For the youth of Fountain City Presbyterian Church, ministry is more than something discussed during Sunday School. It is something they put into practice each month through food, fellowship and relationships with residents of Minvilla Manor.
On the second Sunday of each month, the FCPC Youth prepare a meal for housing-insecure residents of Minvilla Manor, continuing a Mission Meal ministry the church has supported for more than 30 years.
The meal preparation also gives the youth an opportunity to connect their service with Scripture. During one devotion, the group studied the passage in Leviticus instructing the Israelites not to harvest everything from their fields, but to leave some for the poor and strangers in their land.
The lesson prompted a discussion about how Christians can care for vulnerable people today.
“The Mission Meal program is a small step to share of our abundance to care for the needy in our day and time,” youth director Kyle Nolen said. “It really made us think about commands in the Bible and how that applies to us.”
But the ministry has become about much more than providing meals.
Following the disruption of COVID, many Minvilla residents initially picked up their meals and returned to their apartments. Over the past two years, those interactions have gradually changed, helped in large part by a resident the youth know as “Mama T.”
Mama T began helping coordinate the group’s visits and encouraging other residents to participate. She even accompanied the youth door to door to make sure residents with disabilities received meals. Those introductions helped build trust.
Now, more residents come to the dining hall and eat with the youth. Conversations have replaced quick meal pickups as residents and students share their stories with one another.
“It has been a beautiful time of shared humanity that has left an impression on all of us,” Nolen said.
Perhaps the strongest sign of how those relationships have grown is the way Mama T now introduces the youth to other Minvilla residents — as part of her “family.”
“What a blessing to be reminded of our connectedness that we all have with God as our Father and Creator!” Nolen said.
For the Fountain City Presbyterian Church youth, a ministry that begins with preparing a meal has become an opportunity to sit at the table, listen, serve and build relationships — putting faith into action one meal at a time.
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