Project: Columbia - Food Bank (2)

Here is the rest of the interview with Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Central Missouri Food Bank:

A: In the 16 years you have worked at the food bank, how have you seen Columbia change?
P: I’ve been in Columbia since 1960 and what I have seen over those years is that it has grown from a rural community to much more of a metropolitan society. Some of the basic pillars that have made this community great are still here, namely, a huge capacity to care and to be generous to those around us. Of all of the communities we cover I never see a response to a need like I do in Columbia. Part of that is because of the University and the colleges here. Part of it is because people just have the sense that they are fortunate. I’ve seen a gap growing in this community between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” The middle class is disappearing. It is a very challenging time. Columbia has always been fairly immune to anything that is going on in the economy at a national level, and what is happening right now is that Columbia is starting to feel what everybody else has been feeling for years.

A: So you see the impacts of a downturn in the economy directly?
P: Oh sure, we see it in a couple of ways. We have extensive partnerships with the business community. Where a huge amount of our support comes from is individuals, businesses, and the faith community. The business community gives the most, then individuals, then the faith community. The business community is strapped right now, and we can see that from the point of view of donations. I’ve seen this community kick in to action when there is a need, but right now they are all looking around and saying “We don’t know what we can do.”

A: If you could give one message to the faith community in Columbia, what would it be?
P: It would be “believe God’s word.” You know that scripture, “faith without works is dead”? I see more of the church today saying, “I will believe it when I see it.” That’s not faith; that’s sight. Faith is getting out of the boat because Jesus said, “Come.” Jesus also said to feed the poor, to clothe the naked, and to visit the sick. He said that he will supply all our need according to his riches and glory. We don’t believe.

A: You are in an interesting spot because you are where the rubber hits the road and you get to see if the faith community in Columbia is really doing those things.
P: I have spent years seeing churches not do anything more than they put in their budget, and I can’t find anything in the Bible that backs that up. The Bible says that we are supposed to ask God, “What do you want me to do?” And if he calls you to do something he is going to provide for it. Living by faith is the most scary thing I have ever done, and yet it is the most rewarding thing also, and God proves himself every single time. That’s my heart cry. If I could reach any group in the world today it would be the church, because it breaks my heart. We as a church are looking at the world the same way the world is looking at the world. We are looking at man for our supply and there is nothing in the Bible that says that.

A: What do you think college students can do?
P: They can change the world if they want to.

A: What does that look like practically?
P: First of all, pray about it, and then get as educated as you possibly can about ways that you can get plugged in.
I can guarantee you you are going to start out with enthusiasm, then you are going to get somewhere in the middle then it won’t be fun any more. It is going to be boring, it is going to be yucky, it is going to cost you your time, your talents, your resources. They are not going to be grateful. You are not going to get great accolades from the world and every step of the way you are going to learn who you are really doing it for.