Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Faith Mission continues efforts to feed the hungry

"Life hurts and God heals" is the motto of Celebrate Recovery, a project of the Faith Mission at 211 Second Street in Gurdon.

Celebrate meets twice a week as a support group for more than 150 type of problems.

The director says the group is based on Christian principles and deals with much more than alcohol or drug related circumstances.

Tommy Potter and his family, Stephanie, wife; and three children, Skye, Rex and Peyton, keep the meals associated with the mission going, as well as doing the clean-up detail.

Potter said, "We meet at the mission on Monday nights at 6:30 for study and singing. But on Friday night, at the same time, we always have a free meal before our singing."

He said Celebrate Recovery serves more than 130 meals per month through Faith Mission, and has been doing so since August 2003 at its present location.

"We had a year's worth of service at the Red Springs Baptist Church before that," he said. "We would not have been able to do this if the church had not been so supportive; especially their former minister, the Rev. Danny Gray."

Keeping the effort going has been a matter of God's grace, Potter said. He said God always comes through with enough food to feed people "through donations and blessings."

Countless people have helped, and most wish to remain anonymous. However, Potter would like to thank the Pizza Barn, as Ken and Sue Harper have been a big blessing; the local branch of Fountain of Hope Inc., which is a Gurdon food bank; and the Sycamore Baptist Church, which has opened its food bank to the mission as well.

"We help when and where we can," he said. "We helped recently with a fire, where there was a woman and three kids involved. A lady just brought us three sacks of groceries last week, telling us she just didn't want the food to go to waste.

"A lot of people, over the year, have come in off of trains because of the fact we have multiple tracks in Gurdon. Many are looking for something to eat and we have fed them. We helped a lady and her disabled son who had a housing repair problem. They had a motel but no food. We provided the food during the few weeks they were in the motel."

Potter said when Faith Mission was opened, it was the intention of his Celebrate Recovery crew that it be used for community needs. So the group partnered with Rudy and Flora Gurretez. The Spanish folks have church at the mission on Sundays and there is a class there on Thursdays for them to learn English.

"Brother Gurretez helps with the translations at the area hospital and police departments," Potter said. "Their group has food gatherings and uses the mission kitchen, but not every week like our Celebrate chapter does."

Potter said a joint meal and service is planned between Celebrate Recovery and the Spanish group on Thursday, Dec. 23. They will fix Spanish food and Celebrate Recovery folks will bring American potluck.

Potter said the food banks, through Fountain of Hope (located across from the Methodist Church on Second Street) and the Sycamore Street church, have encouraged the mission to continue coming for food as needed.

"We also partner with Inside Out Ministries at Camden. We have habitats for people at risk," he said. "In the last three weeks, we have got three people out of their bad housing and over to where they have a chance to change.

"It is hard to change when people come home to the same hard circumstances."

In regard to funding, the mission has had two garage sales, where people donate items. Potter said Faith Mission does not solicit donations, but "if people feel God is leading them to help, we are grateful."

He gave credit to Max Brown, who previously had Max's Video where Faith Mission currently resides, for supplying the faith effort with a building.

"We are thankful to Max and his example of generosity," Potter said. "We appreciate everyone so much who donates anything. We get things like deer hams, turkey and canned goods. You never know. Hometown Market is another one that helps us. They have specials and give; especially on pizza nights. The Lord works through so many. It is what makes this possible."

Potter said folks ask him what is for supper. He usually tells them he has not got the menu yet. It depends on what the Lord provides.

In addition to the Gurdon effort, Celebrate Recovery has helped set up similar programs through a church at Texarkana and one in Hot Springs. Potter said efforts are in progress to set one up in Puerto Rica in Spanish.

"Nothing we receive is wasted and everybody's efforts are appreciated. If you can't afford to give, come have supper with us on Friday nights at 6:30 p.m. Check us out for free," he said.

During the interview, an anonymous lady came by to donate pecans, bread stuff and vitamins.

Celebrate Recovery will start new classes at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, at the mission. Come and enjoy the meal and let the healing begin for the hurts in your life.