38th meal served this morning.

Each week, our team gathers for a time of prayer before ministering in the park. Today our gathering place was on the sidewalk in front of the building we believe God has shown us as our potential restaurant. What a privilege to stand in a circle in a public place to pray together! May we never take this for granted.

Once we arrived at the park, we had numerous helpers for unloading the cars. Those who help us consistently wait for our caravan to pull up each week. It is humbling to see them take boxes from team members and carry them up to the gazebo in the park—such an expression of gratitude!

When God called us to feed people, two words kept running through our heads and our conversations as we brainstormed what GK would be: dignity and respect. We knew that this feeding ministry would offer everyone the same choices and the same treatment, no matter their socioeconomic status. The basis for this is that we are all God’s children, created in His image. Today one team member had a conversation that reinforced how important it is for us to treat people with dignity and respect. A young man told the team member that he appreciated that we “treated them differently.” He shared that the night before he had eaten at a shelter in town. The volunteer serving the food placed the dessert in the middle of the gravy on the plate. He told our team member that the woman didn’t even look at him when she handed him the plate. The young man stressed that he appreciated the food and didn’t want to complain. But that’s why he wanted us to know that we treat those we serve differently. We serve food that we would want to eat in the way we would want to eat it. We also make a point to greet those who come for breakfast. This young man’s words offered us encouragement and will spur us on to continue ministering in the park through the love of Christ.

It was a blessing to minister to the precious people in the park! God blessed our time with in-depth conversation and encouragement to persevere in our ministry. Since spring, we have had more and more people join us for breakfast and today was no exception. We had enough food to go around plus some for seconds. Praise the Lord for His provision! Thank you for your continued prayers for and support of Grace’s Kitchen.