A cold popsicle on a hot summer day can go a long way for a kid. But at First Baptist Church in Portland, Tennessee, those frozen treats come with something even more valuable: the gospel.
For nine years, the church has run a summer feeding program that does more than fill empty stomachs. While children enjoy nutritious meals and sweet treats, they’re also hearing Bible stories and building relationships with caring adults who want them to know they’re loved.
“We take missions seriously here, but we can’t forsake the people who are literally in our backyard,” said pastor Jacob Haywood, who’s been at FBC Portland for two years.
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The program addresses a critical gap that emerges every summer when children who rely on free school meals suddenly lose access to those daily sources of nutrition.
“Our concern was, school was going to be out, so they were losing two meals a day there,” explained Jessica Shadowens, who has attended FBC Portland for 12 years and helps lead the program. With her background in elementary education, she understands firsthand how hunger affects children.
The need became even more apparent this year. “We are seeing a little bit more kids because the grocery prices have gone up, so parents are a little bit more apt to send them to get their lunch,” Shadowens noted.
More than just a meal
Every Tuesday and Thursday, volunteers spread across seven locations throughout Portland where children live. The setup is intentionally simple and welcoming — volunteers lay out quilts like picnics, creating an atmosphere where kids and adults can eat together and share stories.
Each lunch box contains fresh fruit, protein and other nutritious items, with extra food on Thursdays to help families through the weekend. The church partners with local organizations, such the local Food Lion, which provides fresh fruit and popsicles for summer. The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions also help purchase the protein for the food boxes.
But what sets this program apart from other feeding initiatives in the area is its dual mission.
The volunteers (primarily retired church members) have pre-prepared lessons to make it easy for them to lead. While children enjoy their meals, they also hear Bible stories following a curriculum that walks through Genesis, the fall of man, and Jesus’ life from birth to resurrection.
“I love that pairing. It’s beautiful, really,” Haywood said. “They play games, they eat food together, but also it feeds them spiritually by sharing the Word.”
The most meaningful impact comes through the relationships that develop.
“They’re almost like surrogate grandparents to these kids,” Shadowens said with a laugh, describing the mostly retired volunteer base. “Each site is so different because each leader there has done a really good job of creating their own site culture of how they do things.”
Going the extra mile
Gwendolyn Pentecost has been a volunteer since the program’s inception nine years ago.
“It sounds like a lot of work, getting out in this heat and running around playing with these kids. But it’s really a blessing,” she said. “These kids need people in their lives that consistently show up. That’s crucial to earn their trust and for them to feel comfortable with you.”
The commitment extends beyond the twice-weekly meetings. Volunteers bring children to Wednesday night church services, host pool parties and even sponsor them in basketball and cheerleading.
“When you’re called, you just got to say yes and don’t stress over it,” Pentecost said.
“These kids that are really in need want to feel loved.”
Building lasting relationships
The program serves children ages 5 and up, and the impact extends beyond the summer months. Some kids who graduated from the program return to serve in leadership or volunteer roles.
Parents often stay with their children, receiving Bible lessons alongside quality time with their kids.
“We had a teenage boy come to Christ last year at the hotel, so we do see end results sometimes,” Shadowens said. “
When we’ve had kids that have come for two or three years and they’re able to regurgitate back to you what they’ve learned, they can explain the gospel, they understand the gospel. That’s just rewarding to see.”
The program has served up to 50 to 80 children, but numbers aren’t the main focus.
“It’s really less about the number, more about the relationships,” Shadowens emphasized.
Though other programs in the area focus solely on daily nutrition, FBC Portland’s approach looks toward a longer-term goal — sowing spiritual seeds for the future, one popsicle and Bible story at a time.
“While we’re not feeding near as many kids, our mission is different,” Shadowen said. “Our end game is different.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Zoë Watkins and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
