MINISTRY IN ACTION … Volunteers at River of Life Church in Montpelier help prepare food for its weekly Tuesday night meals at no cost. Over 1,000 people have already been served through the first two months of the church ministry.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
For the past couple of months, the River of Life Church has opened its doors for area residents to provide free, delicious carry-out dinners every Tuesday night.
It has now become an important part of the church’s outreach ministry, where many volunteers show up each week to help those who are less fortunate or have been affected by the recent U.S. Government shutdown.
“We were only going to do this until the government opened back up, and the need continued even after that,” said Pastor Mike Frisbie.
“We average 150 meals per week, and we just decided that if it is not going to go down, there is a need.”
The church began its weekly Tuesday night meals on November 4, with 103 meals served in the first week. “As long as God provides, we are going to keep doing it, and he’s been providing every month,” said Gloria Frisbie.
Once the government shutdown had started, Mike Frisbie said he had heard there were a lot of hurting people in the area and a lot more doing without the basic needs.
“We were going to do it, but we just didn’t know when,” said Mike Frisbie in referring to the weekly dinners.
The idea of having Tuesday night dinners came from Gloria Frisbie’s cousin, Juanita Gambler, who had reached out and said that God had told her we need to do these meals, and the church quickly jumped right in.
“We had thought and talked about it,” said Patty Miller, who also serves as chairperson for Tuesday night meals.
“When everything with the government being shut down and things become very difficult for people, let’s reach out to the community, be a blessing to them, and make meals available at no cost. They simply come, drive under the canopy, and pick up the food.”
From there, donations from Montpelier area businesses began to pour into this meal ministry, which the church is very appreciative of.
“To see the faces when they come through just to get something knowing that you make a difference,” said Mike Frisbie.
“It’s not a really big deal, but it is especially with people coming from all over the area just to get a free meal on Tuesday nights.” Since the church began offering Tuesday night meals at no cost, there have been a total of 961 meals served in November and December.
The number of weekly meals served was on November 11 (136 meals), November 18 (140 meals), November 25 (146 meals), December 2 (103 meals), December 9 (130 meals), and December 16 (152 meals). No meals were served on December 23 due to the Christmas holiday.
“We have seen an increase in meals served each week,” said Miller. “Not only are people coming to pick them up at their own convenience, but there are ladies who come to church here, and they go out and deliver meals at no cost to people who don’t want to leave their home.
“It’s simply to be a blessing to minister to them the love of Jesus and to show them this is the hands and feet of the church.”
On a cold winter evening where the menu featured chicken gravy over mashed potatoes, corn, dinner roll, and a cookie, volunteers were quite busy preparing meals for those who are going through difficult times.
“There are a lot of people both inside and outside the church who have been helping out and loving it,” said Miller.
“They are excited to see people come and being blessed and able to be connected and to pray with them and reach out where they’re at.”
Tuesday night weekly meals will continue into January with a menu already planned. “We’re just there to be a blessing to the community,” said Miller. “No matter what is going on in life, we’re here for you, and we want to feed you and your family.”