Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Monticello Community Prayer Breakfast began its 28th year with a large crowd of 62 people from a variety of area churches who gathered on Thursday, Sept. 8, to sing, pray, be inspired and share a meal together. This month the event was hosted by the First United Methodist Church, whose members welcomed the group with a delicious buffet of scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, gravy and peach cobbler.
After Mike Grishom of Gideon's International led a singing of “This Is My Story,” Gary Wright, founder and organizer of the monthly prayer breakfasts, read a prayer given by President George Washington:
Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Then Wright commented, “That's America's foundation. That's the Judeo-Christian values this country was founded on, expressed in the words of our president, George Washington.”
The next portion of the program was set aside for community announcements.
Gideon International announced that they are initiating some new forms of Bible distribution: vacation Bible schools and food distribution events. Churches and organizations may contact Gideon International about setting up a table during one day of their vacation Bible school week or to distribute scriptures along with food items.
Bill Snyder announced that the free video-series Constitution Alive! is restarting at the request of eight people who just completed the course and want it offered again. The first class will be held on Constitution Day, Saturday, Sept. 17, from 1 to 2 p.m. at 166 E. Dogwood St., and will continue for 11 weeks.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katrina Richardson shared the flyer “Fall Fun in Monticello,” which lists six local events during the month of October, including Fall Farm Days at Aunt Louise's Farm, the Scarecrow Extravaganza, Farm Tour 2022, Ghoul's Night Out, Halloweekend and Downtown Candy Crawl. See the Chamber's website for more information.
Next, Rev. Steve Pessah of Christ Episcopal Church led the prayer for the sick and distressed.
The gathering culminated with the testimony of Kathy Hicks, a fourth generation Floridian and retired English teacher who moved to Monticello with her husband, John Hicks, who pastored the First United Methodist Church of Monticello for five years. Upon his retirement, they made Monticello their permanent home.
Hicks spoke about her passion for feeding the hungry. Hicks first became involved in a food ministry when her husband took a ministerial appointment in Clearwater. At a shelter for homeless people there, Hicks learned the importance of giving generously when feeding the hungry and in making eye contact with those in need. She also began creating “Blessing Bags” filled with nonperishable food and other items to have ready to give whenever she might encounter a person in need.
“In the midst of giving out the blessing bags, we have been blessed more than the people we have served,” said Hicks. “I've had some amazing experiences. I have to tell you that when I first started, I would just basically give them the bag and say 'God bless you.' Then the Lord began to say, 'You need to do more,' and somehow he emboldened me to be able to talk with them and to ask, 'Why are you homeless? What is going on with you?' and many times to pray with them. I don't think anyone has ever turned me down when I asked, 'Can I pray for you?' They are always grateful for that.”
Hicks talked in depth about the local food pantry, Eagles' Wings, with which she has been involved for about eight years. She talked about how a change to a drive-though approach that was put in place to continue service during the pandemic has, surprisingly, led to more opportunities for personal interactions with those who come to pick up food items.
“When the people drive through,” she explained, “they get four or five bags of food... and we have a chance to speak to them personally... We've got to the point now that people are starting to share their needs, and we are forming relationships, and that is happening with our entire team. So it really has become, in my view, not just a distribution but a ministry.”
Because of the current economy, Hicks said that the number of people coming to Eagles' Wings Food Pantry has seen a huge increase. While they receive food from Second Harvest, Farm Share, Pizza Hut and Subway, donations from the community will be welcome.
Hicks closed her testimony by reading a familiar passage from Matthew 25:35-40:
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Then she gave a challenge: “We all know that this world is crazy. It's chaotic. It's violent. It's sad. And my challenge to you is to make yourself aware of those who are hungry, because there are a lot of people who are hungry, and not just for food. People are hungry for love. They are hungry for acceptance. They are hungry to have peace in their lives. They are hungry to be recognized as a person of worth, and they are hungry for so many other things. There are lots of people who need to be clothed, first of all of course with clothes, but people need to be clothed with self-respect and with freedom and with dignity and security and so many other things. There are a lot of people in prison, the prison of addiction, the prison of fear, the prison of loneliness – many, many prisons. My challenge to you is open your eyes and look for people around you who could use a kind word or a smile or a 'hi how are you today.' You would be amazed what a difference it makes when you intentionally do that with people. We can't change the world, but we can change this little corner of our world by being aware and opening our eyes and our hearts to others.”
As a benediction, all joined saying in the Lord's Prayer.
Wright invites every one to the Monticello Community Prayer Breakfast on Oct. 6, which will be hosted by the First Baptist Church of Monticello. Chris Tuten is scheduled as the guest speaker.
For more information, contact Wright at (850) 933-5567 or Lgwright39@embarqmail.com.
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