By Baptist Message staff
PINEVILLE, La. (LBM) – A loss of electricity may have prevented Esler Baptist Church in Pineville from holding services Sunday, Aug. 30, but the setback did not hamper their efforts to bless neighbors with a community meal.
Twenty of Esler’s 90 members prepared a burger lunch, using gas grills, to 320 people who came from as far as 20 miles away. Additionally, a representative from the Salvation Army picked up 45 of the meals for individuals staying at a shelter.
Pastor Joshua Timothy said his members were able to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people looking for encouragement.
“We have a lot of people in our area who are struggling,” Timothy told the Baptist Message. “Right now, more than ever, we need to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding. My church once again stepped up and saw an opportunity to serve those in need.”
This Saturday, the members plan to cook lunch again, this time a spaghetti meal at Comrade Baptist Church in Simpson, which sustained damage to the roof and inside the facilities. Jennifer Quebodeaux, a member of Esler and co-organizer, expects her church to be just as enthusiastic at Comrade as they were during Sunday’s outreach.
“It was really nice to see people from the community come through and for so many from our church to participate,” she said. We had people also from the community. “It was hectic and crazy but it was really nice to see our members pull this off, from those as young as two to you to 72. We had our fans hooked up to a generator.”
