‘Bread of Life’ GOAL program offers physical and spiritual nourishment to community

Home News ‘Bread of Life’ GOAL program offers physical and spiritual nourishment to community
‘Bread of Life’ GOAL program offers physical and spiritual nourishment to community
Junior Clay Ward started a new GOAL program,
partnering with local food pantries. Courtesy | Clay Ward

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” 

For junior Clay Ward, Jesus’ words from the gospel of John aren’t just scripture; they were the inspiration behind starting the GOAL program’s newest addition, Bread of Life.

The organization, which was launched last month, seeks to provide spiritual and bodily nourishment to the Hillsdale community by assisting Christian food banks and encouraging them in their mission to share the gospel through their ministries. 

Associate Dean of Men Jeffery “Chief” Rogers approached Ward to lead the ministry last semester. 

“The idea was given to me by Chief, who had it in his heart to go help Hillsdale Baptist Church specifically, and then broaden into helping Christian food banks in general,” Ward said. “He asked me if this is something that I would like to do. I said yes, and we wrote the mission statement and proposal together.”

Once they were ready to become an official volunteer group, GOAL Director and senior Michaela Peine said she was happy to welcome Bread of Life to the GOAL program.  

“We like programs that create a new niche,” Peine said. “We have different programs like Salvation Army in which part of their mission involves lunch kitchens, but this is our first food pantry program, which is exciting.”  

Every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m., the group arrives at Hillsdale Baptist Church to help run the church’s weekly food bank. According to junior Ashley Warden, the volunteers’ responsibilities change from week to week, but their main tasks include unpacking donuts from the Jonesville Bakery, setting up tables, and restocking food. 

“It’s a really eye-opening experience,” Warden said. “Within the Hillsdale bubble it’s hard to get your eyes off homework, but going on Tuesday mornings is a good way to do that.”

Since the ministry’s focus is “to glorify God through the sharing of His Gospel,” volunteers also set up a prayer table each week with Bibles, Gospel tracts, and prayer intention cards. Although the response among the food bank’s visitors was initially small, it has begun to grow. 

“I’m praying that the people who do come to me are the people who need it,” Warden said.   

The ministry currently has 17 volunteers, and Ward said he is hopeful that the number will continue to increase.  

“This program really exists for people who want to serve the Lord by meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of those in the community; it exists for those who seek to form relationships with the local community at a church,” he said. “It’s about service, evangelism, and discipleship.”