Fifteen minutes before opening the doors of Heartland Community Church to a free community lunch on Christmas Day, members of the church gathered in front of the kitchen area to pray.
Kelly and Roni Wetz gave thanks for being able to serve others as a birthday gift to Jesus. The church’s lead pastor, Troy Miller, said they came to the church two years ago with the idea for a community meal on Christmas Day. “God laid it on their hearts,” he said.
Miller was unable to be there on Wednesday but later said he heard they served around 200 meals. That was down slightly from the first year, when Roni Wertz said they served 275.
On the menu was cowboy ham, turkey, savory green beans, potato casserole and a table full of assorted desserts. Many volunteers from the church and the community at large provided the food (some with cash donations) and handled the cooking and serving, Wertz said. Desserts were also provided by four businesses: Perkins, Freaking Delicious Cheesecakes, the Fiesta Cart and La Pasadita.
“We would like to thank the community members that brought desserts and volunteered,” he said. “It was not just our church.”
Miller would say the same the following day.
She noted that the meal was always intended to be for everyone, not just for those down on their luck. Those who were alone at Christmas and those who wanted some fellowship were welcome, “for whatever reason they needed a blessing. It’s a little bit of ministry in our own backyard.
“It’s a very good cause,” Miller said. The purpose was “to share the love of Christ by feeding people through Christmas and sharing the Christmas story that way.”
The church also invited the community to help it feed people at Thanksgiving time. There was an outdoor “cook-off” where they cooked 60 turkeys, delivering them with side dishes to families. They also prepared shoeboxes full of gifts for Operation Christmas Child about that time.
“We want to thank the community – those who gave and sponsored and volunteered, inside and outside of church,” Miller concluded. “We want people to come to Jesus and feel the love of Jesus through this holiday service.”
Heartland Community Church (www.heartlandgb.com) is located at 4907 10th St.
