At New Foundation Christian Ministries, we often say that the church is not just a building or an institution. It is a community of people who are called to love and serve others. Few ministries show that better than The Pantry.
A heart of service
Social outreach is an essential part of NFCM’s mission. Through our outreach programmes, we connect with people in need, build relationships with people of all backgrounds and circumstances, and show the transforming power of God’s love.
At the heart of that work is a commitment to compassion and service through three things: The Pantry, our partnership with the Golden Age Home, and practical support for members of the surrounding community.
How The Pantry began
The Pantry is the brainchild of our First Lady, Sis. Marlene McFarlane. Her passion for serving others has inspired many members of our church to join her in this work, and under her stewardship The Pantry has grown into a vital ministry that serves many families each month.
It is carried by dedicated members who share her heart and work tirelessly to make sure that every person who comes through The Pantry’s doors is treated with dignity, respect and compassion.
All have because some have
The Pantry is built on a simple principle: all have because some have. It is rooted in the giving in love recorded in Acts 4:32–35, where the early believers shared what they had so that no one among them lacked.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Acts 4:32 (KJV)
Every bag of rice, box of ground provisions and bottle of cooking oil that goes out is that same giving in love: from people who have, to people who need.
Caring for our elders at the Golden Age Home
Our outreach also reaches the Golden Age Home in Kingston, where NFCM has partnered with the staff to deliver donations and supplies for the residents.
The Pantry today
The Pantry continues every month, alongside the wider work of our outreach team. When disaster strikes, that same spirit goes further: read how NFCM helped a family in Cornwall Mountain into a new home after Hurricane Melissa.
We are grateful to every member who gives, packs, serves and prays. The Pantry is a beacon of hope and love in our community, and a shining example of what the church can accomplish when we come together to serve others.
Adapted from “A Heart of Service”, NFCM 18th Anniversary Magazine (2023).