GALLATIN — Liberty Baptist Church, a small congregation of about 70 members located in downtown here, began the Sumner County Food Bank as a ministry in May.
Pastor James Gill said the church wanted to do something tangible to help the community and he prayed about what to do.
Gill said he kept hearing the Lord say, “Feed my children.”
Gill didn’t really understand what he was hearing until he went to his church one Wednesday evening and found a couple with two children at the front door.
“The man told me he didn’t want food for him or his wife but he asked me to help feed his children,” Gill recalled as he struggled to hold his tears.
That set everything into motion and soon the church formed the Sumner County Food Bank.
They fed 58 families that first month and that number grew to more than 300 last month.
But at the end of November the church “didn’t even have a can of green beans in the pantry or any money in the budget,” said Gill.
He noted the church has run out of food each month as more people learned about the ministry which is provided on the third Tuesday of each month.
“It’s the economy,” Gill said.
He related that people “who have never asked for help before” are having to ask for that help now in order to feed their families.
Gill said he told his congregation after they ran out of food in November that “unless a miracle happens” there would be no food ministry in December.
The miracle happened.
WTVF (Channel 5 in Nashville) broadcast a story about the church’s plight in November.
Food and money began to pour in from the community to help keep the Sumner County Food Bank open, the Liberty pastor recalled.
Gill said the church received more than 30,000 pounds of food in the four weeks after the broadcast, leading up to the latest food distribution on Dec. 15.
On Dec. 14, Gill said the church already had 372 boxes prepared to hand out the following day.
He noted that each box contains 70 pounds of non-perishable items. In addition, each family was given bread and pastry items, milk and meat products, including a turkey. Gill noted 350 turkeys were donated to the church for the December food distribution.
In addition to the food given to the church, the church also purchased food at a reduced cost from Second Harvest Food Bank with donations the church received. Second Harvest also donated some of the food, the pastor shared.
“It’s been phenomenal,” Gill said.
Jervon Dailey, agency relations manager for Second Harvest, attended the Dec. 15 distribution. “We help any non-profit group that tries to feed hungry people,” Daily said.
After the last family was served on Dec. 15, 385 food boxes and turkeys had been distributed, Gill said.
“This was the first time we did not have to turn anyone away,” Gill said.
While the recipients of the food were thankful for the blessing they received, those participating from the church also were blessed.
“It’s a blessing to be able to help these people,” said Downey Brawner, chairman of the deacons at Liberty Baptist.
He noted that in November the church had to turn away nearly 150 people. But with all the donations and gifts, the church was able to help three times that many now, he said.
“God has blessed us. We are trying to bless them,” Brawner said.
Another member, Lisa Simpson, said the ministry to the community “has touched my heart.”
She noted she “had no idea” the ministry would develop so rapidly. “It is growing every month,” Simpson said.
One of the recipients of the food was a single mother with a toddler. The lady was laid off from her job last February.
“This means a lot to me. If opportunities like this were not available, I don’t know how people would make it,” she said.
On the day following the food distribution, Gill said the church helped six additional families who came by for help.
He also said the church would continue to help those in need who stop by between food distribution days.
Despite the shortage of food last month and the bleak outlook, God’s miracle through the outpouring of support from the community, has buoyed Gill’s outlook. “I am fully confident that we will continue providing this food ministry,” he said.
Noting that while the war on hunger is one that may not be won, “it's a battle we must fight,” Gill stressed.
“With the continued help from our sister churches and caring Christians, we at Liberty will help meet this need year in and year out.”
