Feeding the Community with a Handful

By Rev. Wilhelmenia D. DeVone-Harvey, 6th Episcopal District

There are many articles written about how small churches are a struggling and dying breed. However, Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry once told me a story about a “little” church that she pastored when she first started in ministry. She said that when she was first appointed, someone made a comment that the church they were sending her to was “dead.” She said that she told her then-husband, Cary, and he asked her if there were any people at the church. She stated that she said, “Yes,” and he said, “Well, they need a pastor.” 

This story stuck in my head; and when I arrived at my first charge on the first Sunday in June 2017 at Ridge Grove AME Church in Hampton, Georgia, his words would ring in my ears, “Well, they need a pastor.” I said to myself, “You are it.” 

We were small in numbers. I knew I could count on my goddaughter, Trecia; her teenage son, Jahquanie; and my two sons, Tommy and Joseph, who were away at college. I settled in with my handful of faithful congregants and told them that I am “working with a handful, but with God, all things are possible.” It has been 18 ½ months since I walked through those doors asking God to help me become a loving servant of His people. I never looked at the numbers after that. I looked at the endless possibilities of God. I figured that if I had successfully led military soldiers, I could successfully lead God’s people. The only difference was I was changing battlefields and commanders-in-chief. Through much prayer, love, training, and teaching, we have grown into a great place of worship that is making a difference.

I have never been one to run away from a challenge. On one Sunday morning, I decided to stop at the all-white church across the railroad tracks from our church. I met Pastor Sunday. Her service started at 9:30 a.m., the same time as our Sunday School. On another Sunday morning, my members and I gathered at Lovejoy United Methodist Church and worshipped with them. It was a wonderful experience and has led to powerful ministry, which is the focus of this article.

It has been my vision to open a food pantry. When I arrived to “The Ridge,” there was an upper level that was in dire need of repairs. I visualized a pantry up there. As any great leader knows, you do not walk in the door with a vision and ideas without getting a feel of the people. However, there was a lady in the church, the matriarch, named Lucy Mae Hicks. She said, “Pastor, you know, I would love for us to have a food pantry.” That was confirmation and my opportunity. I said, “Sister Lucy, me too.” I knew that God was in the midst and it would happen. However, there was a slight problem. We had no finances for renovations or food. 

At the beginning of my second appointment in June of this year, I was driving to church and the Holy Spirit spoke to me again about opening the food pantry. I began telling God all the reasons why it would have to be delayed: finances, budgetary obligations, renovations, and food. On that same Sunday, members of Lovejoy UMC came and worshipped with us. One of those members, an elderly lady and our first donor, Mrs. Margaret Dorsey was with her son, Gordon and his wife. She approached me after service and asked if we were “taking donations for a food pantry.” I froze and thought to myself, “Okay God, this is confirmation that you will provide for us.” Her son told me later that it had been his mother’s vision to have a food pantry at their church but there was no room. We had the room and no finances. She, the Lovejoy UMC, and many others have donated money, food, and time to our pantry. 

We prayed and stepped out on faith and in less than six months, on December 9, 2018, we dedicated and opened The Lucy Mae Hicks Food Pantry without going into any debt. I always tell my Executive Assistant, Kathy Ponder, I am still working with a handful but that handful and I are in God’s hands and that makes anything possible.  

The Rev. Wilhelmenia D. DeVone-Harvey is the senior pastor of Ridge Grove AME Church in Hampton, Georgia.