Ed Lewis, executive director of CE National reports on the recent Urban Hope Training Center Thanksgiving Outreach, which was held November 17 and 18 at Urban Hope’s Philadelphia location. (Click here for more information.)
“I was in Philly for the Thanksgiving packing event November 17-18. What a fun day to meet hundreds of people who came to the church to receive their Thanksgiving meals. We met and prayed with some and talked casually to all.
“They LOVE this event each year. The families pay $5 to get the meal which is hugely subsidized by outside people who give generously in response to the letter we send out each year. This year when we opened the day for registering for the meals we had 215 people lined up all around the block. We said we would start registering people at 10 a.m. and people were in line at 7:30 a.m.
“They then pay the $5 and pick up the meal at the church. While they wait their turn we have snacks and worship music in the waiting area. Lots of people from our church are there to greet the people and talk with them. So encouraging. We also give each family a Jesus video as our gift to them to learn the real meaning of Christmas!
“Thank you to all who participated in this outreach…by participation, prayer, or financially supporting this event. 270 households were blessed, loved on, and presented with the good news that is only found in Jesus! Please pray with us that God would continue to use this annual outreach to make a spiritual difference in the lives of families who need Jesus!”