Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Turkey Day 2022: Ministry in Phoenix meets needs with turkey, stuffing and love of Christ

  • November 23, 2022
  • Trennis Henderson
  • Arizona, Featured, Latest News, Missions
Turkey Day volunteers at Rio Vista Center in Phoenix provide area residents with donated food items for their Thanksgiving meal.
(Photo by Pam Henderson/The Baptist Paper)

Turkey Day 2022: Ministry in Phoenix meets needs with turkey, stuffing and love of Christ

Dozens of bins overflowing with canned corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, boxes of stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes and the main attraction: more than 1,000 frozen turkeys, mean only one thing at Rio Vista Center in Phoenix – Turkey Day.

This year’s 19th annual food distribution ministry attracted more than 200 volunteers from area churches and up to 2,000 community residents who began lining up early on the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving to receive entrées, sides and desserts for a festive holiday meal.

After collecting their much-anticipated turkeys and sacks filled with stuffing mix, cranberry sauce or other traditional Thanksgiving fare, Turkey Day recipients also can receive fresh produce and bakery items to add to their holiday celebrations. (Photo by Pam Henderson/The Baptist Paper)

‘Beautiful chaos’

Leaders and volunteers describe the highly organized event as “beautiful chaos.”

It features long lines of individuals, families and cars stretching across the ministry center’s parking lot. Along with the hundreds of turkeys, guests could opt for packages of ham, beef, fish or ribs instead.

As the gates officially opened at 9 a.m., snippets of conversation quickly filled the air: “Bring more birds – we need more turkeys.” “Have a blessed Thanksgiving.” “Another ham. Another ham. One more bag.”

Rosalinda Lopez was among this year’s Turkey Day recipients who arrived at 5 a.m. to claim her place in line.

“We get to have a turkey for Thanksgiving, so my family is really happy because of that,” she shared.

Expressing appreciation for the volunteers who make Turkey Day possible, Lopez said she is grateful for their commitment to “wake up early and come to give their time.”

Rio Vista, which has served the Phoenix area for several decades, has partnered in recent years with Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries as one of ABCS’s community resource centers. Rio Vista also partners with The Bridge Church, which meets in the resource center’s facilities. Donations from individuals, churches and area businesses help supply the annual food drive.

Affirming personal dignity

Aaron Norwood, The Bridge’s founding pastor, now serves full-time as director of Rio Vista Center. He recalls the first Turkey Day when volunteers distributed about 60 turkeys. That number grew to 200 the following year and has continued to expand over the years.

Noting that several nearby neighborhoods “are well below the poverty level,” Norwood said, “There are homeless people where we are, but a lot of families just have generational poverty.

“We always try to affirm people’s dignity when we serve them here,” he explained. “That’s always been very important to us.”

Citing the priority of building personal relationships, Norwood said he wants area residents to “know where they can come, know who we are, how they fit and how they belong here.” He added that many people “feel like it’s their church, even if they don’t come on Sunday.”

Offering a place of refuge

Israel Barraza, pastor of The Bridge, noted that “this area of Phoenix has always been a place where there’s a lot of brokenness. We understand there is a community here that just really needs help from Christ. Our goal is to be that church where everybody who has been here feels accepted and welcome.”

In addition to annual events such as Turkey Day, The Bridge’s Sunday morning worship features an English/Spanish bilingual service as well as one in English. The weekly services, known as the Sunday Brunch, include members and guests gathering around tables both for worship and a fellowship meal together.

Israel Barraza is the lead pastor of The Bridge Church which meets at Rio Vista Center and partners with Rio Vista for Turkey Day and other ministry projects. He said The Bridge’s goal is “to be that church where everybody who has been here feels accepted and welcome.” (Photo by Pam Henderson/The Baptist Paper)

“We want to be that refuge for the community,” Barraza affirmed. “At the same time, our focus is to preach and teach the gospel. That is our main thing always.

“We have a lot of members at our church now who first started when they came to get a food box,” he said. “It’s always a cycle; they come get a food box and then they see what we’re doing, so they want to volunteer. As they’re volunteering, they get to know the people here. We invite them to church, they start coming to church, and then they come to know Christ.

“I love that it just goes hand in hand with Turkey Day,” Barraza added. “Our hope is that they get to see God’s love in the way that we treat them and serve them.”

Nourishing soul and body

Claire Troth, a member of SouthGate Church in Phoenix, is a longtime Turkey Day volunteer who coordinates sorting and bagging food to distribute.

“We pray over every bag that it goes into the right hands, and that it blesses them and nourishes their soul and their body,” Troth said.

“A lot of people in our community are really hurting, especially this year,” she acknowledged. “I love that there are so many volunteers that want to give of their time to help.”

As he oversaw Turkey Day 2022, Norwood said serving in practical, hands-on community ministries “has always been a part of my understanding of faith — that we serve those who are underserved, those who are in need.”

“That’s what Jesus did, and I think that’s what He told us to do,” he reflected.

“The relationships are important to the community,” he said, “but that’s also really important to what we do and how we share the gospel and how we really feel that we’re sharing Christ” — one frozen turkey at a time.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Teen’s faithful example continues to lead others to Christ
    Teen’s faithful example continues to lead others to Christ
    March 28, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Evangelism gives life to dying KY church that dwindled to 9 members
    Evangelism gives life to dying KY church that dwindled to 9 members
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Artificial intelligence and Baptist associations
    Artificial intelligence and Baptist associations
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Teen’s faithful example continues to lead others to Christ

The example of faith left by 15-year-old Aleya Brooks continues to impact her middle Tennessee community. Brooks died March 4 from injuries sustained from a

Evangelism gives life to dying KY church that dwindled to 9 members

Williams Memorial Baptist Church Ravenna, Kentucky, was down to nine members following COVID–19’s devastating surge. The doors weren’t yet closed, but the sound of creaking

a computer keyboard with a green logo on it

Artificial intelligence and Baptist associations

Artificial intelligence applications such as ChatGPT are growing rapidly. The creators themselves are surprised by the fast-growing interest in this resource. Part of their surprise

Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Lesson for April 2

Jesus Died for Me John 19:16–19, 28–30, 38–42 There is a small community in southern Mississippi by the name of It — yes, It. There

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel