The Hungry Christian

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elcome to The Hungry Christian!

I have a desire to lead people to Christ, but I also feel as though I’m terribly inadequate at opening a conversation about salvation with the world. I’m not an eloquent speaker, and I get tripped up on my own tongue easily, especially with strangers. So how can I, of all people, minister to the lost?

Well, it just so happens there is one thing I can do, and it is the very thing Jesus did. He fed people. He met them where they were, provided for their physical need, and didn’t let them leave his presence without showing them God’s truth, and mercy. He did it much of it with wine, bread, and fish. So why can’t I do it with a cupcakes, cookies, or a casserole?

More importantly, why can’t any of us who love to cook and bake?

A “hungry” Christian is a follower of Christ, who hungers to serve him, hungers to know him better, and hungers to bring light to this dark world. The publication has one goal: to equip like-minded Christians with ideas on how they can have one-on-one conversations with the lost, simply by providing the basic need of food, while showing kindness and the love of Christ.

Seems simple enough.

Does that mean that everyone you give a baked good to is going to immediately accept Christ? No. But when they are struggling to find the good in humanity, they may remember that you cared they were hungry that day. Maybe they were even praying to God for the first time, asking him to send them a sign that He even cared, and you show up with something to provide for their basic need.

Whether we like it or not, we are all called to share the Gospel.

And ministering to others doesn’t mean standing on a platform and preaching the word for 60 minutes on Sunday morning. Jesus made it clear in the parable of the talents that each of us has something to offer. There are those who can sing like the angels, there are those who can minister to the sick, those who have a gift for ministering to children, and those who aren’t afraid to leave everything they know to minister to someone on a foreign soil. Those of us who can cook and bake have a ministry too, and our ministry can bridge all gaps, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or language.

The next few pages will hopefully inspire you to try new things, and also remind you that there are people out there shining their light in the dark places. Hopefully you will be motivated to help those who are in the fields making a difference already, or ignite a passion within you to meet a need in your community. So tie on your apron, pre-heat the oven, and put on your thinking caps, because it is time to meet some needs!

Published quarterly July-Sept.

Oct.-Dec. Jan-March April-June Have a story idea or testimony to share?

Contact us at: thehungrychristianmagazine@gmail.com

Writer/Publisher Kelly Hagy Art Director Angela Schade Henry Copy Editor Melissa Jarvis Contributing Photographer Roxsand Lecroy

Copyright 2019 by The Hungry Christian, Paducah, Kentucky, All rights reserved.

Reprint permission must be granted in writing.

Berry Good

DESSERTS

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he arrival of summer means the arrival of popular seasonal fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and cherries. Though they are excellent when eaten in their raw form, they have also become the star ingredient in many American dessert classics. Local groceries and farmers’ markets are usually teeming with fresh berries this time of the year, and if you aren’t comfortable using fresh fruits, you can usually find frozen or canned options year round.

Berries make a perfect addition to muffins, cakes, scones, and fruit pies, and there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting berries to be used in baking.

According to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, “blueberries should be firm, dry, plump and smooth-skinned, with a silvery surface bloom and no leaves or stems.” Mature blueberries come in a variety of sizes, so the key thing to look for is a deep purple-blue or blue-black color. Blueberries won’t ripen once they are picked, but if the color is a deep reddish-blue you can use them in cooking even though it is underripe. If you see areas of light or pale green, just discard the berry.

Like blueberries, strawberries also cease to ripen after they are harvested. According to the California Strawberry Commission, you should choose strawberries that “have a bright red color, a natural shine and fresh looking green caps.” They also say the berries should always be refrigerated, and rinsed under cool water and blotted dry before use.

The North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association recommends choosing raspberries and blackberries “that are slightly soft, plump, and deep in color.” They also say a blackberry should be a deep color and a dull black for the sweetest flavor. Just like blueberries

and strawberries, raspberries will not ripen once they are picked. Raspberries and blackberries are fragile in nature, so they should be handled carefully and kept in shallow containers. Piling them in a bowl that is too deep will crush the delicate berry.

Cherries come in many different varieties ranging from very sweet to very tart, and sour cherries are smaller than sweet cherries. According to the Ohio State University Extension office, “cherries are highly perishable and should be refrigerated as soon as possible,” and they say that tart cherries are more perishable than sweeter ones. In either variety, the berry should be “firm, plump, bright, and glossy with a full red or purple color.” The color will depend on the variety.

With all berries, it is recommended that you never rinse or wash the berries until you are ready to use them. If they are rinsed prior to use, the excess moisture will promote mold growth, increasing your chances of having ruined produce. Berries also have a short shelf life, so they should be used within a few days of purchase.

The process is the same for freezing blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries; the

only exception is that cherries must be stemmed and pitted first. Spread the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer until frozen. Then transfer the frozen berries into resealable plastic bags, and be sure to write the date you processed them on the bag. When you are ready to use them, measure out the quantity needed, and give them a quick rinse and pat dry.

Strawberries are a bit different. It is best to wash and dry them first before freezing, and remove the caps and hull. Then place the whole berries in a single layer on a baking sheet, and follow the same process as the other berries. Strawberries may also be frozen sliced or quartered.

There is no shortage of berry recipes available, and most recipes can be altered to use whatever berry you enjoy the most or have handy.

Opportunities such as Vacation Bible School, weddings and baby showers, picnics, and family barbecues are great excuses to sample summer

fruits, as well as experiment with using them in all sorts of baking applications.

At one time or another, we’ve all tried to bake a special treat for a loved one, only to have something go horribly wrong in the oven. And unlike cooking, there is usually nothing you can do to salvage it once it has been baked. So always practice a recipe well in advance of the day you intend to gift it. Nothing is more frustrating than having a bad bake on the very day you need it to be perfect!

The following recipes were selected because they have short ingredient lists and yield a product that is portable, thus making them ideal gifts for neighbors, family, and friends. Consider packaging muffins, scones or cookies individually in cellophane bags tied with a ribbon, with a Bible verse attached. Muffins and scones also look attractive piled high in a nice basket covered with a colorful tea towel. Let your imagination run wild!

Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies 2 sticks softened butter (unsalted) 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon rum extract 2 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups old fashioned oats 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips 3/4 cup pitted & chopped fresh cherries (or dried cherries) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda, and set aside. In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs one at a time, beating in thoroughly after each addition. Beat in salt and extracts. Then gently stir in flour until incorporated (don’t over mix), then add oatmeal until combined. Then fold in chocolate chips and cherries. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheet and bake 10-13 minutes until just golden. Allow to cool slightly on pan before removing them to cooling rack.

Blueberry Muffins 2 cups self-rising flour, divided 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, room temperature 1/2 cup buttermilk 1-1/4 cups blueberries 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, and line a muffin tin with baking cups or grease well. In a large bowl, add the sug-

ar and butter and cream together until fluffy. Then add one egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Then mix in vanilla. Add one cup of flour and 1/4 cup of buttermilk and mix until all the flour is wet, then add the rest of the flour and buttermilk. Do not over mix; you just want no visible dry flour. Then gently fold in blueberries. Evenly distribute batter among the muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until muffins have a golden color. Remove from oven and allow to cool for just a moment before transferring them to a wire cooling rack.

Black & Blueberry Buckle 1-3/4 cups self rising flour 1/2 stick of unsalted butter (softened) 1 cup sugar 1 large egg (room temperature) 1/2 cup buttermilk 3/4 cup blueberries 3/4 cup blackberries 1 tsp. vanilla Topping: 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp. butter, cold 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/3 cup sugar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and generously grease a 9 inch baking pan, or an 11 x 7 pan.

Topping: In a small bowl whisk together the dry ingredients for the topping and then cut in the cold butter using a fork or two knives until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs, then set aside.

Batter: In a large bowl beat the softened butter, sugar, and egg until it becomes fluffy. Then beat in the butter milk. Add the flour and mix just until combined and smooth. Then gently fold

in the berries. (Don’t over mix!)

Spread the batter into the pan and sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until golden and toothpick comes out clean.

Strawberry Scones 2 -1/3 cups self rising flour 1 stick of unsalted butter (frozen) 1 Tbsp. sugar 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup diced strawberries Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, line an 11x13 baking sheet with parchment paper, or grease with cooking spray or butter. In a large bowl whisk together the sugar and flour. Take a box grater and shred in large shreds of the frozen butter into the flour. Toss the shavings into the flour until the butter is coated and mixed resembles course crumbs (don’t over work the butter, as you want the pieces to stay nice and cold). Add the strawberry pieces and toss again until all the pieces are coated with flour. Then gradually add in buttermilk and mix until a soft dough forms. (You may need more or less than the one cup.). Knead by hand until the strawberry pieces are evenly distributed, then remove dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into a circle roughly 3/4 inch thick. Cut the circle into eight pieces, remove each triangle and place on the parchment paper roughly 1” apart. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Topping additions 1: Before placing in the oven, brush the top with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar for a crunch top.

Topping additions 2: Before placing in over brush the triangles with heavy cream.

Allow to cool slightly and drizzle with an icing made with powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.

Victoria Sponge (American) 1 package of yellow cake mix 1 stick softened unsalted butter Raspberry jam 1/4 cup powdered sugar Fresh Raspberries (optional) This British classic is delicious when prepared in the traditional manner (i.e. from scratch measuring the ingredients by weight), but this quick Americanized version is pretty tasty too, and much less intimidating to make.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and generously grease two 9 inch cake pans or generously grease two cupcake tins.

Prepare cake mix to package directions substituting butter for the oil. Bake 25-30 minutes if using round cake pans, or 12-15 minutes in cupcake tin; with either one the cakes are done when a toothpick comes out clean.

Allow the cakes to cool slightly in pans before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Cake pans: Place one cooled cake on a cake stand or carrier and top with the raspberry jam, then place second cake on top. Dust with powdered sugar.

Cup cake tin: Slice each cupcake in half horizontally, spread on jam, and reassemble. Dust with powdered sugar.

Optional: Place fresh raspberries over the jam before adding the top cake layer.

You could also make fresh whipped cream and spread over the jam layer.

Fruit Cobbler

Jam Biscuits

1 cup self rising flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup milk 1 stick of butter 1/2 to 1 quart berries of your choice (can stick with one kind, or mix varieties)

2 cups baking mix 2/3 cup of milk Any variety of jam 12 to 24 fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the butter in a 9x5 loaf pan, and place the pan in the oven while it preheats.

After the oven has preheated and butter has melted, in a separate medium bowl, mix flour, sugar and milk just until no dry flour is visible. Remove the loaf pan from the oven and pour in the batter, then pour the fruit over the top. Place it back into the oven (set it on a baking sheet to catch over flow) and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown and batter is set.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper cups or grease really well. Combine the baking mix and milk just until moistened. Place a small amount of the batter (approximately a tablespoon) in the bottom of each liner and top with 1/2 teaspoon of jam and 1 to 2 blueberries. Then divide the remaining batter up among the 12 cups, trying to completely cover the fruit. Bake for 1315 minutes, or until light golden in color.

These are best served warm. Store in an air tight container.

Bless-N-Basket

A love for God and community leads Alabama couple to food ministry

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in days of the Mitchells deciding they were going randy and Tony Mitchell knew the Lord was leading them to do something for to do a food ministry, they were contacted about the prospect of starting a food pantry by someone their community in Lincoln, Ala., but it took them a full year to understand where they were being who had no idea of the Mitchells’ decision. The Mitchells jumped at the chance to help. led. And once they decided to take a leap of faith, “So it started out in August of 2018. My husit wasn’t long before their call to action resulted in band and I would purchase the food in bulk. I creblessings they could have never imagined. ated an event on Facebook, invited people and In 2017 the Mitchells started ministry school, told them what we were going to be doing, and and Brandy said it was then that the Lord began dealing with them about bringing people back to that we were going to share a devotion,” said Branthe heart of community. Childhood memories of dy. “Because one of the things the Lord had been dealing with me on was that there are a lot of peohow the community would come together to help ple who won’t come to church, but they will come families when someone passed away, or were struggling financially, led the Mitchells to think of to someone’s home and that might be the only Jesus they get to see. ways in which they could take those memories, “The first night we started out, we had 15 and that sense of community, and adapt it into a people. We probably gave out 20 boxes, because ministry. those attending knew people who couldn’t come,

By July 2018, Brandy said, they knew God was leading them to do something involving food, and or maybe who were homebound,” she said. “I kid they made plans to invite a group of women over you not, within three months it outgrew our house. to their home and create a theme night that would We had a small storefront at the time, because my include ingredient-specific items. The first idea husband does cabinets and countertops. So we decided to move it to our was for a taco theme, in business, and the first which participants would time we held it at our bring ingredients for tabusiness, we had right at cos, place the items in 100 families come.” a basket, and then draw That level of particnames for the basket. ipation would continue The winner would then to grow for Bless-N-Baseither take the basket ket over the next several home or bless somemonths. The gatherings one else with it, and the would take place once a ministry name was born: month, on the third SatBless-N-Basket. urday of each month, The Mitchells’ friends and anyone with a need and family fully supportwould be invited to ated the idea, and they tend. helped share the news “One of the things of the first event through The Mitchell family: (pictured from left to right) Preston, Hannah, that sets us apart from Facebook posts. With- Ava, Brandy, and Tony.

other food banks is that we do not request proof of income,” said Brandy, “and we do not request residence. The only thing we say is if you have a need, or you know of a need, you come.

“People would call and say, ‘My husband just lost his job, what do I need to bring you to show that?’ and we were able to say ‘nothing,’ because that’s how the Lord told us to do this. He said come as you are. And we’ve had people question that, and say ‘well, what if they really aren’t in need?’

Well, that is not for us to know. We judge men by their appearance, but God judges the heart, and he told us to leave that in his hands.”

Lincoln is a community with roughly 6,500 residents, and although the county has a government assistance program, as with all government programs, residents are required to prove they are eligible to receive assistance. The ministry of BlessN-Basket has made it possible for people who are struggling but do not qualify for assistance proThe Bless-N-Basket is held on the third Saturday of the month at New Hope Ministries in Oxford, Ala. Food is distributed to anyone with a need, and proof of hardship is not required.

grams, or individuals in any number of situations, to have an avenue of help.

Because of the success of the first several Bless-N-Basket events, it wasn’t long before the Mitchells outgrew the storefront, so they starting praying for a new option. The Mitchells were also searching for a new church, and those two events would reveal more of God’s plan.

“The Lord connected us with New Hope Ministries, who had just moved from Heflin, Ala., to Oxford, Ala., which is about 25-30 minutes closer to us,” Brandy said. “The pastor, Vicky Davis, came to us to see what we were doing. She said, ‘The Lord told me to not try to reinvent the wheel.’ She said they had been looking for a food ministry at their church, but no one there had a vision for that.

She said ‘I believe you all have a vision and I’d like for you all to pray.’ Well, at the same time we were praying for a bigger place to have the Bless-NBasket, and in January [2019] is when we moved to the New Hope Facility.

“When we started we were averaging 125150 families. And now we are not even a year in and we’re averaging over 200 families. When you

break it down it is between 500-600 individuals. It has been a God thing,” said Brandy. “We had people speak over us one time, and they said ‘I just see the Lord giving you regions.’ And we didn’t know what that would look like or what that would mean, but there have been people drive an hour or an hour and a half,to be a part of our food distribution on the third Saturday of every month.”

Tony solicited local grocery stores for help, and currently nine stores donate boxes and surplus food either weekly or every other week. Local farmers also donate produce that they don’t want to see go to waste. The Mitchells partnered with Servants of Jesus, a local homeless ministry, to help them gain access to a food distribution center in Atlanta, Ga., and the Mitchells travel twice a month to collect the food. Although there are other food distribution networks available closer to Lincoln, Brandy said that if they use them it will limit who they can help, because the networks also require proof of income and residency. Although the center in Atlanta is farther away, it has the same goals as the Mitchells in helping people regardless of circumstances.

The work that goes into preparing Bless-NBasket is enormous. Every penny donated goes directly to the purchase of the food, and it takes the Mitchells, their extended family, and volunteers weeks to prepare for each event. Once the food arrives at the church, items are separated into boxes with each box providing for a family of four. Typically, each box will contain cereal, granola, beans, rice, two types of canned vegetables, soups, drinks, chips, and oatmeal. Bread and milk are also purchased to distribute, and baby food is available. Brandy estimated that each box could last up to a week and a half.

“We don’t do a drive through ministry,” she added. “They come in and they register and we share the word. The scripture that God gave my husband and [me] was Matthew 4:4, ‘Man can not live by

bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ And if you don’t share Jesus with them, then they don’t know. So we began sharing Jesus, and since then—and because we moved to New Hope—it has made it so much easier to share the word with them. We’ve had people get saved, we’ve had people get healed.”

Brandy said when the ministry started, she had a vision of holding a loaf of bread in one hand, the Bible in the other, and could hear herself saying “I can give you this loaf of bread, and within a week you will be hungry again, because the bread is gone. But I can give you this bread, the bread of life, that never goes out, never grows stale, never grows dry, and it keeps on giving.”

“And that is what we want to do,” she said. “We want to share the love of Jesus Christ. God is not a mean God; he loves people. Yeah, he wants us to repent and turn from our sins, but for too long people have preached fire and brimstone to the point that people have this wrong view of who God really is.

“You know, when people came to Jesus, they never left feeling like they were less. They felt encouraged. That is what we want to do. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, so when people come in contact with us they feel the love of God,” said Brandy. “The Bible talks about being salt. If you are making a pie, all pie dishes call for a dash of salt. And the reason for that is because it enhances the taste. You can have a pie without salt, but it will not be as good, or as sweet as it could be without that salt. That is what God wants to us to be. He wants us to be love, but don’t forget the salt, that truth. Don’t forget to share with them that we all have a choice.

“At the start it was my husband and I who were buying the food. Now we have other people who are sowing into it, and it has brought people from everywhere, but it has also brought people from other churches together to volunteer. It is all for

seeing people fall in love with Jesus,” she said.

The Mitchells continue to look for ways to help the ministry of Bless-N-Basket grow, and one recent idea helped them see a whole new way to reach people and break down perceived barriers in the community.

“Two months ago we gave out 176 boxes, and we had 24 left over, and we didn’t want the boxes to just sit there, so we and two others in our ministry went out into the community. We went to this trailer park, and started knocking on doors and telling them who we were and what we were doing,” said Brandy. “I didn’t know at the time that it was a Hispanic community. My husband and I went into this one home, and they were so welcoming. They said they would like a box of food, so we gave it to them, and I left the house to go to the next trailer.”

It was several minutes before Brandy realized Tony had not followed behind her, and she said she couldn’t find her husband for the longest time.

She then spotted him coming out of the house they had been in together and he was holding a to-go plate.

“The woman had made tamales and said ‘Because you blessed us, we want to bless you,’ and she would not let him walk out of that house until she gave him homemade tamales. And they were delicious!

“We love people and it is because of God. It

doesn’t matter how much money people have or how little. They are all the same. And when people come that is what we want them to feel,” said Brandy. “You can be a rich man today and a beggar tomorrow, especially in the society we live in. Stock market could drop, you lose your job, get laid off, and then you’re that family that is in need. And we don’t want you to feel like that’s something you have to be ashamed of, because it is not.”

The Mitchells, along with Bless-N-Basket supporters, are praying for a warehouse, or even a storefront, so that they will have a place to store larger quantities of food and be able to distribute on more than just one day per month.

“Right now, we give out all our food on the third Saturday of the month. And we’ll have people call us all during the month needing food, and it is heartbreaking to have to tell them that we don’t have any,” said Brandy. “The need never stops.

Single mamas, grandparents taking care of babies, etc. We are praying for sponsorships and people that want to partner with us to not just do this in Alabama, but in other states and other areas.”

If you have a desire to help the ministry of Bless-N-Basket, or would like to contact the ministry and see how you can start a similar ministry in your community, contact the Mitchells at 256676-8417, or through the Mitchells’ Facebook pages, Adoration Ministry and Bless-N-Basket.

Let’s Ride!

All photos courtesy of Urban Bicycle Ministries

Urban Bicycle Ministries marks seven year commitment to feeding homeless in Memphis

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olunteers with the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry of Memphis have made sure homeless members of their community have had something to eat every Wednesday night for the last seven years. No matter what the weather conditions are or how many volunteers show up to ride, backpacks of food are filled, helmets are on, and wheels are to the ground.

The ministry began in 2012 with the efforts of Tommy Clark, who was a student at Memphis Theological Seminary. Clark had a desire to be of service to others, but wasn’t quite sure what that service would look like.

“Bicycles were his life besides his passion for ministry and his passion for people,” said UBFM Director Lyle Udell. “The night of July 18, 2012, he was at home thinking ‘How can I combine these passions?’ So he made a dozen burritos on his stove top and then put them in his messenger bag and rode about 10 miles into downtown Memphis and looked for people who looked like they might need a meal, and more importantly looked like they might need a friend.

“He got rid of all his burritos really quick, and the way he describes it is that he rode home afterwards and it was such a spiritual experience for him that he just sat on his couch and cried. It was much deeper than the food. The food was just the vehicle by which you could make that human connection.

“So the next day he told some friends at work about it and his experience and they said ‘We want to do that!’ So the next Wednesday there were two or three people who went out. And then the next Wednesday there were a few more,” he continued.

“From that day almost seven years ago, there has never been a week that has been missed.”

Udell came to the ministry in 2014 after reading about it in the local paper. He said something about it pulled at his heart, and after his first ride he had a similar experience to Clark.

“I just got home and thought, ‘My goodness, I just can’t ever complain about anything again,” he said. “You are meeting people on the streets who have absolutely nothing. And these are people who get walked by all day long by people who avoid eye contact, people who will cross the street so as not to have to interact with them.

“On my first ride we went places that I would have never shown my face, and people would just come out from under overpasses and just hug on you,” said Udell. “It changed my whole perspective, and it made me realize that I’ve sat in church all these years, and I had subconsciously set aside a whole group of people just because of their socioeconomic condition.

“Introspectively, I realized that I had never really thought of them as equals,” he continued.

“Whether they were black or white, they were just homeless people sleeping on a bench. ‘Why didn’t they just get a job?’ Then I got out and started talking to them, and then I learned about them, learned their story.”

Udell said what he loved about the ministry most was that it actively sought these people out.

People who had effectively been thrown away by society now know that they have a group of people they can count on to come find them.

In 2014, Urban Bicycle Food Ministry expanded its outreach and added a Saturday morning ride. Udell said that the commitment to ride regardless of the conditions helps to demonstrate through action that there are people who love them enough, and that they matter enough, that there’s not going to be a scheduled day where they won’t be visited.

since then, even more bicycle ministries have been born.

“We had a guy in Des Moines, Iowa, who saw our Facebook page, and he has replicated it there every single week without fail,” said Udell. “One of his riders moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and she has replicated it there. And one of our riders moved to Chicago and he does it every Wednesday night in the heart of Chicago. I had a guy contact me from Wichita Falls, Texas, and asked ‘Can we start doing this and use this name?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely!’

The last I heard they’re doing it every other Saturday morning in that city. Our vision is to see it

Clark eventually graduated from seminary and accepted a pastorate in Columbia, Tenn., and he asked Udell to take over operations in Memphis.

But the move to Middle Tennessee didn’t mean the end of the bicycle ministry for Clark. Instead, he and a group of friends started visiting Nashville every Monday night to continue the UBFM. And

replicated across the country, and there is no reason it can’t.”

Udell added that the people assisted by UBFM in downtown Memphis are always on the lookout for riders, know where to be, and know a rider will find them. Volunteers try to make every effort to find regulars as well as reach new people, and

sometimes have to traverse areas of the city where safety conditions are not the best.

“About a year ago I spent a night out on the streets with some of my homeless friends, just because I knew I still didn’t really understand.

And now I understand that yeah, you might see a guy sleeping on a park bench in the middle of the day.

It might not be because he is lazy, it might be because he didn’t get a wink of sleep. He was worried about whether or not he was going to get attacked.

“I’ve had people show me stab wounds and gunshot wounds, and show me their back pocket where it got sliced open in the middle of the night and someone stole their wallet. So you can’t get a good night’s sleep.

“Being homeless, I’ve learned, is hard work.

Finding all the places that offer food in the city, and walking to get there … it has just given me a whole new perspective. Very eye opening. Very convicting.”

While it is the UBFM riders’ intention to show people the love of Christ, Udell said he has found that the people they minister to tend to be the ones showing the true nature of God. “A lot of them have a far deeper walk with Christ than I ever had, because they have nothing else,” said Udell. “When we pray before we go out I try to remember to include in the prayer a request that God teach us through this and remind us what it is like to have nothing else but him. To think about what it is like to not have a home to go back to after the ride, to not have a bank account, to have simply what people give you and rely on him.

“We’ve had countless situations where we pray with people and they get renewed, and we get re-

newed. It is such a blessing,” Udell continued. “I watch new riders and old riders, and we get back so much more. It is the most powerful thing. You are on the front lines of ministry; you are hugging on people that are dirty and smelly, but the dirtier and smellier I am when I get home, the happier I am. You feel like you’ve made contact when it was needed most.”

Udell refers to the people that UBFM serves as “friends.” In addition to providing food and prayer, UBFM also tries to help to connect people with potential employers and housing opportunities.

Udell explained that many of their friends are unfortunately not ready to be employed because of severe addiction problems or other problems.

“I would say other than addiction, mental illness is one of the reasons people are on the streets,” he said. “It could be as simple as someone who just doesn’t have the capabilities to work a job on their own without some help. And if you are in that situation and you don’t have family—sadly that’s why some of our friends are out there. In a huge number of cases there are people out there through no fault of their own. Whether it is mental illness, catastrophic health issue that has devastated their bank account, etc., in the United States in 2019 it

is a shame that those people are out there.”

There are success stories from the streets, however, and Udell told the story of an artist named Michael who was also a recovering addict.

“Every week he was so proud to show us his latest drawings, and one of us would buy something from him. And you could tell he had just been downtrodden his whole life,” said Udell. “We would compliment him on his work and it was just hard for him to even believe a compliment.

“He would routinely tell us ‘Y’all give me hope.’

“Michael got a job, he’s got a place now, and every once in a while, he will show when we are getting ready for the ride, and just hug on us, and thank us for believing in him.

“And that’s the thing that resonates with me

about the ministry. We’re not solving the problem of homelessness. Giving someone a burrito is great, but it is gone in a few minutes. But over and over again, the message I love to hear is things like that. You hear a lot ‘You give me hope,’ or ‘Thank you for believing in me,’ and I think that if you are on the streets, and have nowhere to go and nothing to look forward to, your self esteem is just on the floor. It’s hard to feel proud of yourself when you’re sleeping in an alley. And what we do is offer that first spark of hope that helps people to believe in themselves. And we’ve seen it happen.

“One of the most impactful things is when you ride up on someone and they clearly have nothing, and you ask them ‘Hey, how are you today?’ and they say ‘I’m blessed.’ It sets me back every time.

Me and my friends will complain over a beer about whatever, and here these people are focusing on the positives.”

The number of UBFM riders fluctuates based on various factors, but they average 5-10 consistent volunteers each ride. Udell explained that there are various organizations who match volunteers to programs, and through those efforts UBFM has had more than 400 people volunteer to ride with them at various times this year alone.

“A while back I started going to garage sales and looking on Facebook Marketplace looking for used bikes,” said Udell, “and over the course of time we’ve gotten a fleet of almost 40 bikes that people can use. It greatly assists us with groups coming in from out of town so that they don’t have to bring a bike or helmet; we can supply those.”

In addition to riders, UBFM also has a dedicated staff of kitchen volunteers. When the ministry started, Clark was preparing the food from his house, but at some point First United Methodist Church in Memphis heard about the ministry and offered the use of their kitchen. Soon after, they offered the use of a portion of the building they owned next to the church. This extra space is now where UBFM stores donated items.

Kitchen volunteers put together fresh made burritos (consisting of ground beef, beans, cheese, and rice), and on Saturday mornings breakfast burritos are distributed (sausage, eggs, cheese, and rice). Each burrito is individually wrapped in foil, and the riders carry them in backpacks. Udell said other organizations also help out with food donations.

“There is a vending machine company that donates chips, cookies and snacks. In the winter we have clothing items like coats, hat, scarves, and blankets when we get them. Some of us pull a little bicycle trailer and we load those down with water, and any other donated beverages we get.

On Friday night I’ll purchase fruit to have ready for Saturday morning.”

Each burrito costs roughly 30 cents to make, and on average 130 are made every Saturday morning, and 200-250 on any given Wednesday night. Udell said they always distribute every item, and there have been occasions where they have run out of food before they could reach everyone.

“We do know that if it is pouring down rain, we are probably going to fewer people and so we might make a few less,” he said. “Likewise, in the summer months when it is nice out we might run across more people, so we might try to prepare some more. It is tough to estimate it, but it always seems to work out pretty well. We usually have just about the right number.”

Udell advises those thinking of going into this type of ministry to consider the commitments involved before starting.

“The main thing I tell people is—even if you have to start slow—if you can be consistent, that is one of the real keys. People in the streets are always interested in something they can count on.

I’ve had guys tell me ‘Well, I woke up this morning and it was Wednesday so I knew I’d eat today.’ So consistency is what I’d stress to people. You have a set time, be available in any kind of weather, and give something that is healthy.”

Volunteers and donations are essential to the operations of UBFM, and the organization holds an annual birthday/anniversary party consisting of a silent auction to help raise funds for the year.

They also have community supporters who make monthly monetary donations.

If you would like to help be a part of what Urban Bicycle Food Ministry is doing, visit their website at ubfm.net, where you can find contact information as well as information on how you can donate. You can also find information on how you can start your own chapter of UBFM.

Photographed by Bryce Alan Flurie

CURE brings new aspect of healing through food

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URE is an international non-profit organization that operates charitable hospitals and programs in 26 countries, and while its mission is to bring healing to the sick, it also aims to minister to the spiritual health of individuals by showing God’s love.

More than 205,400 procedures treating clubfoot, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, cleft palate, and an array of other ailments, have been performed

by CURE since its founding in 1996. The organization’s website says “CURE’s work is not limited to physical health. We are just as focused on the spiritual health of the children we serve. Often, they are told their condition is due to a curse. Through

healing, we get to show them the God who hasn’t cursed them, the God who loves them, dearly.”

Because of CURE’s intervention in the lives of these families, not only have they been able to bring healing and prevent deaths in these communities, they have also been able to witness more than 190,100 expressions of faith in Jesus Christ.

It is hard to imagine that someone receiving medical care could be going hungry in a hospital room, but there are facilities in parts of the world that cannot provide meals as well as medical care, and patients must rely on family members to bring them something to eat while they are being treated. But CURE strives to change that practice, and

it is through food that a whole new aspect of healing is introduced.

The following is a firsthand account of Bryce Alan Flurie, written while he was serving as CURE’s mulitmedia producer in 2014: “As CURE’s multimedia producer, most of my time is spent with a camera in my hands. It is one of my greatest joys.

“When I’m home, most of my time is spent with a spatula in my hand, stirring something in one of my vintage cast iron skillets. I love sharing our patients’ stories with people as much as I love sharing homemade food with my friends and family around the kitchen table in our farmhouse.

“Unfortunately, some of the children we serve don’t get to experience that joy. To be a kid with a disability in the underserved world is a challenge, and not just a physical one. These kids also face social challenges. Even at meals with their own families, they often don’t get a seat at the table and sometimes only get the scraps of food leftover from the family dinner, all because of the stigma of being disabled.

“We needed to set up a photo that depicted this issue, so our spiritual director at the time asked a family whose son had been treated at a CURE hospital if they would be willing to help us.

(And just for the record, they never treated their

son poorly.) They agreed and showed us incredible hospitality, but as much as I love to cook and talk about cooking, once we got there I was more concerned with placing their son Pedro in the best light in the house than with what his mom was making for dinner.

“We found out later it was the best meal they’d had in years. It was like a big Christmas dinner in the barrio with meat, rice, and a green salad. What this mom did with such a small kitchen was rather impressive. And she did it with joy. She knew how to cook and showed her kids love and care through food.

“And the kitchen staff at our hospitals love feeding people.

“In the U.S., we usually think of hospital food as something undesirable, but in most hospitals in the developing world, the family is responsible for bringing food for the patient. If your family doesn’t bring food, you go hungry. That doesn’t happen at CURE hospitals. Patients and their guardians have meals prepared for them by our incredible kitchen staff.

“Many of our kids come in malnourished and need some good, healthy food to prepare their bodies for surgery. Just like the care they receive from the medical and spiritual departments, feeding patients is one more way we show love to the kids and families we serve.

“Our hospitals provide emotional, physical, and spiritual healing, and sometimes the best way to start the healing process is by giving kids a plate filled with food and a seat at the table.”

If you would like to financially help support the work of CURE, visit www.cure.org/give, or if you would like to become a prayer partner visit www.cure.org/pray and sign up for a prayer guide.

Sharing the GOSPEL OF CHRIST

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haring your faith can be hard, especially in the emotionally charged culture we live in today. But sharing your faith doesn’t have to be something that is scary, and telling others about Jesus is something He specifically instructed us to do as a sign of our faith: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20 King James) Global Outreach Day is held on the first Saturday in May, and organizers have put together a plan of action to help you share your faith:

• First of all, you need to get someone’s attention. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus asked her, “Will you give me a drink?”

(John 4:7). Jesus did not begin with a sermon, but rather with an everyday topic. The water was a point of contact with the woman.

• Start your conversation with a “Hello.” Smile at the person and be friendly. Get the person’s attention, listen carefully, and find a shared interest.

• Start your conversation with something about everyday life.

• Ask a good question, like “have you ever heard that God loves you?” To communicate effectively, you have to gain the person’s trust. You should ask open questions, such as: “What do you

think about God?” or just “How are you doing?”

Once you have gotten his attention, wake his interest. In John 4:10 Jesus replied, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink.” To keep him interested, choose a topic, like: • I have found a one-of-a-kind hope for my life. Are you looking for hope as well?

• Where would you be if you died today?

• You could experience the best thing ever happening to you, today.

But you certainly won’t arouse a person’s interest by just talking. Show genuine interest and the other person will open up.

Find out what the person you are talking to really needs and include that in your conversation.

Jesus told the woman: “Go, call your husband and come back.”

“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.” (John 9:16–18) He addresses a central topic in her life, and she is deeply touched. Perhaps the person you are talking to has no assurance of eternal life, or feels guilty. Maybe the person has a problem, or is sick.

Jesus met people in their need. God is still able to heal the sick, repair marriages, and free people from every bondage. However, the biggest problem everyone has is eternal separation from God. Your personal story is important! Talk about how Jesus has changed your life. Share your story in an interesting way; do not use words an outsider wouldn’t understand and do not exaggerate.

Your story in three parts: • What did your life look like before?

• How did you get to know Jesus?

• What changed in your life?

Maybe recount what gave you a purpose in life or how God healed you. Your story is unique; learn how to share it in a unique way. Share things from your life your conversation partner can relate to.

The Gospel can save someone only if he un-

derstands and believes. You can explain it along using the following points: * It was God’s plan from the beginning to be friends with mankind. In the beginning, everything in the world was created perfect. There were no wars, no injustice, no sickness – everything was complete and well. Mankind lived in peace and harmony with God. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. – Genesis 1:31 * Mankind decided to go its own way and turned away from God. Today we can see the results of this decision. Instead of being able to live in peace and harmony with one another, lies, hate, jealousy, sickness, and war are everywhere. However, even worse than that is being separated from God forever. The problem is that out of our own efforts, mankind cannot restore the connection to God. The various religions are a desperate attempt to get closer to God again. Because of guilt, mankind has been separated from God. There’s nobody living right, not even one. (Romans 3:10) * God is just and therefore cannot simply ignore our guilt. Because God loves us so much, he came up with a perfect plan to redeem everyone, which means you can be brought back into relationship with Him as well. God showed this love by sending his only Son, Jesus Christ, into our world to die on the cross for everyone. In doing so, Jesus took the punishment for our guilt upon himself.

On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would. He is alive today, and through him, the way to God has been reopened.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16) * Our good deeds, our own efforts, meditation and church attendance are not enough to come to God. There is only one way: We have to turn to Jesus and step away from a selfish life in which we lived simply for ourselves.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) * The decision to follow Jesus is the most important decision in life. You now have the privilege of leading the person to Christ. Ask him the decisive question. “Would you like to get to know Jesus personally?” Now pray a simple prayer and ask the person to pray along with you with all his heart and ask Jesus into his life. Pause after each sentence to allow the person to repeat it.

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I believe that you died for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life. I believe that you rose again from the dead and are alive today. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I will follow you for the rest of my life. Amen.”

Explain the most important aspects of the Christian life: • Prayer: Talking with God and building a relationship with Jesus.

• Bible: Reading God’s word in order to understand his will, his character and his plan.

• Fellowship: Finding a church or fellowship close by.

• Evangelization: Sharing the Gospel and your new experience with God to others.

Exchange addresses and meet with each other within the next three days to build a relationship.

Pray for the person and become friends. If possible, pick up the person and visit a church service or small group together.

The Vision of Global Outreach Day is for every believer to share the Gospel on the last Saturday of May each year. Millions of Christians worldwide are sharing the Gospel on that day. To be part of it visit their website for more ideas on how to share the Gospel and participate in the Global Outreach Day with your friends and church. https://www. globaloutreachday.com

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,�

1 Peter 1:3 King James Version (KJV)