B. Johnson, 9th Episcopal District
Thank you, Soup Kitchen Ministry, for serving 210 hot meals for Thanksgiving and 241 hot meals for Christmas to the Huntsville community! The Soup Kitchen Volunteers shopped, sorted, and distributed 68 food boxes for Thanksgiving and 113 food boxes for Christmas! This year alone, the St. John Soup Kitchen has provided 6,687 hot and cold meals to recipients of the Huntsville Community. The food for the meals and the food items for the boxes were made possible through the generous contributions of the congregation and the dedicated and committed service of the Soup Kitchen volunteers. Job well done! (Data provided by Mrs. Stephanie Scott, Soup Kitchen Ministry Coordinator.)
As stated by Deaconess Charlsie Brooks in 2017, the mission of the Soup Kitchen remains the same: “Our ministry uses the vehicle of food to feed the kingdom by providing excellence in quality and service to all we serve.” Deaconess Brooks continued to say that they strive to live Hebrew 13:2, “Do not forget to entertain strangers for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.1” According to Deaconess Brooks, the intent was not only to share a meal but also to share the love of Jesus and develop a relationship with the people being served.
The St. John Soup Kitchen Ministry has served the Huntsville community since 2012. The concept for the ministry was initiated by Deaconess Charlsie Brooks and approved by the late Reverend Dr. Homer L. McCall. The soup kitchen operated initially only once a month. The Reverend Dr. Patrick Clayborn suggested increasing the meal service to twice monthly. As the years progressed, The Caregivers’ Prayer and Respite (CPR) Ministry partnered with the Soup Kitchen to deliver hot meals on the third Tuesday to the sick and shut-in members. The members of the CPR Ministry delivered a total of 600 hot and cold meals this past year.
Several community agencies have benefited from the St. John Soup Kitchen. The Harris Home for Children provides meals during the summer when school is not in session. First Stop, a community organization that meets the needs of the unsheltered, receives meals. The Meadow Hill Initiative and Madison County Adult Daycare also receive meals. Then, the community neighbors line up as early as 11:00 am in preparation for the doors opening at 11:30.
In 2017, the St. John Soup Kitchen was recognized in the St. John AME Newsletter for serving over 5000 meals. The article was titled, “Feeding of the 5000….The Evolution of the Soup Kitchen.” The article was reprinted in The Christian Recorder. Serving 6,687 meals in 2024 surpassed the previous milestone set in 2016-2017 of serving 5,649 meals. St. John is AME Proud!
“To God be the glory, great things He has done and is doing at St. John!”
Johnson, Barbara. “Feeding of the 5000…The Evolution of the Soup Kitchen.” The St. John AMEN. October 2017. Vol. 22. Issue 22: pages 4-7.
