Michael Louis
There are more than 14,000 family households in the North Miami area. Though not yet officially organized as a church, the 200 members of Jerusalem II French ministry group began a campaign to reach the hearts and minds of the community around them with their own food drive.
A food distribution truck delivered enough food to feed 2,000 people on December 29, 2017, in the neighborhood near the church. Jean-Nelet Joyeux, elder and community service leader, made arrangements with Gerly Germain, pastor, and contacted Florida State Senator Daphne Campbell about a food drive on the church’s property. Campbell arranged to have a variety of crops provided to the community: asparagus, okra, sweet potato, artichoke, and watermelon. The community service team and church members, under the direction of Andy Francois, collaborated to serve the community.
Jerusalem II French recently settled in the present location. Thus, the food drive served as a show of goodwill to more than 900 families and local neighbors. Local ABC news affiliate WPGL also provided news coverage of the event. The fledgling new group has committed to service to their new neighborhood, and has now decided to make similar community events a norm.
This event was in an effort to follow Ellen White’s reminder that Christ’s method was to first minister to the needs of the community, and then to bid them to follow him. This food drive is just a first step in the direction toward truly transforming the community residents into followers of Christ by first ministering to their needs.
Southeastern | April 2018
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