Rochelle Epps arrived early for Sunday service at New Fellowship Church of God when she spotted a man sitting on the front steps, his red cart just a few feet away. It was an unusual sight but not unexpected. She and her husband, John, founders of Fellowship Outreach Ministries, prayed for this day for weeks and she sensed the Lord was at work.
"He was exhausted," Rochelle said of the stranger who was taking a breather, straddling the gulf between his past, and a possible new life in Christ.
It turns out Marcus, in a display of dogged determination, walked to the church from his efficiency motel more than two miles away. After getting lost more than once, he was grateful to cross paths with a patrolman.
"The police officer showed him how to get to the church," Rochelle said.
Still, it took Marcus at least an hour to arrive at New Fellowship where he hoped to get fixings for a Thanksgiving meal through Boxes of Love®, a project of Cru® Inner City.
"It was all for a Box of Love," Rochelle said, her voice surging upward in amazement. "I probably would've turned around. But he didn't. He kept coming."
Boxes of Love, made possible through committed Cru Inner City donors, contain ingredients for a complete Thanksgiving meal for six, a Bible and gospel literature. Cru then provides the boxes to partner ministries and churches. These partners already have well-established relationships in their neighborhoods, a type of intimacy that fosters sharing the gospel.
| “People just want to be invited. It makes them feel good.” | This particular Sunday, the Boxes of Love were sponsored by Rochelle's Fellowship Outreach Ministry and hosted by the church. In preparation for the distribution, Rochelle and her grandson, Noah Sims, handed out flyers around the community, primarily at bargain-rate motels where many in need congregate. |
The flyers invited those needing a Thanksgiving meal to attend a worship service at New Fellowship, where the boxes were distributed upon its conclusion. Additional boxes were delivered to homes around the community. In all 56 Boxes of Love were gifted to the community.
One of the flyers made its way to Marcus.
"People just want to be invited," Rochelle, an evangelist at heart, said. "It makes them feel good."
After spending a few minutes chatting with Marcus she invited him to stay for the service, where the sermon focused on love.
"He sat on the second row and listened to every word, every praise and worship song. Everything that went (on) he was right in the midst of it. He stayed for the Word, the benediction, everything.
"He sat quietly, just listening and taking in everything. He seemed to really enjoy the service."
When the altar call came, Marcus continued to listen but stayed seated. Even so, she remains hopeful.
| “It's like he found peace with God after he came into the house of God.” | "I think he really did want to come to church," Rochelle said. "He could have got food anywhere. I think it was the church, just going to the church, that gave him strength. It helped him overcome whatever he was going through. He was going through some stuff. Why else would that man walk a whole hour?" |
Although Marcus left that day with his red cart filled with groceries — but without outwardly confessing his faith — Rochelle said he left a different man. She continues to communicate with him by phone in anticipation that finding his place in Christ's Kingdom is imminent.
"It's like he found peace with God after he came into the house of God," she said. "When he came out he looked different ... It's like he needed to go into the presence of God."
Photo by Ben Hershey/Unsplash.
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Lori Arnold serves as senior writer for Cru's inner-city ministry.
America's inner cities are filled with people, who like Marcus, are willing to go to great lengths for a meal? Thanks to Boxes of Love, they receive much more. Share Marcus' story on Facebook or other social media platforms by using this link:
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