Southern Baptist hunger ministries help to provide food and the gospel message to people in need around the state. Matt Thackerson, the Baptist Convention of New Mexico’s Missions Mobilization team leader, said the primary desire for these supported hunger ministries is to provide not just a “temporary hope” but also “eternal food.”
The Rock at Noonday is one of those ministries.
Located in Albuquerque, it is dedicated to feeding the homeless and providing necessities such as showers, haircuts and laundry, as well as access to services such as legal aid and help finding a home. The ministry’s hope, their website reads, is to help people regain a stable life.
In addition to seeking to aid people with their physical needs, workers at the Rock at Noonday seek to meet those in need with God’s love.
“Our dedicated staff is trained to extend a helping hand, meeting individuals where they are with the love and compassion of God,” the ministry’s website says.
Serving the hurting
Executive director Ricardo Devine wrote a letter that highlighted that love and compassion in an encounter he had with a Muslim gentleman from Lebanon. The letter said, “As a Muslim, he inquired about the driving force behind the work I do. With sincerity, I shared that my calling stems from Christ’s commandment to love and serve the hurting in our community. His response was one of gratitude, acknowledging the genuine care exhibited by Christians like us.”
The Rock at Noonday also seeks to bring the gospel to those who come through their doors. They offer Bible studies, prayer groups and a chance for people to meet individually.
According to the last quarterly report, the BCNM’s State Missions Offering supports 22 Southern Baptist hunger ministries in New Mexico, including the Rock at Noonday.
The ministries come in different forms.
Some, like the Rock at Noonday, operate as a standalone ministry. Others, however, are typically a program or activity of a cooperating Baptist church. Some offer meals, while others provide foodstuffs, clothes and more. Sometimes, people who come for food also hear and accept the gospel.
State Missions Offering hunger funds primarily support hunger ministries by providing funds for food. The SMO, collected by the BCNM and administered by its Missions Mobilization Team, collects gifts donated by participating Baptist churches around the end of the year. The SMO supports a variety of missional ministries the following year. Among those causes are hunger ministries.
Any cooperating church or members can donate or pray to support the efforts of the Missions Mobilization Team and the hunger ministries. Churches with a hunger ministry that want to apply for funds can email Diana Longoria at dlongoria@bcnm.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Johanna Nelson and originally published by the Baptist New Mexican.
