Church provides food for thought

From an evangelistic food bank to plans for a £3m building project, God is blessing people in and through Elim Croydon, says pastor Cornelius Osei-Fosu.

If you volunteer for Elim Croydon’s food bank team, you’ll be asked not only about practical tasks you could help with but if you know how to lead someone to Christ too.

That’s because this monthly ministry has become an evangelistic tool for the church and a place where local people are asking questions about faith.

It launched after a chance conversation in December 2009, explains pastor Cornelius Osei-Fosu.

“I was giving someone a lift home from cell group, and it came out that she was going to struggle to put a turkey on the table at Christmas,” he says.

“I thought, why should anyone in our congregation not have a proper Christmas meal, so I announced to the church that we were starting a food bank.”

Since then, this ministry has morphed into a “food bank plus”, Cornelius explains. It now provides food to between 85 and 110 families each month, then clothing, books and everything you can find at an average grocery store too.

It’s fully funded by the church, Cornelius adds, thanks to the generosity of members who donate cash, food, dry goods and non-perishable items.

Baptising believers

As numbers have grown, so too have relationships and opportunities to evangelise.

“Most people come from Muslim or other backgrounds and some ask questions about faith,” says Cornelius.

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