OUR STORY 301 E. CAPITOL AVE.
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JEFFERSON CITY, MO
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FBCJC.ORG
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573-634-3603
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NOVEMBER 2015
Thanksgiving meal an expression of inclusion FBCJC annual event offers food, acceptance and friendship to visitors
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ommunity meals have become an important part of the character of First Baptist as a downtown church. This impactful ministry would be impossible without faithful volunteers and the efforts of head cook Fred Mackay. About seven years ago, Mackay noticed an opportunity and wanted to take advantage of it. “I saw First United Methodist had a free community spaghetti dinner and I said, ‘Why can’t we do something like that?’” Mackay said. When Mackay’s question was answered with a “we can,” he set to work preparing a simple, wholesome menu and planning for the first dinner. Only 12 community members dined at FBCJC that first Thursday, but the numbers have steadily grown. Mackay and his team have recently served as many as 108 people. And it’s not just food these visitors receive at the community meal. “The people that come need something. They need friendship, a pat on the back, and [we’ve] gotten to be good friends [with the visitors],” Mackay said. Mackay and his team have a simple, pure philosophy on reaching these visitors. “We don’t preach to them. It’s more or less, come as you are, enjoy a meal, make some friendships and satisfy yourselves,” he said. This same mindset translates to Mackay’s mentality about the Community Thanksgiving Meal. “Even if they can afford their own meal, it’s the idea that they don’t have to sit at home by themselves. We want to show them love,” he said. This concept seems to translate well with visitors, as 312 came to FBCJC last year to dine on Thanksgiving and 332 meals were delivered.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday, November 22, 2015
Begin dropping off your Christmas Shoeboxes for our Lakota friends in South Dakota. We will collect shoe boxes through December 7.
Among them were some of Mackay’s most consistent Thursday night diners. He said the only time you may ever see these returning visitors in a suit and tie is for the Thanksgiving meal. Don Calvert and Steve Whitlock serve guests during a community meal. The meals prepared by Mackay and his team not only feed those that come to FBCJC’s Fellowship Hall, but are also delivered to area firefighters, nurses, police officers, and other community organizations who continue to serve the community on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers make this facet of the ministry and every other one possible. Mackay encouraged congregation members to come serve, help clean up and greet people. Baking pies is also a crucial volunteer role. “[The pie] is a piece of them going with the person that eats it. It’s the love you have to make that pie,” he said. “To us, it’s minor. But to them, it’s a big thing,” Mackay said. Doing these “big things” is close to Mackay’s heart. “Sure, I like to cook the meal, but the most important part is being around the people and saying ‘I care about you enough to say I’ve taken my time to do something for you, and I hope it pleases you,’” he said. Simply put, “I just have a feeling that this is what I’m supposed to do,” Mackay said. The Thanksgiving Community Meal will be November 26 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. The monthly community meals are the first and third Thursdays of each month from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Contact the Church Office if you would like to volunteer for either ministry.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Chrismon donations will be received. Nonperishable food, new unwrapped toys and money will be accepted during the 8:15 and 10:45 am services.