A NOTE FROM PASTOR MADELINE
 

Feed the Hungry. Welcome the Stranger.

 

In 2008 when Sara was 6 years old, my ex-husband (her father) was diagnosed with testicular cancer. We entered a long period of surgeries, chemotherapy and other treatments. He couldn't work and so he had no income. Around the same time, the economy took a nosedive (you may remember that time). I had my own Human Resource Consulting business and no one was hiring consultants! We were in serious financial trouble. We couldn't pay the rent or the utilities and we definitely could not buy food. It was a few years of very difficult times for our family. 

 

Many people graciously helped us - friends, family, our church and even strangers. Someday I will write about how difficult it was for me to take this help. But for now, I will stick with the hope and encouragement I felt at the amazing people and critical assistance programs that helped us through this time. One of the programs that was critical to us during this time was SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). 

 

Some of you may know this program as "Food Stamps." That was the original name of this governmental food assistance program. Originally, recipients would use actual stamps to pay for their food at the grocery store, a process that drew attention, and sometimes judgment, to their participation in the program. Eventually the program moved to plastic debit cards, and the government later changed the name, acknowledging there was a stigma attached when recipients were singled out at the grocery store checkout. By the time we received SNAP, the total was loaded onto a debit card that you swiped which was much less conspicuous. Praise God for that small change.

 

But what I want to tell you today is this - if the proposed cuts to the SNAP program pass through Congress, families like mine will not qualify for the food assistance they need. Nor will they qualify for Medicaid. You may think, "But, there is so much fraud in this program and it needs to be fixed." That might be true, to a certain extent, but I urge you to really read the proposed bill. It is not only about eliminating fraud, it is also about cutting benefits for those who need them. I looked at the new requirements and under the proposed new guidelines, my family would not have qualified! I can't imagine what would have happened to us without this assistance. 

Isaiah 58:10 says, "Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon." Jesus also told us that whenever we feed the hungry, and welcome the stranger, we are actually doing these things for Christ Himself. This is our Biblical call. We are called to take care of one another.

 

I saved my SNAP card (there is a picture of it above) because something told me that someday I was going to need a reminder of those difficult times when my family's survival depended upon government assistance, the love of my church family and the kindness of strangers. I am not ashamed of that time in my life. On the contrary, I feel blessed to have been so loved and protected. I pray that we may be able to provide this help for others who find themselves in need. 

 

Please read the short article below. Educate yourselves on the actual proposed cuts to these programs and reach out to Congress for your voice to be heard! Lives depend upon us taking action!

 

Grace and Peace 

-Pastor Madeline
 

An Important Message

 

Psalm 82:3 tells us, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”

 

As we seek to answer this Biblical call on our lives, I invite you to read this information shared by the Florida Conference of the UMC and discern how you will become the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. 

 

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline 

 

You can make a difference!

 

By July 5, 2025, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a federal budget bill. Provisions of that bill would exact the largest cuts ever to Medicaid, which provides health care for 1 of 5 Americans, and SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. For 'Florida, the changes would be particularly devastating: 

  • 2.9 million Floridians rely on SNAP for monthly grocery assistance
  • 3.8 million Floridians depend on Medicaid for health care

Decreasing these federal programs would put a greater burden on the state of Florida, and in the case of health care, on the hospitals and health care facilities we all depend on.

 

On Tuesday, June 17, Bishop Tom Berlin urged United Methodists to learn about these impacts and to advocate for the most vulnerable in our society. Florida Impact, an advocacy group for nutrition and health care, offered a webinar to provide information. You can watch a recording of the webinar here.

 

Take action now

 

1) Learn about the bill and its impacts. Links to information from valued sources are below.

 

2) Contact U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ashley Moody and ask them to vote against any bill that reduces nutrition and health care for the vulnerable in our society. Call or send email messages to ensure your messages are received in time.

 

Senator Moody: Call (202) 224-3041 or visit her website: https://www.moody.senate.gov/contact/

 

Senator Scott: Call (202) 224-5274 or visit his website: https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/contact .

 

Tools to help you learn and act

 

Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute.

Speak out; judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9