Feeding the Multitude 2020

Adapted from a report sent by Claudia Boyce to participating churches

The word I really want to focus on is trust, because the consistent message that showed through during the entire experience of the 13th Annual Feeding of the Multitude was “Trust Me.” I can’t get that out of my mind—Trust Me!

• We trusted Him when we had to modify the format that seemed to work for 12 years.
• We trusted Him when we exceeded our goal of 600 bags and ended up with 1,200.
• We trusted Him when we questioned, “Would that many people come?”
• We trusted Him when we increased our order to 900 turkeys to match the influx of bags and money that were donated.
• We trusted Him when we were concerned—“Did we order more than we needed? What will we do with extra turkeys? Should we order more when the number of bags reached 1,100, 1,200?
• We trusted Him when Jesus gave us the idea to hold off on ordering more turkeys and instead get grocery store gift certificates to give if more people came.
• We trusted Him when days before the Feeding we realized we were short of volunteers.
• As always for 13 years, we trusted that He would give us a pretty day to help Him grow His kingdom, and He did.

Jesus Christ was in charge of the Feeding and this is what happened in response to prayer:

• Church teams took 165 plated meals to shut-ins and nearly 200 bags of food/turkeys to Johns Island Rural Housing and to families and men in homes in Hispanic camps on Johns Island.
• The phone prayer line prayed, the Facebook stream that ran from noon to 3 p.m. prayed, the people of the Island churches prayed. We also prayed over and over the prayers on our united church prayer chain draped over the cross. And Jesus answered our prayers.
• What’s left over?—75 bags and a few gift certificates, which we shared with New Webster United Methodist Church food pantry on Wadmalaw Island and Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach. All 900 turkeys are gone.
• We closed the day with our volunteers and a couple of guests standing in a circle, masked and social distancing, singing “Amazing Grace” at the top of our lungs.
• And I cried tears of joy and thanksgiving, just like I have done for 13 years.

With thanks to all the volunteers, organization committee, church coordinators, prayer team and for all the donations.

 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
(Isa. 26:3)