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Church uses food program as ministry
First United Methodist Church in downtown Russellville has been offering the Shepherd’s Table Ministry since May of this year.
Currently offered on the third Sunday of each month, the Shepherd’s Table is a food-based ministry where members of the church offer a meal, music and a devotion. The program usually lasts a little over an hour.
“The Shepherd’s Table Ministry is just our response to the calling of every church to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community for those who need help or may otherwise distance themselves from the church,” FUMC Pastor Alan Beasley said.
Beasley added that the program is mostly a lay ministry that was first organized by church member Judy Matthews.
Matthews first received the idea for the Shepherd’s Table ministry from a similar program done by First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia.
“When we first started discussing plans for our new ministry center, our pastor, Alan Beasley, told us it would be a place where people could come to know the love of Christ,” Matthews said.
“After that, I began to think of ways we could show this vision statement. I knew that First Methodist in Tuscumbia had a Shepherd’s Table program, so I presented the idea to our committee and everyone felt it would be something good for us to do.”
After committing to the ministry, Matthews and a committee of church members began plans for getting the Shepherd’s Table going here in Russellville.
“The people on this committee have worked very hard to bring this ministry to Russellville,” Matthews said. “The program has done well, and it’s great to see people responding to it.”
The ministry is doing well enough that the committee has decided to offer the Shepherd’s Table twice a month instead of just once.
Starting in January, the Shepherd’s Table will be offered on the first and third Sundays each month.
“Whether we have three people show up or 50, if just one person is able to experience the love of Christ, it’s all worth it,” Matthews said.
The next Shepherd’s Table will be Sunday, Oct. 17 from 12:30 – 1:45 in the ministry center of Russellville FUMC.
