Mountain Bible Church has a history of helping those who are in dire financial straits, regardless of church affiliation, ethnicity or failure to plan ahead. The Deacon's Fund has helped the needy, stranded drivers, and families threatened with loss of utilities or eviction. A big part of the Deacon's fund is the Food Pantry.

The history of the Mountain Bible Church's Food Pantry is a long one. It began over 25 years ago and continues strong today serving families in the community of Tehachapi. Before the beginning of the food pantry at MBC, we had a partnership with a small business in town who would provide food/gas vouchers, which we would offer to them at that time. Fast forward a few years and MBC opened their on-site food pantry. It is unclear the exact year it started; however, many people have been involved as main contacts or leaders for it throughout the years. Maybel and Walt Moser led this ministry until Marilyn Berg began leading this ministry a few years ago. Over the years many people have graciously donated their time and effort as volunteers to help the leaders.

During the collapse of the housing market in 2006-2008, the recession hit families hard and restricted MBC's ability to provide financial assistance, but the church continued to respond by making food donations to the pantry. which allowed us to assist many hungry individuals who came to the office in need of food.

To create awareness and have some fun with ministry the yearly "can-struction drive" began. Artistic structures were built using canned or boxed food, from boats to sky scrapers.

As of today the Deacon's fund continues to provide financial means to those who may need help with utilities. The food we serve through the food pantry may be a little different, and the physical location of the food pantry may have moved, but how we serve has not changed. MBC still serves with a servant's heart to care for those in need, reaching to those outside of our church building walls.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas we provide special baskets for many families in the community so they can have a good meal to celebrate with their friends and families. Over the past year, about 25 families have received each of these holiday meals from us. Some of these families are quite large and range from elderly couples living on their own or young families with little children. The youth and other volunteers have helped with shopping for those last minute items to be placed in these bags. Together as a church family we then pack bags full of the delicious items from hams to yams and yummy desserts.

Throughout the rest of the year, food bags are available in the office for pickup. Recently, we have consistently been providing for four families about every two weeks. Neya and I consistently make sure we have food bags prepared at the beginning of the day in case someone comes. We now place an Our Daily Bread devotional booklet in each bag as a way to further live out the MBC Mission Statement by sharing the truth of God's word. Every time someone comes for a food bag, they consistently share their gratitude with me about MBC and how much this means to them. People call and know that we are able to help them in some way, to give

hope for a good meal, when on other days they may have to go without, or not eat as much so that their children can eat.

Testimony
"I remember it was Thanksgiving 2019 when I received a phone call a few days before Thanksgiving, after all of the holiday meals had already been picked up or delivered. The call was from a mom and dad with two young kids and they lived in an apartment in town. They had been in contact with another agency in town about food but was unable to get there in time to pick it up, as they did not have a car and it was really snowy outside. They apparently did not have that much food either because they just moved there, and something was happening with the oven or refrigerator. Anyways, I called back and forth with her, the other agency, and Marilyn and Carol to see what we could do. Well, Carol and Marilyn made it happen. They went grocery shopping and delivered the meal all in the midst of snowy weather and icy roads."~Kirsten

Another comment heard just recently "Oh! Yay! Cheerios! My husband wanted these...You may not know why you get Cheerios donated, but God knows."

Thank you, MBC for all that you do to help live out our mission statement and provide for those in the community all through the year. Thank you for all who have volunteered past and present, and continue to graciously donate food when our shelves begin to empty.

Please, continue to pray, encourage, and help MBC to be able to continue to make an impact in the community, reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

1 John 3:18
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Matthew 25:35, 40
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something

A scripture shared by Dr. Sam "A religious worship that is pure and stainless in the sight of god the Father is this: To look after orphans and widows in their troubles and to keep one's own self unstained by the world." (from William's translation of James 1:27)

MBC's Mission Statement: Holding forth the Word of life by providing a refuge for all people to grow spiritually in Jesus Christ.