In searching for ministry or volunteer opportunities, it is often easy to overlook some of the organizations that happen to be located right in your backyard. In early 2008, as the TGIF and Oasis community groups were looking for local ministries to volunteer at, the organization known as Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) surfaced, mainly through positive word of mouth from other community groups' at Harvest. At that time, I did not think much of it and was completely oblivious to FMSC's location, which is right down the street from where I live. Upon looking further into this opportunity, our groups decided that this would be an ideal place for all of our community group members to participate in.
In looking back, I am truly grateful for FMSC's ministry as I think everyone who volunteered that one Saturday morning can attest to not only the joys of being able to pre-package food for those children starving around the world but also the group bonding experience associated with it. The packing station was similar to an assembly line where each of us had a defining role in the process and where our individual contributions led to a common outcome. It was amazing how many packages of food we, and other volunteer groups, prepared for shipment by noon. As I reflected on the experience, it became clear to me how our distinct roles that day resembles the unique talents and gifts that God blessed us with in reaching out to the lost and in furthering His kingdom. We each serve different purposes in God's eyes with that same eternal focus.
The next time there is a call for ministry or volunteer work, one of the best places to look is right in your own neighborhood. This may be why God placed you there in the first place.
Jack Liu
Community Group Leader
Originally posted to Life is Ministry on Monday, October 15, 2007
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Last Friday night my daughter Abigail and I and a group from Harvest Church went to a Feed My Starving Children mobile packing event. It is exactly what it sounds like. FMSC is an organization that prepares special packets of nutritious dried food that is then shipped to missionaries working in areas of extreme poverty where children are starving to death. I think there were around 120 people working at the shift we were at and in two hours we were able to prepare over 28,000 packaged meals.Preparing food for the hungry was more than just a time of work. It was a time of
worship and a blessing to be able to be part of it. It was so good being able to share this experience with Abi as well. She kept asking me who was making the kids sick, and I kept trying to explain in different ways that in some places people don't have any way to get the food that they need. She had trouble understanding how this could happen, but was very eager to prepare food for the kids who are starving. When we were driving home I asked her what her favorite part of the day was. She said, "The party". I was 
confused and when I asked her she responded, "You know, the party where we made food for the kids."To find out more about how you can serve, visit the FMSC website.
Matthew Swain Pastor of Outreach Ministries
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