By Bryant Thigpen
Riverbend News
The food ministry is still going strong at O'Brien Baptist Church despite the coronavirus pandemic that has significantly impacted the U.S. this year. According to Keith Jones, pastor of O'Brien Baptist Church, the ministry is as strong as its ever been.
“We're still going strong,” Jones said regarding the attendance and supply. The church has been able to continue receiving food from Bread of the Mighty Food Bank in Gainesville, as well as the USDA in Lake City. “We're still able to help families who are in need.”
While the mission hasn't changed, the pandemic has caused their method to change from pick-up to drive-thru. “Before the coronavirus, we could talk to people, gather prayer requests and just see how we can help people. Now, we have them sign in from their car and bring the groceries to them.”
Although they have seen a change in the people they're serving, Jones said the reason is not a result of the pandemic. “This ministry was designed to help families get on their feet, so that they don't have to come anymore. That's what it's designed to do,” he said. “The families that stop coming is because they have been able to get on their feet again.”
The food ministry began about eight years ago when two gentlemen decided to transform an empty building into something that would benefit the Kingdom of God. “The building was being used to store a grader. When we no longer needed the building for that reason, they thought about how they could get the best use out of it for ministry, so they decided to start a food ministry.”
Today, the ministry is led by Richard and Michele Crummit, and the food ministry is open to any family in need on the third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. “Our goal is to help every family that we can,” Jones said.
The food ministry building is situated on the church property, which is located at 9544 East County Road 349 in O'Brien.