Community service is a good thing, but not in perpetuity.
Community service should only precede a plan for community empowerment. God calls us all to be servants, but it is not His will that we are to be perpetually served. If you have a connection to get and give away food and supplies why not help organize the community residents and share that connection with them so they can feed and supply themselves? Or at least employ the residents to serve other residents. This is one of the reasons many impoverished black youth don’t go into missions or community service. They didn’t get a chance to see themselves serving. It’s not about race, because nobody wants to keep coming to anyone else for help with basic human needs. It’s demeaning.
A few years back, I recall visiting a local food pantry to try and determine if God was leading us in that direction of outreach. I watched as dozens of people gathered outside waiting for the pantry to open for the day. I noticed how lively and jovial many were as they greeted other friends and relatives waiting in line. However, as soon as the food pantry door opened all fun and laughter ceased. Heads and shoulders lowered and looks of gloom and brokenness replaced giddy frivolity. Even those that were loud and boisterous outside had become subdued and soft spoken. I went inside and noticed many were interrogated to determine the date of their last visit to the pantry. What is your name? Show us your identification. Sign in. Only one box/bag per person. Jesus loves you and God bless you. See you next week.
Christ empowered us all by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so we don’t have to continue to go to the priest for forgiveness, direction or blessings. Yet folk are expected to keep coming to our churches/ministries for help. And Yes, the Bible does say “.... the poor will always be with us.” However, It is not referring to the same poor people. Any partnership predicated on its constituents staying in a position of need is antithetical to the work of Christ.
If any man be in Christ he is a new creation. Old things are passed away and behold all things become new.
CHURCH, Community service without empowerment is community exploitation. And, that's not ministry...that's part of the problem.
Christ came that we all might have life and have it more abundantly.