ST. JOSEPH – Pastor David Gouge of the First Baptist Church, St. Joseph, says they like to call their fall food ministry efforts “ThankServing.” They help an area food bank called Second Harvest prepare donated food to be distributed at area schools and 12 food pantries in the northwest Missouri city. In early November they had five volunteers spend a day bagging up potatoes and other groceries to be shared with people in need who receive food through the Second Harvest warehouse.
Pastor Gouge said the First Baptist Church is in the downtown area of St. Joseph. It is in a historic building which was built in 1896 and the church was established in 1845. The downtown area is an aging part of the city and the newer development is out on the edges of town. But First Baptist is an iconic structure and they are there to serve their community. About 80 to 100 people attend most Sundays. They have been larger in the past. Several other area churches were started in years past as missions of this church.
ST. JOSEPH – Members of First Baptist Church get ready to sort potatoes into smaller portion bags for distribution to area schools and food pantries in the city. (Photo by David Gouge)
Gouge has been serving there as pastor since 2019. He said they came through the COVID pandemic in 2020 and after a few years they are starting to move forward again. “The church is in need of revitalization,” he said. He has been helping them turn to a more outward focus and the ThankServing project is one way to get the people out into their community.
Like any city, there are pockets of poverty-impacted people in St. Joseph. The city of 75,000 residents is home to a little industry, some historical tourism sites and is a regional retail center for that part of Missouri. Kansas City, some 45 minutes south by freeway, is a hub for employment for many people.
And First Baptist Church is there to help with efforts to feed the community. They partner with the Second Harvest organization, which serves about 10,000 St. Joseph area residents each week. They have the central food bank as well as several mobile food vans offering groceries to different neighborhoods of the city and to surrounding communities. Second Harvest provides non-perishable food supplies as well as fresh dairy items, produce and meats.
They also send food to schools where it is sent home with some students to help insure they have enough to eat over the weekend. They refer to these bags of food as “Campus Cupboards.” And they give away hams, turkeys and other holiday groceries to people during the holiday season.
Gouge said, “As we are helping this church become revitalized we wanted to reach outside our church walls. We are trying to serve our community with the love of Christ.”
He said they volunteer in the Second Harvest warehouse several times a year. They prepared about 200 bags of food for school children this past month.
In the summer they assist by setting up mobile donation points in front of grocery stores where people can drop off food.
The city of St. Joseph’s population can find food assistance at 12 smaller food pantries, many of whom depend on Second Harvest for their grocery supplies. One of these is the food pantry at Patee Park Baptist Church, located somewhat close to First Baptist Church. The First Baptist members partner with Patee Park members for some projects.
At First Baptist location there are “emergency rations” available for people who may drop by in need of food. Non-perishable care packages are stored there for needy people most of the time, the pastor said.
So, in an older, traditional congregation like First Baptist of St. Joseph, it’s important to share God’s love with their poverty-impacted community.
Though the church has declined in attendance in recent decades, it is doing what it can to serve their community. Sharing food, offering worship services, Sunday school classes and Bible studies and caring for the food needs of the St. Joseph residents is part of their revitalization strategy.
The pastor said the revitalization is “slower than we like” but he believes it is coming back together. They have a focus on their community, and that seems to be the key.