GPBC Blog

By Pat Murphy -- 

I miss you all.  

Most of you have been experiencing this pandemic since March. We, the Murphy’s, have just started to experience it. We returned from a trip to Israel and Egypt in late March. I had the time to take on those tasks I have been successful in avoiding for years. As my list grew shorter, we had a conversation with our son. He and his family live in southern California. Both he and his wife, Shyla, are in the Navy. Both had to work and had few, if any, resources for our three grandkids while they were working. As a result, I drove to San Diego to pick them up and bring them to Portland. All this to say have had our three grandchildren with us since late April. Three of them; 10, 6, and 4 years old. We have been so busy we didn’t really have time to get bored. There is a reason why God, in his plan, had young people have children. Now that they are back in southern California, we find ourselves living in a very quiet house. 

Almost immediately after they left, I received a request from Janice Fry to assist her with the Food Pantry by taking it over for three months while she took a very highly deserved and necessary break. She has overseen that ministry for nine years without a break. 

I, like most of us at Greater Portland, know about the Food Pantry. It is a ministry that is perfectly tailored to the calling we all have from Jesus.
Matthew 25:34–40

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

To be completely honest, when I got this request from Janice, I was less than excited. I was really looking forward to that quiet time in our house. I do know and believe in this Food Pantry ministry, though. Plus, Janice promises she will be back in three months. 

Stepping into her shoes has been satisfying and enlightening. As I grasped hold of the level of commitment from all the 30 or so volunteers and their hearts to serve, I am shocked and honored to be counted among them. Some of them do multiple food pickups each week and then return to distribute food on Saturdays. Since the pandemic, we have stopped having people enter the church to pick up their food. Instead, our guests drive their cars to the front of the building and receive a pre-packed box assembled by the volunteers. Each week volunteers put together 76 boxes of food to distribute. As the cars approach, it is amazing to see how the volunteers interact with each one of the guests. It is clear that relationships have formed and people, who may have no history with a church, are being ministered to. If, for any number of reasons, we don’t distribute all 76 boxes to guests and there is an excess, they are taken to a Spanish church ministry in outer SE Portland. We also distribute food to Neighborhood House and Pamoja House. 

OK. If you are still reading this. Here is the ASK. We could use some help. Especially from younger, healthier, outgoing, friendly, and more energetic people. People who believe in this calling we all have from Jesus. The food distribution on Saturday is demanding. Volunteers start arriving at 11:00 to sort and prepare the boxes. Guests don’t start receiving food until 1:00. All the volunteers are hustling to get the food sorted and the boxes packed for two hours prior to spending the hour distributing them to guests. Then…we get to do all the cleaning up. Each and every one of our volunteers are vital to this ministry. If you are willing, we invite you to join us. 

I will finish with this, John 21:15–19: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Join us. We welcome you. Give me a call if you are interested: 503-730-2430.

It is our pleasure to work alongside you as we serve Him.

Pat