Along with meeting the needs of the body, we also fill the needs of the soul by offering a Bible class to those who ride on the bus to the location. We have a great time! We sing, we pray, and we have a Bible lesson. Over the years, this aggressive benevolent outreach ministry has become a doorway into people attending church services with the Mobile Inner City church of Christ, and has brought people to obedience to the Gospel! Bible class is not mandatory for people to receive a bag of groceries; it is offered for those who want to attend. Over time, by supplying people with a need we have established trust, and built relationships that has resulted in opportunities to teach the Bible and to preach the saving message of the Gospel! Below, are some photos and information that explains a little more how this is done on the first Thursday of the month that is hosted by the Azalea City church of Christ:

Adults from the inner city arrive at the Azalea City church of Christ first Thursday of the month grocery giveaway. The Azalea City congregation purchases canned goods and food items through the food bank each month. The Mobile Inner City church of Christ provides bus transportation to and from the facility.

We arrive around 10:00am and people who are receiving assistance with food go through a registration and sign-up process. We are met with smiles, warm greetings and plenty of good conversation about what's going in life ensues.

Keeping accurate records is important to a benevolent operation, such as the grocery giveaway. Proof of income eligibility is required for most food banks that are subsidized by the Federal Government. Here, in this photo, Terry Cagle who serves as the pulpit minister with the Azalea City congregation, gets in on the action! Ministries, such as the grocery giveaway at Azalea City, provide an arena for Christians to serve their community and meet the needs of the poor. There is a place in God's Kingdom for every Christian to serve!

In the bottom picture we see groceries have already been bagged prior to people arriving to receive assistance. When people sign-up during the registration process they are given a ticket that they bring to the people serving at the counter to receive their bag of groceries. We appreciate all those who serve to make this ministry an effective tool of outreach! What we do together we do well!

Over the years, and through the various congregations that have hosted a once a month grocery giveaway, many have attended Bible classes. This enjoyable event has led to many coming through the doors of the Inner City church building on Sundays mornings, and for some to enter the watery grave of baptism, and to rise into newness of life in our Lord Jesus! This is aggressive benevolence at it's best!

The typical household income of the people we reach out to in the inner city of Mobile is less than eight thousand dollars a year; whether young or old, poverty has no prejudice.

In both of the photographs we see two women smiling. One is a young adult single mother with child, the other is a senior citizen who lives in one of the roughest areas of the city. However, though some might wonder what it is like to live in the conditions of poverty in the inner city, these two ladies find joy in the presence of God through the loving-kindness and care of His people!

The saying, "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" is true. The people who come to receive groceries knows the churches of Christ care, and that opens a door for them to be interested in what we know; the Gospel of our Lord and Savior!

Thanks to all Christians who care to help make a difference in the lives of those in the inner city!