Feed My Starving Children

Matthew 25:35-40

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”

40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Recently my church participated in a Feed My Starving Children event. It was hosted at the high school by the NHS.  I was sort of expecting it to be like a church carry in: people show up and find something to do to help out.

It wasn't like that at all. A better way to describe it would be "extremely efficient well-oiled machine." Not to mention "marvelous fun." If you ever get the chance to be involved in a FMSC pack you should definitely do it. 

After you sign in, you watch a video explaining what you'll be doing. They send you off in your groups and everyone has a job. Because it's so well organized each job is specific and the whole operation is very fast-paced.  Our session lasted a little under two hours and the time just flew by. 

My job was to take the packs from the weighers and hold them in the press so the next person could seal them and then hand them off to the packer. I got to know the delightful girl who was sealing the packs and that in itself was a blessing.
They encouraged each group to cheer when they completed a box, My group had fun coming up with creative ways to celebrate whenever we reached our 36-pack quotas, including one "Finding Nemo" seagull imitation (Mine! MINE! minemine!) 

And, wait, there was something else special about FMSC, what was it? Oh, yeah! It provides food to hungry people. Lots of it. 

They work by donation and volunteers. People donate money and time and the result is a highly successful way to feed hungry people all over the world. In our session alone that day we packed enough food to feed over 100 children a meal a day for a year. 

Over 90% of the money they raise goes toward meal production. That means that they depend heavily on word of mouth for marketing. So I'm telling you about it in hopes that you might get involved and let others know, too. 

And one more thing. I left the high school that day feeling deeply blessed to have been a part of such something so meaningful. Could they have accomplished it had I not been there? Absolutely. God doesn't need us to carry out His plans, but He gives us opportunities to glorify His name. 

I'm a firm believer that one of the best ways to get blessed is to serve someone else. I hope I have a chance to work another of these events someday. I hope you do, too!