Article written by Becky Dawson from St. Andrew’s Chelsea.
As she stood in the doorway, the unholy trio of weed, alcohol and cigarette smoke threatened to overwhelm the buttery waft coming from her bag. Her loving mission felt like a battle.
‘What?’ was the dismissive response.
Her foot stuttered on the landing step, retreating.
The trolley by her waist, she realised too late, made her look like a saleswoman.
The closing door confirmed this conclusion.
‘Wait,’ she tried, too late.
Her voice was punctuated with the slam of another door. Full stop.
She tried the next, number 108. This one had a bell, a cracked moon. She pressed it.
A long pause.
Hand on trolley, about to move to 109, the sound of a chain pulled her back.
The door opened a crack.
‘Would you like some bread?’
She had learnt you had to get to the point – if you were ever given an inch, if the door even opened.
She held one up, an offering.
‘Free,’ she added quickly.
The door hesitated.
‘I’m from the local church, and I collect any unsold bread from a bakery that normally chucks it out, so it doesn’t go to waste.’
The door relented enough for the dim glare from the spluttering electric bulb to expose a pair of green eyes.
A hand reached out. Chipped red finger polish. A plaster embracing the index finger. No rings.
A loaf was lifted and passed.
‘Would you like some more? There are some pastries. Here.’ Fingers pulled at bags and lifted another parcel.
‘Free?’
‘Yes, all free,’ Penny said.
Lips curled upwards like they were remembering how to smile.
‘Thank you.’
Another pause.
‘Where did you say you were from again?’
‘I’m from the local church, St Andrew’s.’
‘I haven’t been to church in years…’
‘We have lots of people who haven’t been to church in years, lots of different ages and stages in life. We would love to see you there.’
***
This is an example of one brief interaction among many that the team at St Andrew’s Chelsea have had through ‘Bread for Life’.
This new door-to-door ministry takes unsold produce from local bakeries and redistributes it to needy members of the community, loving them in this way to win an ear for the gospel message. We long to tell them of the one who can give living bread that will satisfy our deepest needs.
The ministry targets the neediest and most vulnerable in local communities, highlighting to that community the presence of the church. From it many gospel conversations have been had and several people have come along to the church, with one lady planning to join a group Bible study.
Please pray for the team at St Andrew’s, for the volunteers to be filled with Christ-like compassion, a heart for seeking the lost and a boldness to take opportunities to speak of Christ.
Perhaps you could even recreate this in your church? Approach a local bakery or café regarding their unsold produce. Use a door-to-door app, such as the one developed by St Paul’s Harringay. This allows you to track the houses covered and to list potential follow-up opportunities – those who don’t want to be contacted again or those grateful for food and who would appreciate more.
For more ideas on recreating this model in your church, please contact: paulandpen@gmail.com
