Grace to Bring the Kingdom

When I say good overcomes evil, I say it because I know for a fact what happens when we go after goodness.

The OpenDoor Food Bank has been a game changer for our church and community for over two decades. However, the way it started is a great example of goodness in action.

The old man was 84. He was a WWII veteran who lived in a small community of mostly elderly, isolated folks and he was roofing his girlfriend’s house one shingle at a time. No joke. He would climb up the rickety old ladder with one shingle, hammer it down, then call it quits for the day. He was old and the Texas sun was especially punishing.

My father-in-law saw him and called me. “You ought to help him,” he said. I did. That’s when goodness showed up. Not mine, but the Lord’s.

After finishing the roof, his girlfriend, an old and frail lady, offered me lemonade. It was the only thing in her refrigerator. I got my wife, and we ran to the store.

When we returned with provisions, the old man grumbled, “What about me? I need food. And my other girlfriend needs food too.”

When I told him we would be back on Saturday with supplies for the two of them, he said he had several other friends and neighbors in need. “Bring them all,” I said.

There were over 30 hungry, needy, elderly folks at his house that weekend, and the OpenDoor Food Bank was born.

What would have happened if we had ignored the empty refrigerator and just prayed for someone to help? What if we would have brought food to the old woman and man, then said, “We don’t have the money or time to help the others. Maybe you should call a church.”

Thousands of people would be hungry, desperate, sick, hurting and going to hell – that’s what. Because we acted and were faithful to continue acting, thousands of our neighbors not only have food, they’ve been healed and saved through the OpenDoor Food Bank. What has God called you to steward?