Pastor pitches vision of food trucks for hungry
Published:Wednesday | September 9, 2020 | 12:12 AM
Realising that people are hungry for both the Word and food in a coronavirus-hit economy, one pastor has purchased two trucks, which he now uses to supply communities with inspiring messages and groceries.
Bishop Rowan Edwards, who pastors the Lighthouse Assembly Church of God in Spanish Town, said the aim is to bring the church to the people and help to meet their needs.
“We realise that during the COVID season, some people are not working, some people are having struggles maintaining themselves, a lot of hungry people are out there, so we just didn’t want to go preaching in their communities without giving them something,” he said.
Because of COVID-19 protocols on gatherings, church attendance has been anaemic. The elderly, especially, have been encouraged to stay home because they are more vulnerable to contracting the virus.
“We are operating in a new norm. First time we used to just go out and preach and have crusades, but now we have to change the format because people are out there hungry,” he said.
A truck stop has been made in Quarrie Hill, St Catherine, where hundreds of people were fed.
Partnerships have been forged with charity group Food For The Poor, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, and the Spanish Town police to help make the project possible. The pastor has also started reaching out to corporate entities. Lasco Distributors is one of the contributors so far.
“We also have a group of persons overseas and locally. We have a morning prayer, every morning at 6 o’clock where we pray for the nation and we pray for revival,” Edwards said.
Edwards is targeting the purchase of seven trucks to make islandwide distribution possible. The trucks will be parked at a central location where recipients will be issued a ticket before collecting their food.
“We will be having prayer meetings in the community and stirring revivals because we want the whole country to be revived. We are bringing the community back to God,” charged Edwards.
The pastor said that the Quarrie Hill visit was a success and that they are hoping to replicate the initiative at March Pen Road.
“There were hundreds of people who turned up who wanted food. We gave them supplies, big bags of foods. We gave out books, we gave out pencils, we gave out ice cream to the children,” he said.