WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.800 You guys picked a good day to come to church. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:22.399 Really, really good day. 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:29.199 And if you're if you're joining us online, um, welcome, welcome, welcome, whether it's right now or a little bit later on. 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:36.240 Uh I love that the on-demand uh function of online sermons is is really fantastic. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:48.240 And before we dive in, I want to know raise your hand if you attended church last week and heard the amazing sermon that Pastor Fred Mark preached on on seeing the unhoused through the eyes of Jesus. 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:49.600 Wow, a lot of you. 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:51.039 A lot of you. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:59.119 And keep your hand, raise your hand again if that have really changed the way you saw people and responded this past week. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:00.640 Yes. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:02.640 That includes me. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:17.439 And uh for those of you in the chat online, can you just put in the chat how that have really changed your um, you know, maybe share a story just real quick, how God has used you just by seeing and engaging. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:21.920 And uh, if you have not seen the message, it's online, please go and take a look. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.079 Uh it's really, really worth it. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:31.680 So, uh before we dive in, I or I want to start with gratitude. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.359 I'm just so thankful. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:53.840 You know, everyone that have given financially, that have given their time, that have showed up, that have given items to make this Del Mar food pantry, that partnership that we have with you know, with you guys, and also with our clothing pop-up closet that used to meet here, it's it's it's uh nearby at a low-income apartment complex. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:57.519 If you've given or served, thank you, thank you so much. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:08.479 You know, there are hundreds of households that are being fed as a result of your guys' giving and your generosity with your time. 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:14.719 And not only are they being fed, but they are really seen by you, they are known and loved by you. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.879 And that matters deeply to Jesus. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.199 But we can't do it alone. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:22.639 You know, people have to show up. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:25.120 So thank you so much for doing that. 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:34.560 Um, because when we care for the hungry, it's not just social work, it is kingdom work that we're doing. 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:38.879 And today's message title is Jesus Heart for the Hungry. 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:42.719 So we're gonna take a deep dive in that and what that looks like. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:51.680 And my my um my prayer is that as of last week, several of you raised your hands. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:03:03.360 That message, Pastor Fred, help us to really change our eyesight to look more like Jesus and see our unhoused neighbors or just people in need, seeing them through the eyes of Jesus and responding to that. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:14.639 It's my prayer that you know, by today, by the end of our time together, not only are you gonna understand Jesus' heart for the hungry, but your heart is gonna start beating like his. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:18.639 It's almost like a spiritual heart transplant. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:25.840 And that's gonna, that's gonna impact, it's gonna, you're gonna, you're gonna live differently going forward. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:32.000 We're gonna talk about also some opportunities that if you're not engaged, you can get involved. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:49.840 And um, but I think you know, to start by feeling that oneness with Jesus' heart for the hungry, um, we have to start living, you know, to get that alignment, you know, with his and living out his mission. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:56.639 Now, living on mission for us as a group here at the church reminds me of a story from NASA. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:01.199 And this happens in 1962 when John F. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:03.120 Kennedy visited NASA. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:16.639 And this was right at the height of the space war, space race, and some of you may remember, well, you've known, you I don't think you were alive back then, that you may have remembered, but uh some of you may. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:23.759 But uh right at the beginning, he said, by the end of this century, we're gonna put a man on the moon. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:38.000 And that was a huge challenge because the technology didn't exist, and we were actually behind that Russia was leading at that point, but it inspired a mission that really inspired a nation. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:57.120 So he's now touring NASA and walking, you know, with a whole entourage, the halls of NASA, NASA, and he saw this janitor sweeping the floor, and he stopped and he walked over and he asked him, tell me, what do you do here at NASA? 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:02.480 And they said he kind of like squared up and he smiled and confidently said, Sir, Mr. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.519 President, I'm helping put a man on the moon. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:08.160 The janitor. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:29.199 And what is so amazing about that moment is that NASA's their culture was so mission-driven that everyone, no matter from the top to the bottom, to the janitor, knew what their mission is. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:33.120 He didn't say I sweep up the floor, I clean up after astronauts. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.800 No, he said, I'm part of a mission to put a man on the moon. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.360 That's pretty special, huh? 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:45.519 That's a type of that's a type of group I want to be part of. 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:50.720 Where everyone, no matter what your contribution, you're part of that mission. 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:54.639 What if Jesus walked in today? 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:04.800 And when we take our two minutes to kind of like talk, he's asking you, what do you do here at Awakening Church? 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:06.800 How will you answer that? 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:15.519 Will you answer, have a lot of alignment with the mission of Jesus and what he has for us? 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:27.839 Some may ask you, maybe new to this community, maybe new to Christianity, or you may just be exploring and you may wonder what is, what exactly is the mission of Jesus? 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:29.519 And that's okay. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:35.360 We're gonna, we're gonna we're gonna take a deep dive on that. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:38.000 And wouldn't it be cool? 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:43.920 You know, if we can actually time travel and we can go ask Jesus himself. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:46.480 You know, we got Kevin back there. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.639 I know Kevin, you're a car guy, right? 00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:52.000 Because he's got a nice car, he loves cars. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:54.800 So let's say there was a car. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:55.680 Hmm. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:00.000 I think there is a car that allows you to go back in time. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:04.879 Let's say we get our hands on a uh on a DeLorean. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:08.639 You know, the one from Back to the Future? 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.879 The one with a flux capacitor. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.959 And let's say we we we we all can get in there. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:16.879 Kevin's our driver. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:20.079 And we punch in 28 AD. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.439 And we hit the gas. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:24.480 And what happens? 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:25.920 What happens when it hits? 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.199 How fast does it have to go before you can actually go back in time? 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:31.439 88 miles per hour. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:37.120 So we're we're going, we're going, we're going, and we hit 88 miles per hour, and boom, we're back in Galilee. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.079 Right? 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:40.160 It looks different. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:43.040 And we're looking, we're looking for Jesus. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:43.759 Where is he? 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:44.720 Where is he? 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:46.800 We see a crowd right there. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:51.360 We start walking, and we see Jesus, and we know what he looks like, right? 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.120 Because we all seen the chosen. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.680 So we're kind of have to work our way, and what are we seeing? 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:09.199 He's teaching, and man, he's laughing, and and then people bring and he's healing, he's healing people, and everybody kind of wants a peace, and there's a lot of commotion happening. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:13.759 And one of us, we walk up and we just say, Excuse me, excuse me, Jesus. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.560 I have a question. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:18.879 What do you do here? 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:22.959 That'd be a pretty, pretty fascinating answer, right? 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:28.560 Well, the good news is we don't need a time machine to go back and ask. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.040 It's already recorded in scripture. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:35.200 We can see exactly how Jesus would answer that. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:45.039 So we're gonna go back in time, but I want you to this morning to put yourself in these scriptures as if we are witnessing it firsthand. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.919 And then let's see what is Jesus' mission. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:54.240 We're gonna see how did he live that out and how does that apply to us? 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:57.679 How does it apply to you and also us as a church awakening? 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:02.639 So the first passage I'd like us to go to is it gonna be in Luke 4. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:11.759 So before we get to Luke 4, just I'm gonna back it up just in Luke 3, Jesus got baptized around the age of 30. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.000 And some of you may know that's when the Holy Spirit came on him like a dove. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:21.039 And then right after that, he went into the wilderness for 40 days. 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.000 He's fasting. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:24.639 Satan tempted him, and he passed the test. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.720 And now we're gonna pick it up into Luke 4, chapter 14. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:38.000 It says, Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about him spread through the whole countryside. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:44.399 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:46.799 And where did he go next? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:51.279 He went to Nazareth, uh to Nazareth, his hometown where he was brought up. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:10:02.960 And on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, and as was his custom, he stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:06.960 Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:15.200 The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:28.320 He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free and to proclaim the hear of the Lord's favor. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.440 Wow. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:37.279 Then he rolled the scroll up, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:42.799 The eyes of everyone in the synagogue was fastened on him. 00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:49.840 He began by saying to them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:56.639 What a pivotal moment that was. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:36.320 If you want to follow along, a key part of what he will say is, I am here to bring good news to the to the poor. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:39.279 That's a critical part of his mission. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:45.919 That's the heartbeat of the gospel, and it's so central to Jesus' mission. 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.879 Now let's say we get to keep following Jesus, we keep tagging along. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:54.799 And let's see how he actually does this, what he was sent to do. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:58.399 And let's go to Matthew 9, verse 35 and 38. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:11.200 It says there Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:16.639 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:17.279 Why? 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:22.240 Because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.840 Let's pause for a second. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:27.600 So it said he had compassion on them when he saw the crowds. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:32.320 And if you look at that, you know, the word compassion in Aramaic is Rachma. 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:39.759 And the meaning of that, if you direct translation, is to have a womb love. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.720 You know, like a mother, a mother's womb. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:48.799 Another way of describing it's it's it's that kind of love that you feel in your guts. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.960 It's a physical feeling. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:55.919 That's what Jesus felt when he saw the crowds. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.240 He was moved with compassion. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:07.279 And for some of you, you know, you're in situations where you you just can't help yourself. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:12.399 One of the things I found, you know, I uh the Lord has given me a gift of leadership. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:27.600 And sometimes you're you're in in situations, and and uh, you know, you may be among strangers or you may be among people, and you're given an assignment, and people are not really sure what to do or how they everybody is kind of like it, there's a little bit chaotic. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:36.960 I can't help myself, I just start to lead, I start to organize, and and uh you know, sometimes it works off well, sometimes it doesn't, but I can't help myself. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:41.440 So I think Jesus, when he sees the hungry, he can't help himself. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.039 It breaks his heart. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:55.360 When he sees the lost, when he sees the lonely, those are the people that become his friends, those are the people that he feels like he's very much focused. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.799 That's why I came. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:02.159 To bring good news to the poor and to bring hope and deliverance. 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:16.799 So, in your sermon notes, here we see Jesus was compelled, he was driven by his desire first to obey his father who sent him, and a sincere compassion for others. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.639 He had a deep love for others. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:20.720 So his ministry was very much love-driven. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:23.600 I think that's why people responded so favorably to him. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:29.440 Also, now let's continue reading. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:43.120 In Matthew 25, it says there that he looked at his, he turned to his disciples and said, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:49.120 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:52.000 That's still true today. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:55.759 The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:00.639 I love how Jesus, it wasn't just about him and what he can do. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:05.600 He trained, he modeled for his disciples. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:11.519 And then we see in chapter 10, Matthew 10, where he actually sent them out. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:18.399 He empowered them with the Holy Spirit, and he sent them out with specific instructions. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.960 Worth reading, worth reading. 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:30.080 So part of following Jesus is also becoming a worker because the harvest is plentiful. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:30.960 It relies us. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:40.399 We get to carry this forward, and then we reach what I call the crescendo of Jesus' heart for the hungry, revealed in Matthew 25. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:47.840 What we're gonna look at is Matthew 25, verse 35 to 40. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:16:00.399 And this passage, just the context, is actually Jesus is describing what's gonna happen the day of the judgment after his second coming. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:17.919 And now everybody that have passed away, they've now risen back, and all every nation, every tongue, every tribe is standing in front of Jesus, giving account for how we live our lives. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:22.720 And he's describing what that's gonna look like, which is really interesting. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.799 Now I'm gonna need some help. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:30.000 Um, you see the I, because Jesus is telling this in the first person. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.080 The I is Jesus. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.440 So every time we see the word I, I want you to say I. 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.159 Okay. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.480 So um let's go. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:41.440 Here we go. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:53.919 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, was a stranger and you invited me in. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:17:03.600 Needed clothes and you clothed me, was sick and you look after me, was in prison and you came to visit me. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.319 Then that's okay. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.839 That's okay. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.400 We got a rhythm going. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:16.559 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we do these things for you? 00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:28.319 Then the King Jesus will reply, Truly tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. 00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:29.680 Yeah. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.119 Amazing. 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:33.279 Absolutely amazing. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.519 In your sermon notes. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:43.599 I love how Jesus doesn't just he doesn't just care about the poor, he identifies with the poor. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.839 He makes us personal. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:57.440 And he elevates this when we serve the least of these, no matter how small, we are serving Jesus. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:00.160 It is sacred work we are doing. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.240 And I think it helps when we do it with that perspective. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:08.799 Like Pastor Fred was teaching last time, we start seeing others differently. 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:14.880 We don't just see them as people that we need to serve or people in need. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.480 No, this is an opportunity to serve Jesus. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:25.039 Now let me share some amazing news. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:34.960 So, two pantries back, so me and Stevie, she's all she's not here, but she's also a member here, um, and Kiara, another city team member. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:45.200 We came to spend some time at your pantry, the food pantry that we serve uh families here every first and third Thursday of the month. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.400 And um uh we did some interviews. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:54.240 So we got to interview 30 families that attended the pantry that day, and it was amazing. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.839 One of the things we just wanted to see, what are the levels of need? 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:06.160 And we asked them prior to coming to this pantry, receiving food twice a month, um, what was your level of food insecurity? 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:22.160 From all the time to sometimes to never, hardly any or never, 87% said that they suffer from food insecurity either all the time or sometimes they worried about having enough food for them and their families. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:24.160 And that's remarkable. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:29.680 Because regardless of the nice car that people are driving, we don't know what's going on. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:36.640 We don't know if I've talked to people, sometimes people actually have apologized and say, I know I'm driving a super nice car. 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:40.160 I used to work in tech, I used to make good money, I got laid off. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:45.359 I haven't worked for nine months, and I've burned through all my savings. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.200 Thank you. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.160 I want to thank you guys because I really need this. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.000 We don't know what's going on. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.920 Sometimes I say this is a lease car. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:20:01.519 And if I miss, if if I miss payments, if if I lose this, I don't have anything else because I can't afford to get into a new lease. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:05.039 No one will sell it to me. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:21.839 But the amazing thing what you guys are doing, 87% now for those that only come here three months or more, they said that now they've we've seen a 57% reduction in food insecurity. 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:24.000 That's huge. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:29.519 57 You've taken that worry off their plate. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:42.640 We said if if these services or these things were available, would you seriously consider joining that? 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:46.000 One of the things we asked spiritual community, and then they ask, what is spiritual community? 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.799 What do you mean by that? 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:56.000 So well to be part of a local church or a small group where you learn more about God, but you also do that with others, and that becomes a community like, oh, I need that. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:58.240 20% said they need that. 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.039 Harvest is plentiful, workers are few. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:08.559 But we see people are harassed and they are helpless. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:12.160 People are struggling with the basic needs of food. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:21.359 Another question we ask in light of all the immigration enforcement and things like that, how have that impacted your the way you live your lives daily? 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:29.839 And it was interesting, a third said they had to make major adjustments, a third said they had to make minor adjustments, and another third said hardly any at all. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:39.680 Our community is constantly things that are throwing at them and they're in need. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:49.359 And I love Awakening Church, how you guys, God is using you, He has anointed you to reap that harvest. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:52.720 To be there for them when people are really in need. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.079 Well done. 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:59.279 But we're also scratching the surface. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:10.640 Because Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which is one of our partners, we get all this amazing food from them, and they are the absolute best at getting staggering amounts. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:15.039 Folks, they serve 500,000 individuals every month. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.000 It's just mind-boggling to me. 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:24.720 And City Team is their largest, um, their largest uh partner, leverage partner. 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:33.039 They come and deliver food four times a week, and then we take that to 43 different neighborhoods. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:37.759 In Alameda County, we go and pick it up there and take it to 19 different communities. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.680 So we have 62 mobile pantries. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:47.039 And second harvest says that one in five people are food insecure. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:49.440 That's almost double the national average. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.839 And there's some unique things happening in the Bayer. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:54.880 Cost of living is obviously a big contributing factor. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:23:05.440 I think there's also maybe a uh a divide between knowing what kind of resources and opportunities is an opportunity divide between the low-income and the affluent community. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:07.759 And I think we are uniquely positioned. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:17.200 The only reason we get to scale it to 62 different locations is because City Team partners with 49 local churches. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.480 Many churches have multiple pantries that we work with. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.960 One of those churches are you. 00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:28.079 Because we want to make it super easy for local churches to love on their neighbors. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:34.160 They don't have to worry about, you know, transportation, cold storage, and all of that. 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:44.559 And they just have to show up and love on their neighbors, build relationships, and look for ways that we can create on-ramps to what we call lasting solutions. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:56.799 First, spiritual community, knowing God, being loved by God, being set free from all these things that were said in in Luke chapter 4. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.559 But also have community where they do that with others. 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:04.400 And then with our elevate program, we lift people out of poverty with workforce development. 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.559 And we're doing that now in two areas. 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.759 We want to scale that. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.759 Harvest is plentiful, the workers are few. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:17.039 And Jesus is looking for workers who will say, Here I am, Lord, send me. 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:20.240 There's plenty of opportunities. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.759 We're going to share more today. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:24.480 I hope today is a day that you get involved. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:30.000 So let's go to one more chapter, uh, one more verse. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:32.079 This is in John 21. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:34.640 Sorry, John 20, verse 21. 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:41.279 And now Jesus is resurrected and he revealed himself to his disciples. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.319 And he told them this. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:48.720 He said, As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.119 As the Father has sent me, I'm sending you. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.119 So again, in this in your sermon notes, if you want to follow along. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:25:04.240 If you want to see Jesus' results, if you want to have his heart, if you want to see the things he did, we have to do Jesus stuff. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.799 It's proper English, right? 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.680 We gotta do Jesus stuff. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:23.039 And then in the passage also said, then he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:26.559 And I think this is the secret, folks. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:42.960 In other words, the same spirit that anointed Jesus to bring good news to the poor, recover our sight to the blind, you know, all of those amazing things lives in me, lives in you. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:46.400 We don't have to do this ourselves. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:53.839 In fact, if you're gonna do this by yourself, you're gonna see limited results. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:58.480 You know, there's a lot about emotional intelligence, and it really helps. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:03.839 Relationship, and especially if you're married for 24 years, that really helps, like I am. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:08.720 And then uh there's a lot to say about artificial intelligence, right? 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:15.359 It's all the thing, and I may or may not have used uh Chat GPT to improve my sermon. 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:18.960 Um all right, I did, and you can thank me for that. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.640 But more importantly, folks, we have spiritual intelligence. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.920 When Christ said he was finished, it's completed. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:32.319 What separates us normal folks, and I'm just a normal guy. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:42.559 Our superpower is that we all have direct access to that, that curtain that separates us the store from the top to the bottom. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:45.920 So we have spiritual intelligence. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.839 And that is the force multiplier, that's the game changer. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:57.039 So when we serve others, when you share others, when we bring that, it makes a difference. 00:26:57.359 --> 00:27:04.319 That's why we love partnering with churches, because people go to other pantries, but they always say, it's different at this pantry. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.559 Why? 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:11.039 Because we have the same spirit that anointed Christ is in us. 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.920 So let God do the do the heavy lifting. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:20.160 All right, we're gonna get we're gonna get we're gonna get there soon, okay? 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:22.240 So we're gonna do a quick recap. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:31.680 Okay, so we learned about Jesus' mission, we saw him live it out, we saw him pass it on to his disciples, we saw also how he equipped them and empowered them. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:35.920 So now for us, how do we sustain this? 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:40.640 And I believe it comes from a place of reverence. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:48.799 Some may say, you know, the fear of the Lord is not like we're scared of him, but we have a deep reverence, and Jesus definitely modeled that. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:52.240 But it's also out of a place of gratitude and love. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:56.079 So sustaining that, what is fueling? 00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:01.680 How how how can we keep focusing on that when there's so many distractions around us? 00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:07.440 Kind of reminds me of um any of you seen the show I shouldn't be alive? 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:09.039 Can we bring that? 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.559 Any seen that show? 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:11.599 Yes? 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:13.759 Raise your hand, only a few. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:15.599 Oh man, it's a great show. 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.599 It's really a neat show. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:33.359 Alright, so they have these real stories of people that was man, they were lost at sea or in the wilderness, or some harrowing story, and literally they were just hanging on by a thread. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:39.599 Many, many people would have died, but it just they somehow made it out and they didn't give up. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:48.799 And as tough and horrible that experience was, I gotta be honest, I many times felt jealous. 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:53.920 You know, because there's a before and then there's an after. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:59.680 And afterwards, they know they should have been dead, but yet they are alive. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.960 And that brought so much clarity, so much purpose to them. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:08.720 It's like, dang, I would like to have something like that. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:15.680 They don't waste time anymore, they love their family, they appreciate it, just uh a deeper appreciation for life. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:21.759 But then, you know, the Holy Spirit reminded me, it's like Hermie, huh? 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:24.559 You actually were one of those. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:29.680 You were lost in sin, drowning in your sin. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.319 You had no way out. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:42.559 I was at some point I I committed my life to to Christ, and then when I came out here, um I became completely backslid. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:52.160 And after about a year and a half, I was totally depressed, I felt lonely, I was, I lost my, even when I looked in the mirror, I had no spark. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:30:00.160 And that's when slowly but surely, in a matter of three or four months, I became back, I came back to Christ and I came back to church. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:08.400 And Jesus reminded me, you know, if it wasn't for me, you know, you were dead. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:12.960 There's no way I could pay that price when you look at the cross. 00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.759 That was me. 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:15.839 But Jesus, but for God. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:19.039 He rescued me, he rescued you. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:24.480 So now at that place, how do I say thank you? 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.319 How do I pay back? 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.039 I know it's it's grace, we don't have to work for it. 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:38.880 But to sustain our ministry, Matthew 25 says, if we serve the poor, if we serve the least of these, we are serving Jesus. 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:47.119 So in your sermon notes, a great way to say thank you and a great way to sustain this ministry is to serve the poor. 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:52.160 And my wife is so much better than me at this. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:57.359 When she sees a homeless person, she sees somebody's son, somebody's daughter. 00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:02.000 And many times she also sees Jesus in them. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:08.079 And when I have that mindset, man, and I show up with that, I come from the right heart. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:15.839 Now my heart is aligned with Jesus' heart, and we're so much more effective, and it's so much meaningful. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:25.920 So we don't serve, we serve out of gratitude, not guilt, and we serve out of love, not obligation. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:30.000 Can Jesus use when we serve out of obligation? 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.720 Sure. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:35.440 But hopefully, we'll start to move in out of love. 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:40.480 Um, I want to share this video real quick. 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:42.319 And you guys know Kevin? 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:45.759 I love how what he shared. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:48.559 I did this interview at like two pantries ago. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:52.880 And uh you'll pick up one of the things I asked him, is like, okay, hey, why do you keep coming back? 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:54.480 Because he's been doing it for three years. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:56.000 Here's his answer. 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:57.839 Alright, hey everybody. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.960 Uh, my name is Kevin. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:01.759 Um here at the Delmar food pantry. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:04.000 We do this uh a couple times a month. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:08.000 Uh I found out about this as part of Awakening Church, where to go. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:20.799 And I just heard that they were you know giving away food to people who needed it on Thursdays, and I was able, and I think it's important to uh participate in helping the community and uh showing love to people in meaningful ways. 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:24.720 So I signed up and I've been doing this for probably for three years. 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:29.039 Um 80% of the time they have one I can make it, so we show up. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:38.160 We bag up food, we pass it out, uh, we try to be friendly to everybody and uh you know wish them the best and hopefully they get home with uh you know somebody. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.039 Three years, first of all, thank you for that. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:43.440 Yeah, why do you keep coming back three years? 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:47.440 Um I don't know, I just it's something that I can do, and I think it's the right thing to do, so I do it. 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:49.519 I uh it's it's not a lot more than that, you know. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:53.440 It's not like you know, I don't know that it benefits me, right? 00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.720 It's it's for the kingdom, right? 00:32:54.799 --> 00:33:04.079 So it's it's not, you know, you can say you're storing up treasures in heaven or whatever, but for me it's just it's the right thing to do, I can do it, so it's not more complicated than that. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:08.000 What about some of the relationships with other fellow uh awakening? 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:25.359 Yeah, like the uh Yeah, no, it's great to uh whenever you serve with uh you know your community, you get to know them in ways that you don't get to know them on Sunday morning, so you know you have the bond that you don't get um you know just saying hi in church or whatever, you know, like Pearson and Mildred, you know, they're there every week. 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:34.000 Uh John's here pretty much every week, and you know it it creates a depth and riches in the community that you don't get otherwise. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:39.440 People are maybe interested or wondering should I should I come and check this out? 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.039 What would you tell them? 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:44.000 Yeah, if you have the time, it's it's really not that difficult, right? 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:54.240 You know, if you can count to six, you know, you can figure out how much fruit to put in the basket, and uh, you know, if you can lift uh 15 pounds and you have three hours, come on and do it. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.279 It's easy, it's fun. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:57.200 Uh you can make a difference in people's lives. 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:00.480 I love that. 00:34:07.839 --> 00:34:12.880 You know, I just want to thank you guys, and I could also show uh Gerson and Mildred's story. 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.679 We did the interview. 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:20.079 They actually organized their day off to serve here at the pantry uh so they can serve together. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:24.480 But I love you know, it's not about me, it's not always what I get out of it. 00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:26.400 It's about building God's kingdom. 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.519 So thank you, Kevin. 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:33.760 And if you have given or if you have volunteered at our pantry or our pop-up closet, could you please just stand? 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.920 Could you please stand? 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:41.760 Wow, look at look around, look around. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.559 All right, I'm gonna give a quick, quick impact report. 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:50.159 So these folks here, these folks here have served the pantry guests. 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:53.039 Have uh we had 2,300 visits. 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:57.199 230 unique households have come through your pantry. 00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:09.840 You've also given out 77,000 meals that they could cook in their homes at the value of$177,000 that they can put towards utilities, things like that. 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:14.800 And thank you so much because you guys are showing up, making that happen. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:20.559 At our Papa Closet, which used to meet here, it's now at a at a nearby low-income apartment complex. 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:24.719 We had 61 visits, and that's where we now have faith conversations. 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:38.480 And uh we share people, how we help them with food and clothing, but we also have a vital connections program, which is an inductive Bible study, and um you know, five people already have graduated from that, becoming new Christ followers. 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:42.639 There's another seven that have expressed interest, you know, in that. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:56.079 And we've also at our Elevate the Neighborhood, two of those participants have gone through a workshop and they have got inspired to start an industrial cleaning company, and they are doing well. 00:35:56.239 --> 00:36:03.440 The Lord has provided miraculously for them, and they are now hiring folks from the Vival Connections program and paying them a living wage. 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:09.519 All because you've opened up your hearts and your parking lot for low-income neighbors. 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.400 Well done. 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.920 Well done, guys. 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:16.719 So, in closing, I know you're thinking, where are you gonna have lunch? 00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:18.079 We're gonna get there real soon. 00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:28.159 So uh I just want to I just want to get back to, you know, when when President Kennedy asked that that janitor, what do you do here? 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:32.159 And he said, I'm putting a man on, helping put a man on the moon. 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:36.960 He didn't say, I'm sweeping floors, I'm cleaning up after astronauts. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:41.360 He said, No, I'm part of a mission to put a man on the moon. 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:49.840 And I asked that, imagine if Jesus walked through here and he asked you, what do you do here at Awakening? 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:52.159 How will you answer that? 00:36:53.199 --> 00:37:07.599 And if you've caught, and if we've caught the heartbeat, the heart of Christ, especially the heart for the hungry, we'd say, we won't say just, oh, I volunteer here, or I come to church every now and again. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.760 I'm part of a small group. 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:20.400 All of those things are important, but I believe your answer would be if we caught his heart that Lord, I'm helping bringing your kingdom to the poor. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:23.519 I'm feeding you when you were hungry. 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:28.559 I'm loving the least of these because I've been loved by you. 00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:36.719 And us as a church, we love our neighbors and we carry on what you started, Jesus. 00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:39.280 Because that's what we do here. 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.480 That's who we are. 00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:43.440 That's what awakening church is all about. 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:45.119 Thank you. 00:37:45.360 --> 00:37:46.000 Let's pray. 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:50.320 Oh, actually, I just want to give out quick, three quick next steps. 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:54.960 One is continue seeing other people the way Jesus sees. 00:37:55.760 --> 00:38:02.960 Again, tap into some of that spiritual intelligence, the Holy Spirit, helping to see those, and then just muster the courage. 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:08.239 If you see someone in you, just say, hey, you look like you're having a tough day, or how can I help? 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:10.000 And just follow through on that. 00:38:10.239 --> 00:38:11.599 Second thing is step into the harvest. 00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:16.639 Serve at our pantry, serve at many other volunteer opportunities, and I'll also be at the white tent. 00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:18.719 We have lots of opportunities. 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:22.320 Also at City Team and here, get involved. 00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:26.239 And then also fill your ministry with love. 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:28.880 So each morning, again, pray. 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:34.159 Ask God to fill your heart and have Him show you how to love others the way you love. 00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:36.719 Okay, let's pray. 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:40.800 Lord Jesus, we thank you. 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:45.760 Thank you for rescuing us when we shouldn't be alive. 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:52.559 Thank you for seeing us, feeding us, forgiving us, and giving us a new purpose. 00:38:52.960 --> 00:39:00.239 Lord, I pray that you awaken our hearts today, not just to hear your compassion, but to carry it out. 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:05.280 Give us your eyes for the hungry, for the lonely, for the forgotten. 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:08.559 We don't just want to attend church. 00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:11.199 Lord, we want to be your church. 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:17.440 The kind that feeds, the kind that heals, the kind that loves like you do. 00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:29.360 And Father, as as Father send you, now send us, fill us with your spirit, and let every act of service be fueled by love. 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:41.280 Lord, so when you ask us what we do here at Awakening Church, we can boldly say, Lord, we're helping bring your kingdom to the poor. 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.719 Amen. 00:39:43.599 --> 00:39:44.320 Thank you. 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:45.599 God bless you guys. 00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.159 Thank you. 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:48.320 Church, please give Herm a round of applause. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:49.679 Hermy, thank you so much. 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:56.559 You guys, uh, we are not done uh rolling out visitors, rolling out guest speakers today. 00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:58.239 Uh I have my friend Tomas here. 00:39:58.320 --> 00:40:01.920 Uh Tomas is our lead coordinator for our food pantry. 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:08.480 Uh he has a passion for feeding the Bay Area, for feeding people to make sure that nobody goes hungry. 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:18.719 Uh he's got an amazing story, so I'm gonna just ask him a few questions and uh hopefully we'll share a little bit more about the why and the what that we do here at Awakening with our local outreach program. 00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:20.480 Uh Tomas, thank you for being here today. 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:21.360 Of course. 00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:23.360 I feel like I'm on a podcast now. 00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:25.199 Hello, introduction. 00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:26.719 Thank you for being here. 00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:34.239 Uh Tomas, um, what initially led you to serve here at Awakening uh at the food pantry? 00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:42.079 Um well I'll start with kind of a more political, conscious awakening that happened around COVID. 00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:44.320 I was working for a church up in Oregon. 00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:50.639 I was living in Oregon for a little bit, and um there was a lot of food insecurity and homelessness in the area. 00:40:50.880 --> 00:41:00.639 The the homeless actually took over the Central Park, and I had, you know, everyone seeing what's going on, COVID and losing jobs and all this kinds of stuff. 00:41:00.800 --> 00:41:02.320 I wanted to do something. 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:21.599 My friends and I actually um called a bunch of pizza shops to uh give out pizza one day, and it was just infuriating to me to see me and non-believers doing more work in that homeless community than the church that I was working for was. 00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:35.119 And so that was a turning point for me where I was like, this is you're claiming this, and yet instead of feeding the people that are three blocks away from you, you're raising money to expand your already large building. 00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:37.119 Make it make sense. 00:41:37.360 --> 00:41:39.519 And so that was a big turning point for me. 00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:51.280 So then when I moved to California or moved back home, I'm from here, um, a friend was helping me look for churches, and I wanted to be a part of one that was actually doing something, actually serving its community. 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:59.519 And so when I saw that Awakening was um had the food drive, um, I knew that that was a a place that I would want to give my time. 00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:02.960 Um what was the question? 00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:05.599 The question was Why do I serve? 00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:06.719 Yeah, why do you serve? 00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:07.599 That's why. 00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:09.280 I also have some more time. 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:19.039 Um I my I work for United Way Bay Area, uh, a nonprofit here in the Bay Area, and they give us 30 hours or 35 hours a year to go volunteer. 00:42:19.119 --> 00:42:20.159 That's paid time. 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:22.960 So that's awesome that I get that opportunity. 00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:25.440 That scheduling is not an issue for me. 00:42:25.599 --> 00:42:40.320 And I'm saying this not for you to make an excuse about why you can't volunteer, but rather as why I have taken it as just a double sign that I need to be doing this and spending my time um uh helping Brian with the community. 00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.679 Oh, that's awesome. 00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:49.360 I know when I was uh looking for a lead for our pantry, we had some amazing folks, Thomas and Angie, that led the pantry for quite a while. 00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:54.079 Uh they had to step down and Tomas was their recommendation for our next lead. 00:42:54.239 --> 00:43:00.800 And I'm so grateful that we get to partner together with somebody who is extremely passionate about making sure people do not go hungry. 00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:12.000 Um so speak thinking of all the people that we've served throughout the years, people that we've met while we're doing the pantry, is there anybody that stands out to you that might be something you want to share with our community? 00:43:12.480 --> 00:43:20.000 Yeah, the first is a um mom who came by a few months ago and she was late. 00:43:20.079 --> 00:43:23.599 Um not late, but like one of the last cars to come through. 00:43:23.760 --> 00:43:31.039 And she said, I'm so glad I drove by because I saw your sign, and we have a sign flag that we put out on the field out there. 00:43:31.199 --> 00:43:33.199 It's my job to put that out every week. 00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:36.800 And well, my um unofficial, I just do it every week. 00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:42.320 And I uh many times I'm like, it's a long walk from here all the way over there. 00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:43.679 I'm getting annoyed. 00:43:43.840 --> 00:43:50.239 Um, I injured myself a few months ago, so I'm like sometimes I was driving, I'm like limping my way over there. 00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:59.760 And for her to to say that and acknowledge that that little work piece of work that I did meant so much because um every pantry, every two weeks. 00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:02.800 It's so worth it to get that flag out there. 00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:05.280 Make sure the people are aware that this is happening. 00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:07.440 So that was one. 00:44:08.559 --> 00:44:10.719 The other is one lady. 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:13.039 Did you remember her name? 00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:13.760 No. 00:44:14.639 --> 00:44:16.719 In the first service, I couldn't remember her name. 00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:18.000 So we're just gonna call her M. 00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:27.599 And she comes through every other week or every every pantry, she picks up for 12 different households. 00:44:27.840 --> 00:44:31.599 And that's everyone on her block or in her court, whatever it is. 00:44:31.760 --> 00:44:35.119 And that's uh so three bags per twelve. 00:44:35.280 --> 00:44:39.599 This she fills her car with all this food that she brings back for her community. 00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:47.519 And I said one time, thank you for doing this for your neighborhood, for your community, and for for being the person to bring them food. 00:44:47.599 --> 00:44:48.800 And she said, Of course. 00:44:48.880 --> 00:45:03.199 I was once someone in need who um came to something like this, and I wanted to um this is my way of like giving back every every week, is to she was probably the one who made everyone aware to sign up in the first place. 00:45:03.360 --> 00:45:06.000 And I was like, hey, I'm getting this food, you should too. 00:45:06.239 --> 00:45:11.440 And now it's exploded into 12 um different families. 00:45:11.679 --> 00:45:13.440 Um, so she's amazing. 00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:18.960 There uh it's just awesome to see that the same faces every other week, um including hers. 00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:25.519 A few weeks ago, it was really hot, and I was we'll start here checking in and we'll end like over there. 00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:29.679 And she offered me a ride back to the front, and I was like, oh yes, please. 00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:32.960 AC for one minute while we're outside. 00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.239 And so, you know, you build these relationships with these people. 00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:38.719 I'm sure Kevin could say a lot to that as well. 00:45:38.800 --> 00:45:51.519 Um just being that um consistent, familiar face um that they see every other week means more than um means just as much as the food that we're giving to them. 00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:53.119 Yeah, 100%. 00:45:53.519 --> 00:45:56.559 Um a lot what a lot like what Fred said last week. 00:45:56.719 --> 00:45:58.079 It's people being seen. 00:45:58.239 --> 00:46:00.320 Uh they're not just somebody that comes through to get food. 00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:07.119 They're people that we know, they're people that we built relationships with, people that we talk to who's like, hey, I haven't seen your you know your dad that's usually here in the car with you. 00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:07.679 Where is he at? 00:46:07.840 --> 00:46:09.760 Oh, he's you know, you got this going on, that going on. 00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:14.800 It's just it's being able to build relationships with people that might not otherwise have that connection. 00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:18.719 So the fact that we get to do that is I know it's special to me, it's special to Tomas. 00:46:18.800 --> 00:46:19.920 Uh Kevin talked about it. 00:46:20.079 --> 00:46:27.360 It's something that we all get to do as part of our service, is seeing people uh as God's creation, as our brothers and sisters. 00:46:27.519 --> 00:46:29.440 It's it's a pleasure to be able to get to do that. 00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:34.480 Uh Tomas, are there any next steps that people could take if they are interested in getting involved? 00:46:35.199 --> 00:46:35.760 Yes. 00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:38.880 Um the easiest is always to donate. 00:46:39.039 --> 00:46:58.559 Um when SNAP was being uh cut, uh again, I work for United Way Bay Area, so we have a very uh institutional, high-level uh look of uh who was in need, what was in need, and uh the main thing that we were hearing from local partners and local pantries was that they just needed the money. 00:46:58.800 --> 00:47:07.519 And so that's what we were telling a lot of people donate to United Way, donate to um the food pantry provider in your community. 00:47:07.760 --> 00:47:11.840 Here um it's us, it's Martha's Kitchen, it's Second Harvest. 00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:31.039 Um and uh in in years past, I'd probably say, oh, just donate to them, but through uh awakening and the relationship that Brian has with the school, that the church has with the school, your money is going directly to the student that walks that that's going to walk those halls tomorrow. 00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:40.559 And it's just amazing to see that every month that someone's utilities were paid, someone's rent was paid because of your giving to the giving tree. 00:47:40.880 --> 00:47:42.400 I missed it the first service. 00:47:42.480 --> 00:47:43.519 I forgot what it was called. 00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:46.559 Um so first donate to volunteer. 00:47:46.719 --> 00:47:56.480 Um I know that time is money, and so that's time that you're taking away from your family or whatever it is, but it's worth it when it's in your community. 00:47:57.039 --> 00:48:03.840 Um if you can't swing, I know we meet in the middle of the middle of the afternoon, in the middle of the week. 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:06.800 Um, it's a hard time to swing for most people. 00:48:06.880 --> 00:48:10.079 Um so if you can't talk to us, we'll be at the white tent. 00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:12.480 I'm connected, Hermie's connected. 00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:17.840 We can find some some ways for you to participate wherever um you may feel. 00:48:18.079 --> 00:48:26.880 And even if it's not during the week or uh a consistent thing, um, I challenge you to have it be something that you do once a quarter. 00:48:27.039 --> 00:48:36.480 And you take a vacation day or call in sick, something, and go serve your community, um, find a place that works. 00:48:36.639 --> 00:48:44.480 It's very important to be out there, to see the people that um are in need, to build relationships with them, to be a friendly smile. 00:48:44.639 --> 00:48:58.000 It's really important for us to see that it's gonna it changes your perspective, it changes your values, it realigns them with everything that was just talked about, um realigns your values to to what really matters. 00:48:58.239 --> 00:49:00.400 Um and so that's really important. 00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:06.320 Um donate, volunteer, call in sick, what else? 00:49:07.199 --> 00:49:08.960 I got 40 seconds. 00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:11.679 I think that was it. 00:49:11.760 --> 00:49:13.280 Was there something I mentioned in the first? 00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:14.000 That is perfect. 00:49:14.159 --> 00:49:14.320 Okay. 00:49:14.400 --> 00:49:22.719 Um, yeah, basically, if you guys want to come see us afterwards at the white tent, uh next to the white tent, white tent adjacent, um, we will give you various opportunities that we have. 00:49:22.800 --> 00:49:29.920 We have a couple Saturday opportunities coming up to um serve the low-income uh folks just kitty corner to us, really walking distance. 00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:32.000 Uh I can fill you in on all of those things. 00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:34.719 We don't have time for that now, but please come see us afterwards. 00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:35.679 You guys. 00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:37.280 Thank you for staying with us. 00:49:37.440 --> 00:49:38.719 Thank you for welcoming Hermione. 00:49:38.800 --> 00:49:43.039 Thank you for welcoming us to come up here and give you a little bit about what we do every day. 00:49:43.119 --> 00:49:47.199 Um the band's gonna come back up, they're gonna lead us in a couple more worship songs. 00:49:47.360 --> 00:49:49.199 So please join us and let's worship. 00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:50.400 Thank you, guys. 00:49:51.840 --> 00:49:54.079 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:49:54.239 --> 00:49:58.719 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:49:58.880 --> 00:50:00.960 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:50:01.119 --> 00:50:07.039 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.