The holiday season often whirls by in a frenzy of family gatherings, attempts to steer clear of heated political debates at the dinner table, and the relentless demands of daily life. It can be easy to lose sight of the true essence of Thanksgiving and Christmas: a time for reflection on God’s blessings and gratitude. Fortunately, amidst the holiday chaos, a North Carolina church is setting a remarkable example by reaching out to those in need.
Enter the Lawndale Baptist Church of Greensboro, North Carolina, a beacon of hope in their community. Each year, in the spirit of Jesus’ miracle of feeding the five thousand, this church dedicates itself to providing Thanksgiving meals to a thousand local families who are facing tough times. Their mission begins at the break of dawn, starting at 6:30 am, as they distribute these meals to those who drive through.
Announcing this heartwarming initiative on their Facebook page, the church declared, “Feeding the 5000 || November 21, 6:30 am. Just as Jesus fed the hungry as He was ministering to them, we are reaching out to the hungry in our community. This is a drive-through-only event. We will give a turkey to the first 1,000 families (limit 1 per family). Each bag will include a frozen turkey, a $25 Food Lion gift card for groceries, and literature. Please do not arrive before 6:00 am. Lawndale members interested in serving, contact Jimmy Jackson.”
Pastor Jimmy Jackson, the church’s spiritual leader, shared his thoughts on the event with the Christian Post. He explained how the inspiration for this remarkable act of kindness came from the teachings of Jesus: “Jesus, during His early ministry, fed over 5000 at a teaching he did as told in Matthew 14:13-21. As Christians, we believe that we are to meet the needs of our community and be good neighbors, just as Jesus did and taught.”
Matthew 14:13-21, the passage in question, recounts the miracle where Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a multitude. It exemplifies compassion and the power of sharing.
Pastor Jackson went on to emphasize that this annual event is just one of the many ways their church seeks to support the local community. He said, “One of the ways we do this is to provide this event each year. We also maintain a Shepherd’s Shelf food pantry open every week.”
Their involvement in the community isn’t just about material assistance; it’s about spreading the love and teachings of Christ. Pastor Jackson underlined this, saying, “The most important message we want our community to take away from this event is that Jesus loves them more than they can imagine.”
He continued, “We organize this event every year in the name of Christ and for His glory. We also want our community to know that we, Lawndale Baptist, are here for them and love them deeply. When our community sees us modeling Christ’s love, then Christ gets all the glory.”
Lawndale Baptist Church’s dedication to serving their community during the holiday season reflects the true spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas. In a world often divided by politics and strife, their selfless act reminds us all of the power of compassion and the importance of coming together to support those in need.
As we approach this holiday season, let the story of Lawndale Baptist Church inspire us to look beyond the chaos and remember the true reason for the season: spreading love, kindness, and goodwill to all, just as Jesus did more than two thousand years ago.
