Weekly dinners nourish local community
Weekly dinners nourish local community
13 May 2016
Brad Fowler (left) and Melinda Patterson both volunteer to cook at Nourish.
Weekly dinners at the Long Jetty Corps that began simply as an opportunity for extended corps fellowship, now include people from all walks of life throughout the community. Up to 75 people attend the dinners – aptly called “Nourish” – each week, with the numbers gradually increasing.
After the meal, members of the corps offer seeker-friendly interest groups such as Bible studies, an “Experiencing God” group, men’s and women’s groups, Junior Soldier classes, a book club, Positive Lifestyle Program, Careforce Lifekeys, and others.
“The Wednesday night Nourish dinners have become a great contact point for meeting the community and through them we can develop relationships,” said Major Andrew Humphreys, Long Jetty Corps Officer, with Major Melissa Humphreys. “This is not just a way to grow our fellowship. People really feel like they are part of something. For me, I can achieve as much pastorally over dinner as I can in three hours of visits.”
The home-cooked meals, prepared by a team from the corps, are free the first time a person attends, and then $4 per person after that. The corps is also examining how to make the onehour space after dinner as effective as possible. “We want people to have the opportunity to go deeper in their relationships, not just over dinner but through small groups as well,” said Major Melissa. The corps also runs discipling groups, a youth group and Bible study, and personal growth groups that take place throughout the week. Many community members who attend the dinner and want to go deeper, are beginning to attend these additional small groups.
“We’re seeing group members care for each other, such as when someone goes to hospital or has a need, and it’s beautiful,” said Major Melissa. “Our church is quite fluid; people from all walks of life come, they keep coming, and I just love being around them!”
Comments
a great work. God
bless you