Angel Food Testimonial
By Pastor Wes | November 9, 2008
I praise God for the Angel Food ministry. God has used this great ministry as a positive influence in our Church! Several years ago God placed this ministry on the heart of our Ministry Assistant, Kim Pursley, and she shared her vision with the Christian Ministry Team of our Church. God blessed those early meetings and the Team and our Church adopted this ministry as their own. People volunteered, worked together, and they have ministered together for many years now. Two months ago we met together and we took this ministry to the next level by focusing in on ministry and prayer during the distribution of Angel Food. We now take prayer request, have a prayer team that is praying for the ministers that are distributing the food, and the ones who are there to pick up the food. God has blessed us greatly in the past 2 months we have seen salvations at the church, distribution day runs as smooth as silk, and everyone has a renewed sense of purpose because we are focusing on the Lord. The blessings of God have come to our Church because we are praying, and lifting up Jesus, and that?s what we all need to be doing. {2 Chronicles 7:14} If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Chris Atkinson, Pastor
Centennial Baptist Church
I am a prayer minister in the body of Jesus Christ, and I am a member of Florissant Church of Christ. I have been in this ministry for the past ten years. I have experienced the power of God through prayer and I have seen God do miracles. God is still doing miraculous things through prayer today. I have had the privilege to be involved with Angel Food Ministries through Centennial Baptist Church and Pastor Chris Atkinson. I am part of a prayer group on distribution day that prays for the people who volunteer and pass out food, as well as the people who come to pick up their food. I?ve seen God?s hand at work in the lives as we have prayed for them on distribution day. We serve a good God, SEEK, ASK, BELIEVE and we will receive.
Brother George Barnes
Topics: About Angel Food Ministries | No Comments »
G.R.I.P.E.
By Pastor Wes | November 9, 2008
There are five internal motivations that cause a person to complain. You can remember them with the acronym:
G.R.I.P.E.
Get Attention
People have an innate desire to connect with others. It is human nature to want others to notice us. In an attempt to try and connect, people often open conversations with complaints.
Remove Responsibility
A person will often complain to you as a means of playing situational “hot potato.” Their complaining to you is a way of saying, “The problem was mine; it’s now yours, you deal with it!”
Inspire Envy
Complaining is a form of bragging. When a person complains they are implying that they do not possess whatever negative attribute they are complaining about. The complaint is a testament to their superiority; they are bragging.
Power
People use complaints as a way of lobbying for a majority position of control. They are trying to sway you to their side thereby giving their position more power and authority.
Excuse Poor Performance
A person may complain of a scratchy throat before singing in public. A child may complain of a stomach ache before a test. These complaints are often attempts to lower the expectations of the person they are complaining to and to pre-excuse possible poor performance.
Do you see in these internal motivations reasons why you complain? How about your friends, family or coworkers?
Watch for these things and when you are tempted to complain, draw a deep breath and count your blessings instead.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
Angel Food Ministry Testimony
By Pastor Wes | October 27, 2008
Hey PJ,
I already have it scheduled for Jan. magazine. Carroll is getting me more info, and I will interview these folks, and get quotes from you to include in the article. Hopefully that will also give us a few months to get great feedback from those who have ordered the Special! Also in next month’s newsletter to host sites, I’ve planned for us (you) to “talk it up” a bit more to HS directors—and give them some added info about the product, etc.
Dan and I got our first AFM orders this weekend. We also distributed Senior Meals at the retirement community. It was a blessing to pray with a few Seniors—so many are so lonely. Met a few volunteers from Angel Food too—really sweet people who love the program. As we were standing in the parking lot getting ready to take meals in, a couple pulled up to check on becoming residents. I spoke with them, and told them we were with Angel Food and began telling them about AFM—she said, “Oh Honey, we just picked up our Angel Food this morning in North Richland Hills! We couldn’t live without it.” And then she went on and on. It was fun to hear, once more, unexpectedly, how AFM is touching lives and making a difference!
God bless,
Kim Clement
Managing Editor
Angel Food Ministries
770.866.437
Topics: About Angel Food Ministries, Emmanuel Praise Church | No Comments »
Testimonial From Angel Food Ministries
By Pastor Wes | October 19, 2008
Stories like these are truly humbling and reminds me of how blessed I am to work for such a wonderful ministry:
Dear Pastors Wingo,
My name is Melissa Murphy. I live in Irvington, Alabama and though not able to serve through my own church, I am blessed to serve here at First Baptist Church Grand Bay. I am writing this to share with you how and why I think this is such an awesome ministry.
During this month, on one of my days taking orders a phone call came into the office of the church concerning AF. I took that call. The lady explained that she had just brought her mother home form the hospital and could not leave her to come to the church and place their order. After finding out that they did not have a computer to do this on line I ask where they lived. It wasn’t to far down the road so I said I would gladly come to them…. I have been sitting here for ten minutes trying to find a way to convey what I found without taking away from their obvious love for one another and what seems to be ignorance of their situation. (Ignorance, I really don’t like that word). Set back off the road, on a wooded lot was a small maybe two bedroom house. As I got out of my car I saw Deborah and her son. We introduce ourselves. She introduced me to her charming, twentyish, severely mentally challenged son who wanted to play hide and seek with me. Finally, we got to the business of AF. Once that was completed and I was once again in my car, after backing out the drive I sat and prayed to God to bless this family and to thank him for every thing in my life. For there by the Grace of God go I.
I will never take another breath of air without smelling the stench, I will never take another bath without seeing their dirty feet, I will never enjoy watching my grandchildren play “hide and seek” without seeing Jason’s smiling face nor enjoy the simplest pleasures without thinking of this family.
This is in no way a condemnation of this family. It is in fact what I believe God wanted me to see. Not simply sit behind a desk and take orders but put myself out there where the people are.
I have from the first time I read about Angel Food Ministry wanted to be involved. I want to thank you both for all you do in the name of God and for this ministry. May you continue to grow in this time of economic crisis so that you can touch other families like Deborah’s.
Yours in Christ,
Melissa Murphy
Topics: About Angel Food Ministries | No Comments »
2008 Gospel Choice Awards Selects Emmanuel Praise Church for Its Church of the Year Award
By Pastor Wes | October 13, 2008
MONROE, Ga., Oct. 1, 2008 — Emmanuel Praise Church, the founding church of Angel Food Ministries, in Monroe, Ga., has been chosen as this year’s recipient of Church of the Year for the Gospel Choice/Pepsi Bottling Group’s Community Outreach Award.
This prestigious award is given to one church each year for humanitarian work in their community and throughout the United States. Emmanuel Praise Church was nominated along with 15 other churches across Georgia known for their outreach and benevolent impact on their community.
The Gospel Choice/Pepsi Bottling Group’s Award was presented Monday, Sept. 29th at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, as Executive Pastor Wes Wingo from Emmanuel Praise was on hand to accept the award. Pastor Wingo was thankful to receive the award on behalf of the church and Angel Food Ministries.
“One of our founding core values at Emmanuel Praise has always been to lend a helping hand to families in need. God has blessed this church as we have reached out to help feed thousands in our local community and millions across America,” Pastor Wingo said.
Founders, Pastors Joe and Linda Wingo, began feeding 37 families in need from the back porch of their farmhouse in 1994. Since then, Emmanuel Praise Church has impacted the lives of millions of people through the founding of Angel Food Ministries. Each month, hundreds of thousands of families across the United States are impacted by this food ministry. Throughout the local community and the nation, Emmanuel Praise Church and its Pastors are known for their great generosity and compassion for the poor and hurting.
Emmanuel Praise Church is truly humbled and honored by the voters who chose them as this year’s Gospel Choice Church of the Year recipient.
Oh Happy Day!
Topics: Emmanuel Praise Church | 1 Comment »
A Pastor’s Heart
By Pastor Wes | October 10, 2008
The recent tremendous growth of Angel Food Ministries has caused me to reflect on all the years of change I have personally witnessed since it all began. I helped and watched as my parents began distributing food from our home and through our various locations to our current warehouse. I realize that all the different aspects of training over all the years have been preparing me to be a shepherd and to bring me to such a time as this. As the Director of Pastoral Relations I have the honor and privilege of connecting with Pastors and Directors of current and potential host sites for Angel Food Ministries to encourage them, impart to them our vision and cultivate unity in the Body of Christ.
In my role with Angel Food Ministries and as Associate Pastor of Emmanuel Praise Church I have come to know on a deeply personal level what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 KJV). My personal goal is to be like Jesus.
I want to encourage every Pastor to “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” ( I Peter 5:2-4 NIV)
It is not only my duty but my heart to personally meet all the Pastors involved with Angel Food Ministries and to help you in any way I can to Reach the lost and hurting with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Angel Food Ministries is a tremendous tool to help you evangelize your community.
Topics: My Heart | 1 Comment »
Visit to New York
By Pastor Wes | September 20, 2008
I was recently honored to have been in New York City at a banquet for Angel Food Ministries and was so excited to see the pastors and community leaders catch the wonderful vision that my parents began almost 15 years ago. That vision still stands strong which is one not only to help people with their monthly food budgeting, but most importantly to reach the lost and hurting with the good news of Jesus Christ. I am proud to report that the state of New York is growing strong when it comes to Angel Food and I am thrilled to be headed back for another banquet in the next few weeks.
I feel New York City as a whole gets a bad rap when it comes to the stereotyping of its people’s attitudes and manors. I see a large city with wonderful hearts everywhere I go. That was never more evident than on September 11th, 2008, when I personally witnessed the compassion of a state and a nation. God’s Word says in Ephesians 4:32, “ Be kind and compassionate to one another” and again in Colossians 3:12, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience”. I saw God’s Word and heart in action on that day as many honored the victims of the heartless and cruel death that was forced upon them. Through this day of memorial, I was reminded that we must not only pray for the victim’s families but also for the people and it’s families who committed these violent actions. I was truly blessed to have met the Father of a young lady who lost her life on that fateful day of September 11th, 2001. He actually collapsed to the floor in sorrow and sadness as he was sharing his story and I lifted him up crying with him and he thanked me for loving him. He proceeded to tell me that his daughter had died and that he had some comfort and much peace knowing that she was saved by grace and with God in Heaven. I proceeded to tell him that she is with the Father and smiling down on him as a member of his “cloud of witnesses” as he continues to serve God and run his race. It was beautiful as he looked me in my eyes and told me he not only runs his race for himself but for his daughter as well. As we parted company, he said something that will stay in my heart and mind forever. He said,
“Do not forget to pray for the people who killed her and their families.”
He reminded me of what Jesus said to us to us in Matthew 5:44,
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
I challenge you all today to pray for those who persecute you. Let this man be an example to all of us. He is a testament of the commands of our Lord Jesus. The law of sowing and reaping is in effect everywhere and in every facet of our lives. If we want to receive we must first give.
Topics: Travels | No Comments »
Love Finds a Way
By Pastor Wes | July 25, 2008
I will never forget the early years of Angel Food Ministries. In the year 1994, in Monroe, Georgia, the community was shaken by the closing down of some industrial plants which caused several hundred people to lose their jobs. Bear in mind that to many of these people who lost these jobs, this was the end of the rope for them as they did not have a wide variety of training or skills in other job fields. So yes fear had settled into the hearts of these families as they struggled to find a way to keep their family fed and provided for.
It was during this time that my Dad and Mom, Pastors Joe and Linda Wingo, had the idea or vision to begin what is now known across the country as Angel Food Ministries. It was so ironic to me as to how it all began. In the beginning, my Dad wanted to simply buy food in bulk and give it away t these families who had a sudden need. He advertised in the local newspaper and on the local radio stations letting these folks know that he wanted to help supplement their food supply until they could get back on their feet again. His heart was to do this for free. Well suprisingly, not one person came to my parent’s home on the distribution Saturday of these groceries. Mom was so thrilled to have cabbage rotting in her living room and to have the air conditioning turned down so low you could hang meat in our house.
Dad was discouraged by the no show. He found out through local friends and officials that the people did not come to his home because they simply had the pride inside of them of a working man. They did not want to take something for nothing as we say here in the South. Dad and Mom prayed and prayed until they received their answer from God. God gave them the vision to begin a non-profit ministry that would not only allow the person to purchase the food at a bargain price, but help the person purchasing the food retain a sense of accomplishment in doing so.
Topics: Love | 1 Comment »