Mercy

The best test of whether we really grasp God’s mercy to us in Jesus is the mercy we show to one another. He who is forgiven much loves much. We practice mercy when we overlook or forgive sin instead of holding on to bitterness. We practice mercy when we serve someone who cannot repay our kindness. We practice mercy when we provide liberally for the poor in our midst, especially members of the church. Jesus highlights the dignity and necessity of material expressions of mercy in Matthew 24:35-40. 

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Mobilized by our Deacons of Mercy, the vast majority of mercy ministry at KingsWay isn’t programmed. It’s personal. It’s informal. It’s done in secret. That’s the way it should be. At the same time, we have recognized the advantage of pooling our resources to meet particular needs in our local community, and that is how our Food Pantry was born. 

On Thursday afternoons, a team of volunteers gathers at our building to provide a week’s worth of groceries for RVA families in need. Some of them are members of our church, but the vast majority are not. This creates an incredible opportunity to engage in spiritual conversation and pray with several hundred neighbors over the course of a year. Time and again, we watch the Lord feed their souls as we labor to feed their bodies. For more information on our Food Pantry, select the appropriate button below and read these rules and guidelines.