Pandemic challenges become BRN opportunities

Although the pandemic has presented society with many challenges, it has simultaneously opened up doors of opportunity for BRN churches.

January 21, 2021
LaVeta Jones

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics January 2021 Employment Situation Summary, there are 10.7 million unemployed persons in our nation. A casual look at the evening news or a routine ride through a neighborhood bears this out. It is not uncommon to see Americans in food lines. Many say that this is a first-time occurrence for their families. Unemployment, compounded by the pandemic, has many in a position of food insecurity, trying to find a way to feed their families.

This reality, coupled with 14 million people in PA/SJ who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, has opened up doors of opportunity for our churches to love their neighbors while sharing the Good News. Baptist Resource Network (BRN) churches are stepping up to bridge the spiritual and physical hunger gap that COVID-19 has uncovered.

Second Antioch serves 2,000 families per month in the West Philadelphia area. Every Monday (11 a.m.-12 p.m.), Wednesday (12-2 p.m.), and Saturday (9-11 a.m.) Pastor Joe Nock and his church family love their community by serving nutritious food and sharing Christ. Their most recent distribution included fish, cream of mushroom soup, egg noodles, orange juice, oranges, canned tuna, venison, hamburger, quick oats, frozen blueberries, peanut butter, raisins, Swiss cheese and much more.

The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services took note of Antioch’s large-scale service to the community and awarded them a tent and heater to help with distribution which takes place at the church’s physical location, 912 N. 41st Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Soar Church in Woodbine, N.J., distributes food every the third Thursday at 11 a.m., at the Woodbine Ambulance Building at 505 DeHirsch Avenue, Woodbine. Soar has been given the privilege of engaging between 50-100 families who they feed each week in this South Jersey town.

Great Commission Church located in the West Oak Lane neighborhood in Philadelphia, seized upon the opportunity to feed their neighborhood towards the beginning of the pandemic. The church’s pantry, serving approximately 80-100 families each week, operates on Saturdays from 12-2 p.m. at 2043 Eastburn Avenue. GCC members offer one-on-one prayer, Gospel conversations and a listening ear.

Although the pandemic has presented society with many challenges, it has simultaneously opened up doors of opportunity for our churches to meet, build relationships and minister to individuals whom they very likely would not meet on a Sunday morning. God is still at work!

LaVeta Jones

LaVeta Jones is a community outreach event coordinator, freelance media producer and communication consultant. She has coordinated events with the school district of Philadelphia and elected officials. She also works extensively with the faith-based community and the Philadelphia Police Department and has taught community policing workshops and presented for department press conferences. LaVeta, who earned a bachelor of arts in film and media arts at Temple University, graduated Summa Cum Laude and served as class valedictorian, began working for BRN in 2007, where she has assisted in telling the stories of our BRN churches.