The Lord Will Provide (High Pointe Food Pantry)

[James Nored]

Diane Newhouse, who works in the High Pointe Food Pantry, wrote the following:

Linda Hardin said recently that our food pantry should be called "The Lord Will Provide." This is so true! I can't tell you how many times I've entered the pantry only to see that many of the shelves were bare and wondered how we would be able to fill any bags of food that week, but God has always provided a way to do so.

Once a 3-year-old neighborhood child brought in food that he had collected in his neighborhood. Another time, a lady who had frequented the pantry came in and gave Linda a check because she wanted to return the blessings she had been given. (She still sends a check!) Then there was the time that a salesman happened to be in the building as food bags were being distributed, and he also made a contribution saying that he and his wife had just been talking about how they could help others. And these are only a few of the stories that demonstrate how God has provided. Although, I don't always succeed, I try to remember to ask, not "Will God provide?" but "How will God provide?"

It happened again this morning as I was buying some food to stock up the pantry. The lady behind me asked why I was buying so much, and when I told her, she asked if she could give me some money! At the same time, a lady at the next register asked me the same question, and she also gave me some money! I thanked both women, and as I walked out with the second woman, we began talking. When she found out I was from High Pointe, she mentioned that she used to work with the Communities in School at a local elementary school and that we had helped them so much in the past. The community is getting to know us as a congregation that cares for and takes care of others. God truly does provide!

[James Nored]

Diane, thank you so much for sharing this with us. What a great story of the checkout line, along with all of the other stories. This is a testimony to how we can make an impact in our community from this ministry.