Dear Friends,
Sometimes, an outreach begins long before the first meal is served.
Recently, we had the privilege of joining True Gospel Baptist Church for its very first outreach in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. What unfolded was a beautiful picture of a church coming together to serve its community—one meal, one family, and one conversation at a time.
Inside the fellowship hall, the women were busy shaping ground beef into hamburger patties and filling to-go containers with desserts and condiments. Outside, the men were raising a tent to make sure everything—and everyone—stayed covered.
It was truly all hands on deck.
Even the church’s young people played an important role. Youth from the congregation put on a musical performance to help raise funds for the outreach, and some of those same young people returned to volunteer. Their involvement was a wonderful reminder that ministry can be a family affair, with every generation having something meaningful to contribute.
At the heart of the outreach were Derrick and Jewell, who serve alongside Derrick’s parents, Pastor Jim and Darlene Roland, on the church’s pastoral team.
After organizing outreaches in communities across the country, Derrick and Jewell wanted to bring that same heart for ministry to their own church. Their goal was simple but powerful: to serve their neighbors both spiritually and physically.
Hospitality and food preparation are familiar territory for the couple. Derrick and Jewell own a food trailer, where Jewell serves as the chef. She previously worked as a chef at a diner, where the two first met. Today, they’re using those experiences—and their passion for serving others—to bless their community.
The outreach was organized as a drive-through, making it convenient for families to receive a hot meal and groceries.
As each vehicle arrived, Derrick greeted the individuals and families and asked whether they would prefer a hamburger or a hot dog. The hot dogs were provided by Blessings of Hope, giving us the opportunity to play a small part in making the outreach possible.
But the meal was only part of what families received.
Each recipient also received a Hands of Hope box, providing additional food to take home and helping extend the impact of the outreach beyond that day’s meal.
What began as a church’s first outreach became something much bigger.
It was a community being fed.
Young people stepping up to serve.
Families working together.
A church opening its doors to its neighbors.
And the love of Christ being put into action.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with ministry partners like True Gospel Baptist Church as they turn their desire to serve into tangible hope for their communities.
Because sometimes, hope looks like a hot dog.
Sometimes it looks like a box of groceries.
And sometimes, it looks like a church simply saying, “We’re here for you.”
With gratitude,
Blessings of Hope
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17
