First Baptist Blue Springs believes in feeding the flock in more ways than one. It sponsors a monthly meal for the community through its Impact Family Resource Center.
“We gather around tables family style,” Pastor Matt Sprink told “The Pathway.” “We eat, laugh, tell stories and pray. After a few minutes, it is hard to know who is hosting and who is being hosted. I love that. It reminds me that we are all guests at Christ’s table, and there is plenty of room.”
Sprink is responsible for the church’s community engagement and discipleship, including the Impact ministry, which provides First Baptist with multiple opportunities to engage the community and create disciples. Although the program centers around providing food needs, it meets others as well.
“For more than 25 years, our church has faithfully responded to and met the spiritual and financial needs of our neighbors through our Impact ministry,” Sprink says. “In particular, we help families and individuals with food insecurity needs. Our desire is to see our neighbors and love them well.”
The impact began from a small church closet. Today, it is spread throughout the Blue Springs community. Serving more than 400 families a week, its services include a drive-thru food pantry, mobile market at an alternative high school, monthly community meals, on-site engagement at short-stay hotels, support at area senior centers and more. When necessary, Impact partners with other local organizations to help people with housing needs or aid them with rent and utility payments. The overall purpose is to meet needs and show Christ’s love.
“The desire has always been to minster to the whole person,” Sprink said “When we share tables at the community meal with our neighbors, when we linger to pray at the car window with families collecting groceries, when we serve coffee and cookies to friends at the hotel and give them our ears, when we make sure teenagers have food and toiletries and welcome them as we restock shelves to chat, we are seeing relational and ‘faith gaps’ close,” he said.
The church says the ministry is currently in need of the following items.
- Canned Food: (e.g. Ravioli; Chicken Noodle Soup; Fruit; Green Beans; Corn; Pork and Beans, etc.)
- Spaghetti Sauce in cans or plastic jars (no glass, please)
- Jars of Jelly and Peanut Butter (plastic jars, no glass please)
- Boxed Helper Meals (e.g. Hamburger/Tuna Helper)
- Kid-Friendly Cereal
- Mac and Cheese
- Tuna
- Instant Potatoes
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Personal Items (e.g. toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc.)
- Diapers (sizes 4, 5, and 6)
- Wipes
- Clothing of current styles (Infant through 7)
To inquire about dropping off donated items, call us at (816) 229-8030.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice