Miracle Kitchens
Pastor Gerry Hatchell and his wife Lois pastor an Assembly of God church in the most impoverished county in the state of South Carolina. By God's grace, they are renovating an old motor hotel that had been a center for drug dealing and prostitution. As part of the renovation work, God gave a vision to Gerry and Lois of building a kitchen that would be used to feed poor people in the community. Click here for a larger photo
The Lord blessed Keith with an opportunity to minister at that church in Dillon for both Sunday morning and evening services. Gerry and Lois told Keith about how their church had recently begun opening its kitchen to feed people in the surrounding community who are genuinely in need. That night, God revealed to Keith that God was going to raise their church's kitchen up as a beacon of light to that community to draw people to Himself. Keith knew in his heart that Toward the Mark should be part of bringing that vision to pass.
The next morning, Keith shared with Gerry and Lois what God had put on his heart, and told them that, to help furnish that kitchen, he was sowing back into their ministry the offering their church had taken for him the day before.
Later that day on the way home, Keith remembered that Mike White in northern Virginia owns a business that specializes in installing commercial kitchens in restaurants. Keith contacted Mike that night to tell him about the church in Dillon and to ask him if he knew anyone that would be interested in donating used commercial-grade kitchen equipment. Several weeks later, Keith received a call from pastor Gerry informing him that Mike and his family were being used by God to provide a complete restaurant-style kitchen!
Keith witnessed this vision in its infancy. They had a kitchen that could feed a few at a time. Now, they will be able to feed hundreds! God has heard the cries of the poor in Dillon, South Carolina and is answering them.
After the kitchen was fully installed, we returned for an exciting weekend of ministry at New Life Assembly. God ministered to us in a very powerful way and used us to bless the people there. We were also able to see the kitchen that God so mightily provided for New Life's kitchen ministry. They call their outreach Feed My Sheep Ministries. All of their baking efforts are used to reach their surrounding community. Well, not quite all: We enjoyed some of the fruits of that ministry, too (Ben especially liked the biscuits). Great job, sister Lois!
Click here for a larger photo
Downtown Newport News
Pastor Ray Johnson of Newport News, Virginia heard the testimony of how God provided a kitchen for the church in Dillon. Pastor Ray asked to meet with Keith to hear more about the Dillon miracle. At that meeting, Pastor Ray and his wife told Keith about their congregation's vision for reaching the inner city poor and homeless by feeding them, clothing them, and teaching them job skills. Their facility, though a beautiful church building nearly a hundred years old, was in much need of renovation. Skilled labor donated their services in painting, electrical work, and so on. Much progress was being made, except for the kitchen. So key to the fulfillment of their vision, the kitchen was unusable, with much of it needing to be simply replaced. After the meeting, Keith prayed and called Mike White about this opportunity. Mike got in touch with them and another kitchen ministry was born.
Click here for a larger photo