Posted: 11/10/06
| FC Dallas soccer players help distribute corporate donations through BGCT City Reach partnership with Lift Up America to help provide food and resources for needy people. |
CityReach/Lift Up America
alliance feeds hungry families
By Barbara Bedrick
Texas Baptist Communications
FRISCO—Waiting in a long line failed to faze Joe Patterson, pastor of Greater New Zion Baptist Church in Dallas. He knew he would soon receive more than 1,000 pounds of chicken as part of the Baptist General Convention of Texas City Reach 2006.
Visiting with other Baptist pastors and FC Dallas soccer team players fresh from the playoffs, Patterson was pleased to participate in the BGCT City Reach Lift Up America alliance to help others.
“We are excited to be a part of this City Reach opportunity,” he said. “This will enable us to help hundreds of hungry families in our community.”
The BGCT partnered with the FC Dallas team, Lift Up America and its corporate sponsors, including Tyson, Interstate Batteries and Ty Beanie Babies.
Gathering to reap the gifts, Baptist ministers and church members loaded up vans and trucks to provide for North Texas children and families who have no food.
“This gift—1,000 pounds of chicken—will help meet the needs of those less fortunate in our county, and more importantly help us share the gospel,” said Melinda Polk, director of Kaufman Christian Help Center. “This partnership is wonderful for our families and our children.”
Hefting boxes of food, batteries and dolls, FC Dallas soccer team players teamed up with Texas Baptists to help distribute donations from the Lift Up America Day of Sharing Nov. 6.
Founded in 2004 with a mission to serve communities across the country, Lift Up America provides necessities to families nationwide. It will provide more than 2,600 North Texas families meals for several weeks.
“Our partnership with Lift Up America gives us the opportunity to help provide resources that we often take for granted,” said Clark Hunt, investor/operator of FC Dallas. “Our team is proud to take time to give back to the community in this heartfelt mission.”
Coordinating 17 churches and ministries, the BGCT expedited distribution of corporate donations, 20,000 pounds of chicken, hundreds of batteries and dozens of dolls.
“We are blessed to be a part of this corporate humanitarian event to help reach hundreds of families in our communities,” said Gerald Davis, BGCT community development specialist.
“It is estimated that nearly one in three children will drop out of school; the likelihood increases when students are faced with extra challenges. Hopefully, the donations of these caring corporations will help end the cycle,” said Dave Hannah, CEO of Lift Up America.
The Lift Up America Day of Sharing was one of dozens of City Reach 2006 events happening prior to the BGCT annual meeting in Dallas. More than 400 people attended community block parties at Valley View Baptist Church in Farmer’s Branch and Keystone Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
“This is our first outreach to the community since I arrived as pastor three months ago,” said Damon Halliday, pastor of Keystone Baptist Church. “In that time, the church has grown from 15 members to 100.”
The City Reach event included a mime performance about Christ’s return, a Christian comedian, basketball tournaments for children, a live band and a message from Christian athlete and world champion power lifter Randall Harris.
“Shy away from the things that will destroy your dreams in life,” Harris said.
Texas Baptists also were slated to work with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes in south and west Dallas.
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