Manna on Wheels (www.mannaonwheels.com) is a new ministry partner whose mission and vision caused me to stop and reflect on God’s word . . .

“God showed compassion to the people in the wilderness by sending manna.  He also showed compassion when He sent His only Son, Jesus, to bring us eternal life.  Manna on Wheels shares both the physical and the spiritual food with all who come. 

The focus of this ministry is and always will be God and God alone.  It is not about anything but reaching out in love as God did for us even before we were born.  God has given us a passion for those in need and we will follow Him as He leads.“

Thank you God for the manna you have sent to sustain me when I have been wandering in the desert.  May I follow Your lead to keep the manna for generations to come. (Exodus 16:32).  May I sow what I have received . . . compassion.

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Meet The Need is launching a partnership with the Luis Palau Association!  Wherever Palau Festivals are being held, Meet The Need will team up with Palau to mobilize the church community and others to get involved in Season of Service and the Festivals themselves.  Season of Service is the week prior to Palau Festivals where volunteers are mobilized to meet the physical needs in their community through strategic networks of local churches and business and civic leaders (http://www.seasonofservice.com/).

Of course, Meet The Need’s and Palau’s real heart goes beyond SOS and the Festivals.  Our partnership is truly designed to help Palau leave a lasting legacy of service and unity among the Body of Christ long after the Palau Festivals are over.  Using MTN, hundreds of churches and ministries will “join” the Meet The Need network.  And thousands of church members and other volunteers will sign up for SOS and the Festival in each city.   So by the time the Festivals are over, each city will be “connected” on a common “platform”, enabling them to work together to serve those in need for years after the Festivals.  From that point on, members of local churches all over the city will be able to search on their churches’ web sites for opportunities to serve local ministries and families any day, all year long.   The need never stops, so let’s make the “season of service” last forever!

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When we serve, God uses us to show His love. The bonus is that we get blessed too! Our “Meet The Need Monday” blog tells a story every week of how our loving Father works through our efforts. And He surprises us sometimes by giving us a bonus glimpse of the big picture.

“We had a great time serving the Lord through Feed The Bay. My kids & I were happy to work in the truck sorting food and loading boxes for our second year. My cousins came along with us this year because they wanted to earn volunteer hours for their High School. They have never had any experience with church before, and this Sunday, they had the opportunity to not only attend church with our family, but also participate in Feed The Bay. It is amazing how The Lord used the volunteer hours to start speaking to their hearts. They both told me they had a great time. They also went on to say, originally they only signed up because of the hours, but they felt really good about what they were involved with and want to do it again next year. We continue to pray for their salvation, but in the meantime, a seed has been planted. I am thankful to all who organized Feed The Bay because not only are we ministering to those who receive the food, we also are ministering to those who may not know the Lord, but are willing to volunteer, shop, and be a part of an Awesome Event!” – Tracey, Riverview

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One of the most fun aspects of what we do at MTN is meeting new Pastors, and getting to know their church culture.  And each church brings unique qualities and abilities to help unite the Body of Christ.  Check out Crossroads Community UMC, a new member:  “We believe in passionate worship, through connecting with God and each other, growing in our faith, and serving locally and globally.”  Pastor Jeff Smith

And we LOVE helping people with serving hearts like Pastor Jeff and Crossroads Community maximize their impact in the community!

What can we do to help increase YOUR impact?

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What do you get when the following come together?

7  churches +  5 ministries + 250 volunteers + 275 people in need + 6 hours = . . .

PRICELESS!  AND the fulfillment of Ephesians 4:6                                                                                                                                                                            “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

What a Thanksgiving blessing and kick off to the season of our Savior to see the body of Christ working together to serve those in need.  On Thanksgiving Day, Brandon Holiday Hope Café fed people who wouldn’t have otherwise experienced a warm meal.  At Bay Life Church stomachs were filled and hearts were warmed with the kindness of Christ’s compassion being demonstrated. 

Families in need were referred by local ministries and Metropolitan Ministries provided the food. A huge thank you to the staff and volunteers at these agencies that labor EVERY day to provide something more for those that have little. 

Volunteers served in many capacities, but most were willing to help wherever they were needed (decorating, ushering, hospitality, serving, clean up, etc).  A Kids Zone was the highlight for the little ones to laugh and play while their parents relaxed a little.  Volunteers came from over 7 area churches.  Many were not even a part of a church, but just came to serve.  What an opportunity for them to see Christ is action!  

It was like a real family style Thanksgiving dinner (without all the family drama). :)  The recipients were two-part, the families and the volunteers.  Here is what volunteers shared, “It was rewarding experience able to help people in need, the couple I sat with were so thankful just to eat.  They kept saying thank you over and over again. It was true blessing to serve my community”. 

I am so blessed to be a part of Meet The Need who behind the scenes made it possible for all the different “limbs” of the body of Christ to be sewn together as ONE, not just for this act of compassion but thousands more all year round.  

Through Meet The Need there are currently 600+ posts, representing 1,000′s of needs in the Tampa area alone for this month.  Go check them out through your church website or click HERE.  Be on the look out for new needs being posted soon for the next Brandon Holiday Hope Cafe where a Christmas lunch will be served to those in need on Christmas day (12/25/10).  Blessings!

Brandon Holiday Hope Cafe Local Ministries

Metropolitan Ministries, E.C.H.O., Women’s Resource Center, I Am Hope Café, Cynthia Pinckney Ministries

Brandon Holiday Hope Cafe Local Churches

Bay Life Church, First UMC of Brandon, The Crossing Church, Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Horizon Christian Church, Fish Hawk Fellowship Church, First Baptist Church of Riverview

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