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Local Church IMPACT! Crossroads Fellowship – Cadiz, Kentucky
Posted by Geoff Baggett in Uncategorized
Crossroads Fellowship has been my field of ministry for almost six years now. God led my family and a small core of about twenty people to plant this new congregation in the small, rural community of Cadiz, Kentucky, in early 2002. This city of 3,500 people is known for its antique shops, recreational boating and fishing on nearby Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, the historical Land Between the Lakes (LBL), and the world-famous (well, not really) Trigg County (Country) Ham Festival.
But like most communities in the United States, despite its apparent charm and wealth, Cadiz has its share of poverty and hunger. Crossroads hosts an ongoing food and clothing ministry in its Community Ministry Center, a former church building that is owned by church members and used for hands-on ministries. This ministry, led by a couple from the church and staffed by volunteers, ministers to anywhere from ten to twenty-five families a week. The ministry purchases food locally and from Second Harvest food bank.
Recently, Crossroads embarked upon a new ministry to help curb hunger in its community. The church has partnered with Angel Food Ministries in Monroe, Georgia, to provide quality, low-cost food for area families. Through Angel Food, Crossroads makes available a bulk purchase of food that can feed a family of four for about one week. The cost of the bulk purchase is $25, but the value is actually around $55-$60. Families must order and pay for their purchase by the second Sunday of the month, then the food is delivered for pick-up on the last Saturday of the month. The ministry even accepts food stamps through the off-line voucher purchase system. Angel Food provides an on-line menu that details the food that will be delivered on any given month, as well as web and e-mail contacts for churches nationwide.
Crossroads just completed its first month of ministry through Angel Food in August. Over forty volunteers worked to make the new ministry a success. The church provided low-cost food for 48 families in the community. Pick-up day was a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to serve those who came for their food. Guests were welcomed in the parking lot, and volunteers packed and loaded their boxes for them, along with a ministry newsletter, a menu for September, and information about Crossroads Fellowship.
Angel Food is a wonderful opportunity for any church of any size to provide practical ministry and much-needed help for low-income families in that church’s “Jerusalem.” And it’s a great opportunity for church members to have contact with the unchurched in their community.
For more details, simply e-mail Angel Food Ministries and request an information packet.
If you know of a church that should be highlighted in Local Church IMPACT! or Missions IMPACT!, please e-mail a testimony/story and digital photograph. We will consider all submissions for publication.
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Angel Food Ministries’ office and warehouse facility is located right up the road from our church. They have a great reputation and impact in this area as well.
What a great way to serve your community!
The cool part is that this idea came from one of my church members. She found the information, figured out how it could mesh with our ongoing food ministry, gathered a team of people around her, and ran with it.
All I had to do was show up, meet people, and help unload boxes. This was completely driven by volunteers. And one thing I didn’t mention … Angel Food returns a minimal amount (I think $1.25 per box of food sold) back to the church for ministry. We received back a check for about $57 last month. We rolled that cash right back into our food closet ministry. It is truly a win-win.
It’s good to know that they have a good reputation. I think the organization has roots in non-denom charismatic churches (lots of video testimonies from Joel Osteen & crew), but I know that churches from many groups partner with them. Many SB churches take part in this ministry. Like I said, we’re only a month into it, but I am impressed thus far with the organization and quality.
What a wonderful idea!
Debbie,
Thanks for the word of encouragement.
Geoff,
This is a great ministry for all churches to work together in serving the Lord.
Geoff, do you know Tim Coop who is one of the first Pastor to have a Crossroads Church in Corona, CA.? He is close to 70yrs old and still Pastors in AZ.
In His Name
Wayne,
I agree … it is a great ministry.
No, I’m not familiar with Tim Coop.
In Spain, almost all growing churches and church plants are doing food distribution at some level. This is a great way to minister the love of God, gain credibility in the community, and provide opportunities of service for your members. I’m glad to see this type of thing yielding good results on this side of the pond as well.
The Angel Food ministry sounds wonderful! My church is not involved in that ministry, but I write for another reason. I actually spent Labor Day weekend in the Land Between the Lakes area. What a wonderful place to retreat! We stayed in a cabin on the lake and it was so worshipful to spend the evenings on the back porch. I was in awe of God’s creation in nature. On Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed dinner at Patti’s. That was a memorable experience! Your post took me back from work to vacation–thanks!
David,
There are actually hundreds of churches participating in this particular ministry … though few are Southern Baptist.
Karen,
The most memorable thing about Pattis (for me) was the price tag. Good thing I had a gift card. 
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve probably fished near that cabin.
I have been familiar with several churches doing similar ministries. I concur with David that a ministry to connect with the needier in the community is a great bridge to connect with people in the ministry focus area of a church.
Several years ago, our two associations actually developed a ministry that we have utilized for new church starts and some established congregations where we go door-to-door through communities collecting non-perishable food for a county food bank (www.findMIchurch.org/evangelism).
Each summer we have met thousands of neighbors and collected tens of thousands of pounds of food to feed the hungry. Once we meet them, we give them a thank you gift of a Gospel of John (www.PocketPower.org), a gospel tract, a church brochure and a special event flyer. This ministry has a multitude of benefits but one of the greatest has been the impact that the community sees that the church cares about people in the community. That is a benefit in our area since Southern Baptists are often perceived as a cultic group. Even though our associations provide all of the resources, the church gets all the credit (to God’s glory!)
An MP3 of our training for this ministry is at http://www.findMIchurch.org/missionstrategy, under Mission Leader Orientation, if someone would be interested.
Keep up the great work Geoff and thanks for this post. I look forward to many more ministry “success” stories in the future.
bobby gilstrap, Director of Missions
Huron & Southeastern Baptist Associations
MICHIGAN
We have the Angel Food ministry here at 1st Southern Del City OK. It is going great guns!
Roger,
Can you share some of the long-term impact that FBC, Del City has seen from this ministry?
Bobby,
That is a fantastic church planting / strengthening strategy. And thanks for making the training resource available.
Could you maybe write that up in the form of a post, add a picture and e-mail it to me? I would like to post a story like that on our Friday feature! How, oh how, I wish all of our associations and DOM’s had the vision for planting that I know you have.
Roger,
Like Bobby, I would like to know more about it. Tell us what is involved, and please do describe some of the long-term impacts upon your church.
i love what you all are doing for GOD Ihope i can be a part of it, GOD bless you all Wayne Bohannon