Baptism's, Transformations, Food Pantry (See WOW Moments listed below), New Members,Little Disciples Preschool Graduation Ceremony, Cyesis Mother's Day, youth Work Day at Flo's, Jennifer's Graduation Party, and CropWalk!
What a blessing to be a part of Beneva Christian, living out the Jesus commands!
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Recent “Wow Moments” at Beneva by Jon Hale
Beneva’s old commercial refrigerator ended its useful life last February. Ruben Caban from El Toro Bravo put us in touch with a restaurant equipment supplier in Ohio and we recently ordered a replacement for just under $2,100. Meanwhile Yvette and the youth issued a challenge to the Beneva Congregation to raise the funds for the new refrigerator. In less than 3 weeks the youth and congregation contributed over $2,500 for the refrigerator. WOW!
When the refrigerator arrived, it was bolted to a pallet. It needed to be unbolted from the pallet and casters needed to be attached. Meanwhile, the refrigerator weighs almost 400 pounds. Greg and one of his co-workers took care of it and it is now in operation. Greg, I thank you & my old back thanks you. WOW!
A few weeks ago I asked some of the Food Pantry clients what else we at Beneva can do to help. One gentleman asked for prayers for his wife & we did that. Other clients suggested paper products, soaps, fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the first people I asked was Paulette. She told me she makes her own laundry soap at a cost of about $0.01 per load. She brought in some and we gave some away at the Food Pantry. Now at least 3 people are making batches of soap for the Food Pantry clients and many others are saving plastic bottles. At some point soon, we might have laundry soap for each of the 20 – 25 weekly food pantry clients. WOW!
We mentioned the Food Pantry needs to the Beneva congregation and people brought in hundreds of rolls of TP and paper towels plus many boxes of food. WOW!
I mentioned the need for fresh fruits and vegetables to a few people including Patty, Sara and Pastor Ronn and it was suggested that I talk to Karl Nelson. (Karl has donated cheese to the Food Pantry and he knows a lot of people in the produce industry.) A few weeks ago Karl started buying produce in Plant City for our Food Pantry. The Plant City produce is very fresh and the prices are wholesale. Meanwhile Carroll & Lisa Hatfield have advised on what to buy and how to avoid spoilage. We’ve been able to add potatoes, Romaine lettuce and bananas to the occasional produce from All Faiths Food Bank. The Food Pantry clients are extremely thankful. WOW!
Last Saturday Karl Nelson gave me a call. Seems he had been working at a farmers market and he mentioned our Food Pantry to a few other venders. The produce venders donated three types of lettuce, kale, strawberries, radishes, spinach, onions and green beans. If Karl & his friends keep donating, we’ll need to make a major expansion in the Food Pantry operation. WOW!
I called a friend who has been working her way through some financial challenges and I told her about our food pantry. (I was thinking she might need some help.) She said she was currently doing fine, but she wanted to try helping us. She has helped the last 2 Thursdays with organizing the food from All Faiths and finding the expiration dates. WOW!
Art Bedard works for a cement forms company in St. Pete. A few months ago the owners of the company donated 5 cement bumpers for use in our parking lot. Recently I asked Art to see what they would charge for 5 or 6 more cement bumpers. (I found cement bumpers on the web for $40 to $60 each, plus shipping.) A couple of days later Art relayed the information that the company would give us over 100 cement bumpers if we would pay the shipping. Since then the number of bumpers has increased and the current guess is approx. 175.
Related to the cement bumpers – Lee Alderman, a landscaper at Freedom Christian Church has volunteered to bring some of his landscaping equipment to move the cement bumpers. WOW!
This is very encouraging and inspiring.
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