Food & Fellowship

There is something unique going on in Sidney, MT this winter. The Interfaith Outreach Ministry is sponsoring a community-wide effort to provide food and fellowship from Jan. 5 through March 31. Soup and bread will be served from 6-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Hal Campbell, who came up with the idea, says that “the main goal of the program is to reach out to the newest members of our community.” The location of the meals will rotate between different churches and charities.

Les Anderson, the pastor of Assembly of God Church, supported Campbell’s idea, and has sponsored several meetings of local church representatives to get this program off the ground. Assembly of God has been serving Wednesday evening meals in December – which has been a “trial run” to prove that the idea was feasible. The following churches have January meals scheduled: Faith Alliance, Latter Day Saints, Lonsdale Methodist, Lutheran Brotherhood, Pella Lutheran, Saint Matthews Catholic Church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran, and Trinity Lutheran Churches. The Boys’ and Girls’ Club will also sponsor a night. It is anticipated that other churches and charities will sponsor meals in the future.

“This is not a handout,” Campbell says; “it is reaching out [to the newest members of our community with a hand of friendship.” Many of these newcomers in our community are living in campers and RVs. This could be a long, cold, and miserable winter for them. These nightly meals are also an opportunity for everyone to avoid cabin fever. The respective churches may, in fact, want to use their designated night to invite their own membership to “a night out” to dine and congregate.

There is no charge for these meals. This program is being generously supported by oil companies and local businesses. An appreciation banner (honoring specific contributors) is being prepared. If you would like to contribute to this cause you may write a check to Assembly Of God Interfaith Outreach Ministry.

Nobody knows for sure how many “camper people” will come for these meals. Newcomers should be reassured, however, that these gatherings will not include any preaching or proselytizing.

This program is an opportunity for the different Christian churches in town to focus on their similarities. It embraces the Christian theme of wanting to serve others. It is, in some ways, an experimental program; it is hoped that it will be successful, and will pave the way for other shared ventures in the future.

The schedule of where the meals will be held accompanies this article. There will also be a variety of public service announcements on the radio, local TV stations, and newspapers. Everyone is invited to support this winter warm meal program. If you have any questions (or want to help out) you can call Assembly of God (433-2550) or any of the respective church offices for details.