Five Loaves and Two Fish 2020

CLARKSVILLE, ARK. – In our small town of Clarksville, Ark., the Clarksville Seventh-day Adventist Church Food Pantry has grown beyond any expectations of the volunteers, the community or even The River Valley Food Bank. Only the Lord knew how big it would become and it shows no sign of slowing down. The windows of Heaven opened with an amazing bounty for us to distribute and we have many opportunities to pray with and minister to individuals that need a little compassion or just an ear to listen.

The food pantry has given us a chance to meet community leaders and legislators that are excited about what we are doing both for the community and the Lord. Seventh-day Adventists is on the lips of our community. We have become a place where people’s needs are met, a relationship with them is built and ministering can begin.

On Wednesdays, we prepare a meal for all who come to prayer meeting.Our ranks are bolstered every week by our pantry clients who realize there is more than physical food for them at our church. Many new attendees come to us through the pantry. I am one of them. Many were searching or broken, like myself. The fellowship and understanding felt with us has opened the door for them to see Salvation is possible.

My faith is renewed every time I work at our food pantry. Once, we wanted to distribute ice cream for an event and two and a half pallets arrived just in time. When the holidays rolled around, our freezers were filled with turkeys. When the stocks start to get low, the next truck we get overfills! Week after week we see His awe-inspiring blessings!

By December 2019 we had given out over one million pounds of food in six months. From Dec. 1 to the end of 2019, we gave out another 21 Food Bank Truck-fulls plus five gooseneck trailers; a total of 312,000 pounds of food just in December. On a pantry day we have between 30 to 40 volunteers every week. God is so good!

We know where the blessings come from and we have realized we get an even bigger blessing by serving and inspiring others through the love of Jesus Christ our Lord and the architect of compassion.

By Joel Newman

Here is a wonderful written story from my Deacon Joel Newman . He came into the Church Through the Pantry.

By December 2019 we had given out over 1 million pounds of food in 6 months. Since December 1st to the end of 2019 another 21 Food Bank Trucks plus 5 goose-neck trailers a total of 312,000 pounds of food just in December. That is equivalent to 272 pallets or 11 and 1/3 Semi loads in December. On a pantry day we have between 30 to 40 volunteers every week.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!

Pastor Ken Blundell