“This is truly life changing!” As a mission team leader, those are the words that you want to hear from travelers as they venture out on a mission trip, many for the first time. And it was no exception when FtH was blessed to take 45 people (18 adults and 27 children!) from Rockpointe Church in Flower Mound, Texas, to Kentucky for a week of ministry. Some of the families flew to Kentucky on March 11, but the majority of them drove two or three days to the tiny, formerly coal-mining town of Lynch. And on Monday morning March 12, they all awoke with excitement to begin their week of sharing the love of Christ.
Please note that Rockpointe Church is not your ordinary, home-of-the-longhorn-steer Texas church. Rockpointe is a Feed the Hunger Packathon church! For over seven years they have been hosting Packathons at their church, packing more than three million meals through the years. This group knows the importance of feeding and caring for hurting children around the world, and they work hard to help those in great need.
During their week in Kentucky, these families worked side-by-side with the local missionaries, supporting their ministry outreaches in this desperate, forgotten coal-mining community. Each day the families were sent out in teams doing a variety of jobs. Some painted an office and guest room, some painted Scripture on the floor of a youth center, and some pumped gas and handed out fresh-baked cookies, praying with those who stopped for gas.
One day a team cleaned out the basement of a church that had been flooded, while another team cleaned out horse stalls for the equestrian ministry. On another day the group cooked FtH Rice and Beans packets and distributed the cooked meals to people in the community. Many were given the opportunity to pray with those who had specific needs.
The one outreach that really touched the group deeply was going into the local school and spending time with the children. During the week, the team was asked to help tutor in the afterschool program, but unfortunately it snowed and school was canceled. However, the principal called and asked if we would still come to the school and pray over the hallways, children’s lockers, classrooms, lunchroom and gymnasium. Wow! What a wonderful opportunity! With great excitement we immediately jumped in our cars and drove to the school. It was a wonderful honor to be able to walk the halls and pray over the school.
After we were finished, the principal called us into her office and asked if we would pray for her. Without hesitation we gathered in her office and down the hall (we all could not fit in her office), praying over her and the call that God has placed on her life to lead and care for these children. It was a wonderful experience. For the next two days we went back to the school to tutor the children and play with them after school. In this particular school of 500 children, 460 qualify for the backpack food program that FtH supports weekly. These children also receive free breakfast and lunch at the school. Over 100 children also receive dinner at the school.
This was an amazing mission team. The group worked hard with tremendous enthusiasm and had a lot of fun, but, most importantly, they touched lives and their lives were touched. With Feed the Hunger, it’s not just a Packathon—it’s going on a mission trip and changing lives. It’s (always) More Than a Meal!
Melinda Staples | Director of Field Ministries
Awesome Melinda. Thanks for sharing. God Bless FTH. Mary Walsh