As the coronavirus pandemic began to hit Philadelphia and its suburbs, some of the local food banks closed and schools stopped providing free lunches for kids. Jane Reagan, who is a part of Penn Valley Church, a Charis Fellowship congregation in suburban Telford, Pa., stepped in to help meet a need in the community while also partnering with other churches to fill the gap.
What developed is the Acts 4 Good Initiative.
The goal is to make the gospel known through word and deed.
“Anytime I’ve asked people to volunteer, invariably they are willing, they are cheerful, and they are lovingly involved in this effort,” she says. “This reminds me that’s how Jesus feels toward me and towards you. He willingly came and was willing to serve us and give his life for us. To see that, his spirit and his people to respond that way in this effort. It’s been an incredible reminder as well.”
As a result, more than 200 families have been ministered to by giving them food and gift cards. Now, as the region reopens, the initiative will close down in the next few weeks.
“We have noticed a steady decline of people coming each week as people have been able to go back to work and our local food pantry has more workers back to work as well,” says Pastor Andrew Saunders. “We want to continue to support them and not compete as they are doing a great job. We are praying for God to show us what’s next for us as we believe many seeds of the Gospel have been sown thru this Acts 4 Good initiative.”
Learn more about the initiative in this interview with Pastor Saunders at Penn Valley Church.
Acts4Good Update from Penn Valley Church on Vimeo.