Scott Van Neste, the pastor of Bellepoint Baptist in Frankfort was thankful the church was spared from the recent floodwaters. It came close with water encircling the church located near the Kentucky River, he said.
While his church, by God’s grace, was safe from damage he understands many in the community were suffering. And some were hungry.
Van Neste’s church decided to do something and have been serving meals — lunch and dinner — since Thursday (April 10). He said they have different crews who hand out meals that were provided by the World Century Kitchen, a non-profit and non-Christian organization that approached them about handing out the meals.
‘Not just sandwiches’
Van Neste said he contacted the North American Mission Board to check about taking the meals from the group and was told that they had used them as well.
“It’s good stuff, not just sandwiches,” he said. “They’re getting vegetables and full meals. We are thankful to have them to pass out.” The church has served about 100 meals per day since Thursday, he said.
Van Neste noted his congregation has been able to have some gospel conversations. They have laid out Bibles and gospel tracts for anyone to have. He said one of the workers with World Century Kitchen asked him if they could have a Bible which of course he said “Yes!”
First Corinthians Missionary Baptist was also providing meals in the community near them, said Doug Hamblin, the associational mission strategist for the Franklin Association.
“All of our associational churches have been chipping in, doing what they can to help,” he said.
Van Neste, who is the moderator for the association, said several churches have joined in helping in an area of the state that was hit hard. Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will begin working in Frankfort through Thursday. Then they will return for another week after Easter.
“Our neighborhood was cut off,” Van Neste said.
‘As long as it is need’
Homes all around the church and further up the river were flooded, Van Neste said. He has been the pastor there for 18 years and said they never had water in the building.
“I wasn’t worried until Sunday night and I thought this could be bad. We need to get stuff off the main floor. I had inherited a theological library, and we had some musical instruments in there. We tried to go back to move stuff and couldn’t get into the community. Thankfully, we didn’t have any water.”
As for passing out the meals, the World Century Kitchen said they would provide food for “as long as it is needed” and Van Neste is committed to doing the same in making sure those in the community there are able to get a meal — and hopefully a word from God.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mark Maynard and originally published by Kentucky Today.
