One of my favorite passages of scripture is found in John 21. In John 21, we repeatedly find Peter answering Jesus’ question, “Do you love me” (John21:15-17 NRSVUE). Jesus responds each time with the command for Peter to feed his “sheep” (vv. 15-17). Mt. Sterling First United Methodist Church is taking this commandment seriously in their community.
Mt. Sterling First operates Grace Place, an emergency food pantry, for anyone who needs help in their community. Members of their congregation donate food and other household items to be given away to anyone who finds themselves in the midst of life’s tough circumstances. Every bag of food that is given to others is tailored to the family’s need. To better care for their neighbors, they will even offer delivery service.
For Rev. Daniel Burch, pastor of Mt. Sterling First United Methodist Church, this is just another way that his church gets to live out is missional calling. “Mt. Sterling First United Methodist Church strives to care about each person and believes that each person deserves to be treated as a beloved child of God,” said Burch. “This is why we choose to offer ‘Grace’ in this ‘Place!’”
This is why Mt. Sterling First has deepened its commitment to caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of all people. Over the past year, they have developed a 12 acre walking path that is open to the community, revamped their commitment to young families through supporting a new pregnancy health clinic, and offered affordable daycare for families with low incomes. Mt. Sterling First is tending Jesus’ sheep.
