegler.com
What happened to my hometown. It seems so different when I look around. It's funny how things have changed since I was young. What I wouldn't give to go way back and take a long look into my past. I remember this town the way that it used to be.
Speaker 2:Welcome to my hometown, our little town on the map and home to the world's largest Jim Bowie Knife. To show you around our beautiful town is our tour guide, erin Degler. Erin has a love for road trips, taking the opportunity to stop along the way in small towns across the US, just like our very own Bowie, texas. We spend a little time with Erin each week as he takes you around Bowie, sharing the value of the small businesses, the organizations, the history and, of course, the people that make up my hometown. After this podcast is over, make sure you give it a like, a share, and please subscribe and review this podcast. I would now like to introduce to you your tour guide for today in my hometown, erin Degler.
Speaker 3:Welcome back to my hometown. Thanks for taking a little time to join us today. Today, please welcome my guest. She is a 10-year resident of Bowie and has been part of God's Table Outreach Ministry for the past 10 years. She has been the coordinator of God's Table for the past six years. Please welcome my guest today, Ms Janet Smith. Thank you, Janet, for joining me today.
Speaker 4:Thank you, Erin.
Speaker 3:I'm excited to share with everybody about God's Table. I'm also excited to learn about God's Table myself, as I mentioned before we started. I've heard a lot of great things about God's Table and how it has grown over all these years, so we'll get to all that. But, as I mentioned, 10-year resident of Bowie from the Metroplex. So what brought you to little Bowie, texas, from DFW?
Speaker 4:Well, my husband, his father, lived across the street from me and his father used to tell me oh, you ought to meet my son, he's a good Christian boy. And so I said, whatever? So we met. And well, we met. And it was just after about a year seeing each other about a half a dozen times, we decided that we wanted to get married.
Speaker 3:So in that year you only saw each other about half a dozen times and then decided that you wanted to get married.
Speaker 4:Yes, yes, and it's because we did it with God and he's the center of our life, and so we honored God with our marriage and I just feel that's what's brought me and God wanted me up here in Bowie. I feel he brought me here for a reason and that reason was God's table.
Speaker 3:And so did you grow up in church and in faith.
Speaker 4:I ran away from the church when I was 16. And I was a wild child. I lived a terrible, terrible life. I was definitely very, very wild, very anti-God, anti-everything good. I was out to please myself, and that's a terrible way to go.
Speaker 3:And so, if you don't mind me, how old were you and what really turned that around?
Speaker 4:Well, I knew I needed to get back in church when I was probably in my early 50s. I knew I needed that, but I was tired of the fast life, and so I would pray on my way to work. And God showed me that he answered prayers, you know. And so whenever Chuck and I decided to get married, that was a condition that we honored God. And so you can't honor God without going to church, without connecting with your sisters and brothers in Christ. So that's where it started.
Speaker 3:And so were you and Chuck before you got married. Were you going to church separately, or was it kind of started once you got married?
Speaker 4:He was going to church and I was not. We, you know, we I started going and we started growing in faith, and then we went every time the doors were open and I felt there was something I should be doing, I should be doing in church. I wanted to help somehow.
Speaker 3:And so you moved here. So Chuck was living here already, and so when you married then you just moved here, and was he already going to church here?
Speaker 4:Yes, he was going to First Free Will Baptist.
Speaker 3:And so when you so you started going to church at First Free Will. Yes, that church is where my kids were baptized and saved. So it's, yeah, it's a Great have first free will has a special place in my heart. And so you're, you come and is God's table, are a going yes, yes, god's table has been around.
Speaker 4:It will be 16 years in February and it started with a hundred dollar bill and prayers for people prayed over that and and it was started and it was in the back of the church. They had a small kitchen and they'd move the chairs out of the sanctuary and put tables in every night and then take them down. I'd be ready for church every every Sunday and Wednesday, and then it started growing and there was a little house across the street that they had acquired and it was a Youth house. It had been a Christian school and then they changed it to move God's table over there.
Speaker 4:Mm-hmm and it was.
Speaker 3:It was serving Probably about 30 40 people per night then so when it was started with four people and a hundred dollar bills, what was the? What did they see the need was what did? What kind of prompted that?
Speaker 4:It was Larry Cox's dream to have a food ministry, since he obviously he owned it nostalgia in partnership with Lanny hunt, and it was his dream and so when it started, you know, with that money and a prayer it is.
Speaker 4:It is flourished because it is something that there was a need for to feed people who are hungry, hungry for Just food, hungry for fellowship, hungry for Fellowship with the Lord. Because it's just, there's such a need in this community and it's all been word of mouth. Occasionally there've been ads in the paper. Hems for the hungry has is, has been going on as a Ministry from the Methodist Church to help Bring money, bring funds in for God's table.
Speaker 3:And so kind of to kind of those that may be unfamiliar with God's table. What exactly is God's table? What's the they they feed every night, kind of what's the? What's it look like? What's God's table look like?
Speaker 4:God's table we were dining in and we were having devotions and and we were feeding people that that wanted to, that didn't have any other way to get any food. Sometimes they're there. This is the only meal they get per day. Children, seeing them come in and they just Darving and they come in and they gobble up their food and and Just knowing that you're helping someone.
Speaker 3:It's about helping the community and it's a completely free program. Yes and how many days a week Does God's table serve meals?
Speaker 4:we serve six days a week, monday through Saturday, from five to six. We usually we'll start around 4 30. Mm-hmm our venue has changed in the fact that, since COVID it's carry out, we don't have dining in anymore.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 4:I'd like to change that again. We I know there's people that miss the fellowship.
Speaker 3:Up up until COVID they would. It was they'd come in eat, have fellowship. Was there still devotion then, or yes, so how does that? Is there still devote? Is there a way to do that now, since it's carry out, or is it?
Speaker 4:Well, it's a little different. We Will put scriptures on the carry out boxes or tracks or or we just have people come in that need prayer and and someone will stop what we're doing and pray with them and over them and what they're what their need is. So it's changed from the devotions and I really like the devotions, but but as long as God is being glorified, that's what it's about. Mm-hmm he wants us to Spread his name.
Speaker 3:And I think so often when we can, because being hungry is a basic need and it's hard to think of anything else when that basic need isn't met. It doesn't matter, I mean, if you're, it doesn't matter the clothes you have on or the car you're driving if you're hungry, that is the only need that matters at the moment. It's Maslow's hierarchy of needs and that's the most basic need that none of those on the top can be Achieved unless that those basic needs are taken care of. And I think that's such a wonderful thing that by servicing that need you also get to witness.
Speaker 1:Yes, to them.
Speaker 3:And so you volunteered for a number of years, for about four years. And then what was the deciding factor to become coordinator of Of God's table?
Speaker 4:Well, the sweet lady that was was coordinating and running it, managing it. She had a medical Something come up and so she wasn't going to be able to To go ahead. She had to go to mini doctor visits, so she was unable to be there every day like it calls for, and so the church voted me in, and Now it is humbling Very humbling.
Speaker 3:So I have a question so many years living away from the church, running away from the church, were, was there any moments, when you're taking this position, that you think I don't know if I'm that person to take over this? To do that I don't feel qualified.
Speaker 4:I feel that Every day because you know I'm just, I'm humble that that God will allow me to do this. You know I went from from the fast lane and People looking down on me and know you know a couple of times being arrested and stuff like that and that's so hard To imagine that I'm even worthy. Mm-hmm but as I've come to know God a little bit better, I know that he decides whether I'm worthy or not.
Speaker 3:He will equip me to go to go and help me with what he wants done mm-hmm, and I think that's a great example that Oftentimes from our past we may not feel like we are worthy or that we Can do those things, but he'll qualify. If he calls us, he'll qualify absolutely and it's. I think sometimes as humans we get bogged down with people's pasts, but God sees our potential.
Speaker 4:Yes, he does.
Speaker 3:And those things in the past have prepared us for the present.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 3:They do make us who we are and they may give us empathy, they may give us connections, understanding that if we hadn't gone through those things that sometimes we really don't want others to know about, we wouldn't be able to relate and connect with others in the way that we're intended to, as he can see beginning to end and how our life in those different seasons plays in that bigger picture. So it has definitely grown from 30 people to how many people now does God's table serve on a nightly basis?
Speaker 4:Yesterday we had 152. We serve that. Our average is about 150 per night and we've had as many as 198. That's our record.
Speaker 3:That's a lot it is Last week.
Speaker 4:we had a couple of days where there was a 180 something each day.
Speaker 3:And so do you see the same people coming to eat and do you see new faces, or is it just kind of the same faces, but just sporadically?
Speaker 4:We see some of the same faces that have been coming for years and we've come to know and love them. Then there's the new faces that we're seeing. We've seen a lot of new faces within the past quarter of the year. There's I don't know how many faces, but there's a lot of new ones that, oh, I've heard about you through word of mouth, which I'm glad for word of mouth, but helping that many and sometimes it's just a mix.
Speaker 3:So the question with that many people 150 people a night a couple questions actually how do you get the volunteers, how do you get the people to get all that happening? And then how do you get all the food and how does all that work? That is the behind the scenes work to be able to feed 150 people six nights a week on average.
Speaker 4:On average. Well, we have so many people in the community of Bowie that donate the food. They donate their time, they donate with money. After Thanksgiving I have a blessing my refrigerator is full so I can pull stuff out and warm it up, and this has come from churches and a lot of people who have family gatherings and had just that little bit left over that they wanted to share.
Speaker 3:So is there a menu planned every week? How's that decided? Is it just kind of a I hate to say hodge podge, but just different things, or is it?
Speaker 4:I usually don't need to plan anything, because we get people bringing stuff in and what I'll do is take what they've donated and. I may add some green beans to it or something to it and to stretch it out a little further, and that's just pretty much the way it goes. I've tried planning meals for a week and well then, we started getting stuff in and I was blessed with that, so this sounds better anyway.
Speaker 3:So each day, when you volunteers go, do they just say okay, what do we have, and this is what we're going to put together?
Speaker 4:Yes, yes, mostly people come in and serve the volunteers on a regular basis. We have some people faithful people at church that come. Different churches come on certain days of the month. We have the National Honor Society at Bowie High School that comes and serves on the Monday. We have healthcare entities that will come and donate their time and serving Some, donate their meal, and then we serve so people. And then I have my list of people I call can you come in today to serve from? You know? Oh, yes, so I usually God provides. You know, when I'm like, oh, I don't know if I'm going to have enough people today and somebody comes in and says I was just passing by, can I help today? Well, sure, sure, I have a young man who's 10 years old. He comes in and helps when he can.
Speaker 4:He's such a good helper too, you know, this week people from all ages. I have a lady that would do the dishes and she was she's 100 years old and she was keeping up with it. So thank God for everybody.
Speaker 3:And so I'm sure you feel stressed at times. You know God's providing and being faithful, but as humans, I think sometimes you go. This is a lot.
Speaker 4:I do, I do, I'm like I need to be here at this time, or, you know, oh, I don't have this ingredient and I'm oh, you know, and it's in a time crunch, you know. So I have to make do and say, okay, god, this is not me, this is you. And it's helped my faith grow, because during COVID, the fundraiser, the hymns for the hungry was not held that year and we were going, oh no, what are we going to do? Because that was a huge chunk of change that kept us afloat for the year. And God said I've got this. And we received donations that were double of what and it was like, oh, thank you, god, and hymn for hungry.
Speaker 3:That was just last month. Yes, yes, and that's a big fundraiser. I think I saw on the paper maybe $7,000, $8,000.
Speaker 4:$8,000 this year.
Speaker 3:So it's a big. It's a great fundraiser. I want to have music acts that come and is that correct?
Speaker 4:for yes, it's the churches. Usually there's about a dozen churches that get together and each church will sing so many songs and they have cake auctions and silent auctions and it's a good time. It's really a good time, if you like good music.
Speaker 3:And then so how many volunteers does it take on average on an evening to prepare to serve?
Speaker 4:to serve, serving, let's say, one, two, about five to six to seven to serve, and sometimes just me, sometimes two people, three people preparing.
Speaker 3:And you're never sure how many people you're going to have, correct.
Speaker 4:No.
Speaker 3:So has there ever, have you ever, ran out of food?
Speaker 4:No, believe it or not, we may have run out of the meal being served, but there's always something that we can pop up, that, whether it's a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or I've got a microwave, I use the microwave too.
Speaker 3:So is all the food stored there at the church, or is it just brought that day?
Speaker 4:We have freezers that we and shelving and we've been blessed with Walmart starting to donate some of the produce and bent cans that I use to prepare the food. So I've got shelving, that my dining room is looking more like a store room, but it's all blessing.
Speaker 3:And they just come and but they can't eat there. They just take it and go on and then say a prayer with them if they need that, and do you have people that will ask for that and that are open and say I just need some prayer and yes, yes, you know, back, whenever I was doing devotions, I gave my testimony and somebody said, oh no, that's not you.
Speaker 4:You weren't really like that, you couldn't have been. I was like, yes, and being able to relate with people and and they know that it's possible to go from where they're at to some place like God's table, where, where there's love and brotherhood and someone who will listen and has has an understanding heart, heart to listen.
Speaker 3:And I think that's so important that we do share those things with people because they can see. Then it gives them they can see what's possible. Because I think sometimes, as people of faith, we want to hold that in. We don't want anybody to see that, because we're not always proud of those things, but it's part of our story, it's part of our life. But I think when you, like you said, when we do tell people those things, they can see. Oh well, he or she came from this and is now here. If they can do it, they're no different than I am, so I can do it right and it gives them that, that hope, that, oh, I'm not lost.
Speaker 4:It's not that it's not hopeless right, there's nobody that comes through that door that I'm not able to hug. And there is it's, but there, but for the grace of God. I mean, I've been hungry. I eat ramen noodles three times a day. For a week I had no, no transportation. I was out in the middle of the country no, no way to go closest town, six miles away. So there was a gas station about three and a half miles and I had 86 cents and I walked up there to get a I don't know a bag of chips and a soda or something you know, but I was hungry and there wasn't anything like that where I was.
Speaker 4:And so this it's, it's an honor and it's privilege and and it's it satisfies. The Lord has satisfied my soul with this. He's surrounded me by, by loving people and the ones that are kind of like I was. They've, they've come in and they've, they've, mellowed, they they may not be settled down yet, they may still be, you know, have that wild hair, but they come into God's table and when they want something to happen, would you please pray for me? Well, sure, I'll give him. Give him a hug and circle up, and it's just satisfying and you know you're right.
Speaker 3:They come in. They still have that wild hair, they're not quite ready, but I think it it just being there, knowing that you're there, to love on them, to give them a hug. It's not saying you need to straighten up, you need to do this, you need, you need.
Speaker 3:It's just being available for them right and I think sometimes that's hard because you know you can look at that individual and go. I know I've been where you've been and let me fast track you and just do it the way I'm telling you and things will get better much quicker.
Speaker 4:But people aren't always willing to do that oh no, oh no, you know, but I've, we've had people come from God's table across the street, church and um, and it started with their kids. So we, you know, they start with their kids, letting them come to church. Then mom comes, then dad comes, and then they join the church and it's like, oh lord, thank you, thank you. But some of them, oh, my goodness, they, they're, they're homeless and they, they, they don't have a place to go and they come in and they haven't had a shower.
Speaker 3:You know, they're fragrant so in buoy we have homeless people yes, yes, a lot more than than people realize.
Speaker 4:You know the couch surfers which they crash at somebody's house on their couch for a day or two and then they get kicked out there and move on to the next, but in some sleep, in the ditches and in the cougar mountain, and you know they wherever they can find that they can huddle up as you're speaking of that and you know many of us probably don't see that side of our community we talk about.
Speaker 3:I've had many people on the show over this year and they talk about how great our community is, how they come together in times of disaster and helping your neighbor. But I think this is a neighbor that we often forget about, that we don't think about because, out of sight, out of mind right, we don't see those that are sleeping out in the cold or the rain on cougar mound, or we think, well, they have a place to stay, but they might, but they are homeless because they're going from place to place and, like you said, until they get kicked out, until they've worn out their welcome. It's time to move on right, and I think we're sometimes quicker to help those where other people see us help instead of those that we can help. That no one ever sees right, and I would encourage us as a community to help those unseen neighbors, because there are neighbors. They are part of our community. Whether they have a home, don't have a home, they couch, surf, they're part of our community.
Speaker 3:Um, and if, if, that means we can help out by donating what is time or money, um, I believe that you know we can give in so many different ways. So many people say, well, I don't have the money, you have the time. And in my opinion, we give of our time and that's the most valuable thing we can ever give someone else it is it really is, because we don't get that the time we spent, we don't ever get that back.
Speaker 3:No, we made that deposit. We never get it back right? Um in terms of more time, but we get it back in terms of the investment in others? Um which you've done over the last 10 years it's, it's thrilling.
Speaker 4:A lady invited me to come and now it's coming on Tuesdays and Saturdays and just Tuesdays, and and I liked it, I liked it a lot and it just has evolved for me into my home, away from home and and and.
Speaker 3:You're there every day, six days a week yes and and so, seeing, how is that? How have you felt that being a part of God's table has strengthened your faith, um and your walk?
Speaker 4:well, I've had to rely on him for, you know, for everything there, um, but it's knowing seeing, seeing somebody that that has been down and out and somebody that doesn't know the Lord, and they, they make that decision and and it's like, oh, you are, you are here, god, you are, you're pleased with this and you know when, when the things aren't looking bright, you know things, there's something amiss, and and God comes through with whatever the need is for the people that come there and for the people who volunteer there and me especially me just watching God work, because I know it's him, I just know it's him.
Speaker 4:There's no way that it could be anybody but.
Speaker 3:But because when, when COVID happened, there was no uh hymns for the hungry, money showed up even more. Yes, um, when you think we're not gonna, how we're gonna provide food, food shows up, volunteers show up, everything just happens. And it and it doesn't happen, it just happens by the grace of God that he um, and I think, believe, when you are in that right um path, that that God has you in, then he will provide oh yes, and he, whenever you, you see where he has provided, and I mean, it's just I'm speechless.
Speaker 4:Sometimes we're like, oh, I know, I know and and I want to share that with the people that come to God's table, um, they're down and out there's and there's. There's those that are mental, they have mental problems and and they're, they're talking, you know, they're schizophrenic or or other things, manic or whatever their diagnosis is, and they come in and I talk to them and treat them like a person and they know, they know that God is there and I can't ask for more and I think that's powerful, that they see the example.
Speaker 3:You talk to them as another human being, not as somebody that's maybe talking out of their mind or has certain gestures that, whether being talked to um like another human, another anybody else that would have a connection with um. And I just always think that Sometimes we talk, we say a lot of words, but our actions don't match our words. That's true. And just by serving someone else and I don't know if people always understand the power of serving someone else the example that gives to put aside your needs, to be able to help and serve someone else without looking for anything in return, but to be there for them and support them, and to help them and just be there if they need you. Right, if they need to say I need a hug, I need a prayer or I just need a meal and that's all I need tonight.
Speaker 4:Right, okay.
Speaker 3:We're okay with that. Yes, and I think it's a great place that people know that, whatever their need is, that day, it could be met at God's table, because God's table and I love that term, because it's not just about food yes, you give them food, but you feed them so much more, oh yeah, I hope so.
Speaker 3:You feed them hope, you feed them an example, you feed them servitude. You feed their soul, their mind, their body. Yeah, and I think that's such a blessing, because at God's table we get all those things ourselves and they don't necessarily know how to approach God's table as maybe other Christians do. That it can be through prayer or Bible reading, anything of that nature, but serving those needs teaches them how to approach God's table.
Speaker 4:Right, right. Well, it's a way that they can get what they need, the way they can get into a relationship, and we stress the importance of the relationship with God, because God will feed your needs, whether it's food or love or hope or just calm in the storm, whether you're passing through or hearing Bowie.
Speaker 3:And he doesn't always tell us to witness to somebody exactly like us.
Speaker 4:Exactly.
Speaker 3:It's maybe those that we say, no God, I don't want to witness there. And that's maybe where we should go, because I think sometimes we get comfortable as Christians.
Speaker 4:Yes, oh yes, and sometimes I feel like God, am I really doing right? I haven't run into the enemy lately and we, I don't know, we just we also ministered at Montague County Jail and I would get people in the jail. Oh, I know you, you know, because they would see me at God's table and I would go to the jail and minister to them there and then they'd get out and they'd come to God's table for that, for that love for the ear, for the hug, for the food and and it's, it's just wonderful whenever they do decide, you know, to come to church and and get to know the Lord better.
Speaker 3:And it's because you're developing a relationship with them.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 3:Whether it's at the church, at God's table, or it's in the jail cell, you're meeting them, and I think it's so important. You're meeting them, just like God does with us. He meets us where we're at.
Speaker 4:Oh yes, now you and you can't. They're people. These people, people that come into God's table. Everyone that walks up through the door is a person, and whether they're doing wrong or right, this is how God wants you to live, and he's there to support you. He gives you people in your life that that will help take the next step. And I can't judge these people because I was them. I was them, you know, 15 years ago. I was them and I just want to pay it back pay it forward.
Speaker 3:And 15 years ago doesn't sound that pride seems like not too long ago. It's funny how, as kids, time seems to take forever and then, as the years go by, time seems to pick up speed like a snowball, and so 15 years probably feels like not so. No, you know, just a few years ago goes by fast.
Speaker 4:It does. In one way it's like it's just like yesterday and. But then there's somebody that's wow, that was just a different lifetime ago Because I'm not living the same I'm. I'm changed the direction I'm going in and it's just a thrill to work with the churches. It's not just the churches Law enforcement we've we had donations from the sheriff's office and different, different entities and working with these people and seeing their example. There's people that have been going to God's table, serving at God's table meals longer than I've been here. They were almost from the very beginning and they're still serving.
Speaker 4:They're still bringing it in, and it's just. I love watching their example.
Speaker 3:And what is a? As the community listens, as people listen, what is? What can they do to help with God's table?
Speaker 4:We can always obviously money, because we we still have to buy, get on bleach and dish soap and stuff like that. If you have food, if you want to donate canned goods or meat or we've had beef donated to us a side of beef or a whole beef and it's been processed and and that's been a lifesaver, but it doesn't have to be huge like a side of beef. It can be something. It can be that pan, that, that leftover pan of dressing or or these sandwiches that you had, you know, for your lunch, and it can be volunteering your time to serve or to cook or or all of the above.
Speaker 3:And and that's done it first free will Baptist.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 3:And we're going to. We'll put the address and phone number in our show notes so people can contact If they want to help. Or, and is it okay if people just show up to help?
Speaker 4:Yes, I'm sure I can find something, something to do. We have certain days that you know we'll have a church that comes in and they've got nine people there, so that would get a little chaotic. But my phone number as well has become the public table phone number. If you'd like to show up, you can call me ahead of time and I'll let you know.
Speaker 3:So even any organizations or businesses that want to pick a day a month could do that and and participate and be, say this is our day every month and we're going to bring our employees, our staff, our team and we're going to help and serve and because that would be, I'm sure, a big help to know that this night's taken care of with servers or cooks or cleanup crew. So any, any way, whether time, money, donations, can all be helpful.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 3:And can be contacted through. First we will, through the phone number that we'll put in the show notes or contacting you directly to see how how they can do that.
Speaker 4:Right At the church phone. There's usually not anybody there all the time to answer the phone, but they leave the message. Please leave the message and I will get back. We will get back with you as soon as possible. If it's at four o'clock and I've just got a message, it may be six a little after six before I can get back.
Speaker 4:But if you know, usually between the four, three o'clock and and after six I'm free to to talk a little bit more and go through my calendar and and then meals are served between five and six.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 3:And so if you know of anybody that could benefit from coming to God's table and needs needs a meal and they can bring them on.
Speaker 4:We'd like to bless you.
Speaker 3:So it's a growing ministry that that feeds so much more than just the belly. Yes, feeds the heart, feeds the soul. Thank you, janet, for taking that, taking on that enormous job. I might even say enormous blessing, and blessing Absolutely.
Speaker 3:I'm sure it's stressful and there's a lot to think about, a lot to coordinate, but it's also a blessing, because of the community serving the community, serving those that are in need, is a blessing. I think sometimes we look at as hard work instead of a blessing, because you're being blessed just as well of growing in your faith and it's just, it's a working together and it helps both feed you and feeds them. But but thank you for stopping by and joining me today. I know you'll be going to feed 150, 160, 170 this evening.
Speaker 4:I've got 180 hot dogs, so come after that we may have peanut butter.
Speaker 3:But no matter what, whether you're out of hot dogs, there's always something to to eat.
Speaker 4:Oh, absolutely I'll find something, we will find something.
Speaker 3:You won't go away hungry, no, and I would encourage each of us to remember our unseen neighbor. I think that's important, just because we don't see them at our local grocery store, our local business. They are there and we see them sometimes walking around town and we go look at that, we talk about it, but maybe they need our prayer instead of our words of what's going on. So we can help with time, money and prayer for our unseen neighbors, right?
Speaker 3:So, if we're truly a community of caring and sharing, that means everybody that is in our community, all walks of life, all those we see and unseen.
Speaker 4:Absolutely, absolutely, yeah, covet, covet prayers definitely, because without prayers and the direct line then we won't be, we wouldn't be where we are now. Prayers of praise and prayers of needing and pleading, and just the prayers, are the milk and honey of our business there.
Speaker 3:And it's proof. It's growing. It's feeding more people, that ability. Yes, there's more people that need it, but that need is being met every day. God is fulfilling that need. I keep thinking of the bread and the fish you just. It just keeps feeding the thousands. You know it doesn't run out and that's so it's happening in God's table.
Speaker 4:Yes, and sometimes we'll have when we have our off days. If I've had, I've had potatoes in the oven and they were rock hard at 15 minutes until five and I gathered the girls around. We all gathered around the stove, laid our hands on the stove and said Lord, please finish these potatoes for us. And at five o'clock they were a fork tender. We've done that so many times and I'm telling you, prayer works.
Speaker 3:And anybody that knows that cooks 15 minutes on a rock hard potato is not going to get it fork tender in 15 minutes. So you know that's. That's God working in the power of prayer and the power of people coming together to pray. It shows the power of coming together with others in worship and in prayer and he'll make make miracles happen, even if it's a even if it's a from a rock hard potato to a fork tender potato.
Speaker 3:Miracles don't have to be big, they just. They just have to to help him feed and help us grow in our faith. So that's.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 3:So, thank you, janet. We'll put all the information on our show notes so everybody can contact you in any way, the church in any way, to help in any way that they're able to. So thank you, janet, for joining me today and being on the show, and I and I look forward to seeing each of you around my hometown.
Speaker 2:Thank you for listening to today's podcast. If you would like to connect with Erin, you can do so by going to erendeglercom or find him on social media as Erin Degler on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Once again, we greatly appreciate you tuning in. If you have enjoyed this show, please feel free to rate, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcast. We greatly appreciate that effort and we will see you around in my hometown.