A 'Bargain and a Blessing'
Angel Food Ministries provides food, faith
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

From left, Brenda and Larry Thompson begin preparation of Angel Food boxes. West Millen Baptist Church now fills 50-100 orders monthly, including orders from churches in Twin City, Kite and Portal. (Staff photos by Deborah Bennett)

They gather at West Millen Baptist Church at 5 a.m. one Saturday morning every month, full of conversation and gulping cups of hot coffee. They may not be your typical "angels", but to those they serve, their halos shine brightly just the same. They are the workers with the local Angel Food Ministries.

Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States as the good news of Christ is spread through salvation tracts placed in each food order. The program began in 1994 with 34 families in Monroe, Georgia and has since grown to serve hundreds of thousands of families in 32 states. The local ministry began as a mission project of the ladies Lydia group of West Millen Baptist Church in 2004.

"Angels" of the local Angel Food Ministries are, from left, first row: John Fordham, First Baptist Church (FBC), Portal; James Davis, New Life Tabernacle Church (NLTC), Twin City; Jack Turner, FBC, Portal; Tammy Brannen, West Millen Baptist Church (WMBC), host site director; Brenda Thompson, WMBC, host site worker; and Larry Thompson, WMBC, host site worker; second row: Ron Welch, WMBC host site worker; Pastor Lawrence Jarriel, NLTC, Twin City; and Pastor Don Berry, FBC, Portal; 3rd row: John Stansbury, FBC, Portal; and standing in truck, Donnie Brannen, WMBC host site worker. Not pictured: Larry Evans, Bonnie Wiggins, Libby Williams and Jeff Joyner, WMBC site workers, and Teresa Davis, NLTC, Twin City.

"I learned about it from a church in Metter that was doing Angel Food Ministries. I got to thinking that so many of our senior citizens make the choice every month between buying food for nourishment and getting the medications to survive. There are also young families who have small children and are living on limited incomes," said Tammy Brannen who spearheads the West Millen ministry.

"I was skeptical at first, so I ordered a box for myself, and the food was good quality. God laid it on my heart that this ministry could be beneficial to Jenkins County as well as other surrounding counties. Our county is one of the poorest in the southeast," she added.

The initial order of Angel Food boxes by West Millen numbered only 10. It has now grown to 50-100 monthly with five additional churches from Twin City, Kite and Portal picking up their boxes from West Millen's central location. The boxes are delivered to the church from the organization's 160,000 square feet warehouse in Monroe.

"I am committed to fulfilling this commission because I truly believe that God has a plan for West Millen Baptist Church through the Angel Food Ministries. My goal is for our church members to buy a box and find a family in need to give it to," Brannen said.

She also admits that there have been times of discouragement.

"There have been several months when I contemplated stopping the ministry, but there are two little senior ladies that I deliver to every month as well as a family who lives almost in Portal. Every time I deliver their food boxes, they express to me how wonderful it is that West Millen has the Angel Food Ministries and how much it is a blessing for them. It is truly amazing what God will do with your life if you just have faith and put yourself in His hands," she said.

Angel Food grocery boxes are available for $25 per unit. Each month's menu is different and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $50. One unit of food will generally assist in feeding a family of four for one week, or a single senior citizen for almost a month. There are no income restrictions, and participants may purchase as many boxes as desired.

Participation in the program benefits churches in many ways. It gives church members handson experience and training with service to others, provides food for those that need it, gives churches an effective out-reach to the community and Angel Food Ministries makes a donation to community outreach funds.

"It is both a bargain and a blessing. I challenge everyone to step out on faith and get involved," invites Brannen.

To order your Angel Food box, contact Tammy Brannen at 478-982-5146. The deadline for November for mail-in purchases is Saturday, Nov. 3, for call in purchases, it is Sunday Nov. 4. Distribution day is Saturday, Nov. 17. Pick up time for the food boxes is 6-7:30 a.m. Customers can also use their EBT cards to purchase the food boxes.

Other churches and volunteers who would like to participate in the program are also invited to contact Brannen.