Lunch on the Lawn Amy Whittington

… Chaplain’s Notes Con’t.

forth he went on to say, “Thank you, thank you for calling me a testimony.”

Bernard would die the next week. I think of him often and how he was one of God’s divine appointments for me. Week after week I had a front row seat to the radical transformation that God’s love can have on one life. I thought of all of the spiritual children that Bernard had given birth to because all he wanted to do was spend every minute with Jesus. I will forever be grateful to God for Bernard’s transforming witness.

Cari

Rev. Cari Willis

yourstoryholder@gmail.com

Lunch on the Lawn

Back in the summer of 2014, I was searching for a new church home. A friend told me about Lunch on the Lawn, a partnership between Johnston County Public Schools and Benson Baptist Church to feed the hungry in our community. They were wanting some teachers to provide a face of familiarity to to the students who came for food, fellowship, and fun.

This is how I came to Benson Baptist Church 6 years ago. I eventually joined the church 2 years later. Over the summers, since 2014, I assisted with and in the summer of 2018 directed Lunch on the Lawn as part of my Supervised Ministry Class at Campbell Divinity School.

Fast forward to 2020, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, how or would Lunch on the Lawn happen? Thanks to the support of the staff, deacons and members of Benson Baptist Church, Lunch on the Lawn did happen this summer.It just looked and felt a little different. For those who had transportation, they drove through, picked up kid meals (prepared by the JCPS child nutrition department) adult meals (prepared by Benson Baptist Church volunteers) and crafts. For those who did not have transportation, we delivered. I can truly say that this was the most unique Lunch on the Lawn experience ever.