Of the many things a person could do on Christmas Eve day, I was fortunate enough to be at Northside Baptist Church in Quitman, to witness a Christmas miracle.
As I walked up, I overheard laughter and saw smiles as wide as Texas. I knew right away that I was in a happy place.
There were 100-plus people, from 3 to 83 working like a well-oiled machine preparing bags of food for the hungry. Men were tending large grills filled with chicken, sausage and pork. Ladies were in the kitchen cooking corn, beans and yams. Children were moving bags of bread and cakes. It was a beautiful sight.
These people were in the process of feeding over 1,500 people less fortunate than themselves and experiencing the real joy of Christmas.
Events like this don’t just happen. Weeks before Christmas, Roger Sims, a member of the Organization for Christian Outdoorsmen, had visited Northside and planted a seed of love in the hearts of its members and promised support if they would be interested in such a project for the Quitman area. The spirit of the Lord took it from there.
Plans were made and helpers were recruited as Randy Hendon of NBC, Quitman stepped up and became the OCO coordinator along with the help of Harris Patrick, director of the Men’s Ministry and pastor Bryan McPhearson. Jesus began work in Quitman and on Christmas eve I was honored to see the weeks of preparation come together and so many lives changed.
As I walked around and talked with people I discovered that there were workers from many other churches and different denominations who had come together as a community to work towards a common goal — to feed those in need.
Whether a person was there just to get out of shopping as I over heard, or there to be a servant used by God as the many that I observed, or as I was, an invited observer, the blessings were felt by all.
As I overheard someone say, “It just doesn’t get any better than this. God is so good!”
Mid-morning, a fire truck arrived to pick up food and deliver it. People from the community began to arrive for food and express their thanks. I discovered that they were receiving more than food for the body, but also food for the soul. In addition to the plates being served, Bibles were also being placed into their hands. What a blessing. What a ministry. What a joy just to be there.
As I left this joyful scene, I took with me a sense of “peace on Earth” that I had not experienced in a long time. I saw in the face of Randy Hendon, who had not slept all night, a twinkle in his eyes. I saw on the face of Pastor Bryan McPhearson pride in his congregation. I saw that Mr. Patrick knew that he was where he needed to be and saw that my son Roger was proud to share a part of his life with me, his mother.
Thank you Randy. Thank you Pastor Bryan. Thank you Harris. Thank you Roger. Thank you Quitman. But especially, thank you, Jesus for a great Christmas in a small South Georgia town.
To learn more about the Organization for Christian Outdoorsmen, also known as Team OCO, please contact Roger Sims at 3338 Country Club Drive, Valdosta, Ga. 31605, or at (229) 563-5298.
Guest Columnist Louise Sims is the mother of Roger Sims and resides in Valdosta.
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