Big Spring Church Opens New Food Pantry

BIG SPRING, TEX. – Last year, Aprille Ransom was asked to oversee the Community Services ministry at Big Spring Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ransom is familiar with the ministry since her father worked for Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). “I have always sought different ways to serve the Lord,” she said. “I felt honored and eager to do my best.”

Ransom reached out to Collette Newer, associate director of Adventist Community Services at the General Conference to ask for guidance and learn more about the latest efforts in Adventist Community Services. Filled with many new ideas, she asked the Holy Spirit to lead her as she prepared to start her work in the ministry. Through fervent prayer and direction from Abner Razon, pastor of Big Spring church, his wife Nefritire and the Texico Conference, Ransom made plans for the Big Spring church to host a food pantry.

On Nov. 12, 2021, Ransom and her church family stood together as they received their first shipment of food. Several days later, the food pantry officially opened. People started arriving at 9:45 a.m., and by 12:15 p.m., they had run out of food. 

“Greg Clark, a director of the West Texas Food Bank, was very surprised and told me that food pantries don’t usually run out of food on their opening day,” said Ransom. “However, it was not a surprise to me. I knew that Jesus was leading the way. We gave out 150 boxes of food that day!”

More importantly for Ransom, she was thankful to have the support of her church family. The head elder and his wife named the food pantry the Three Angels Food Pantry, and several other ministry leaders helped with supplies. More than 20 church members joined together to make the launch of the food pantry, and its first day of operation, possible. Several of them even took time off from work to be involved. 

“None of it would have been possible without their gracious love and support,” said Ransom. “Our goal is to continue providing food to the community through the food pantry and perhaps even open a Wellness Center in the future.” 

God is leading Ransom and the Big Spring church. As they continue to pray, they are expecting to see amazing things happen through this ministry. The Big Spring church invites you to join them in prayer as they ask the Lord to make them a beacon that shines brightly for Jesus Christ in their Big Spring community and beyond.