Make lunch, make a difference: Serving real hope to struggling children

Intro by Mark Greenwood, Director of Elim Evangelism.
It’s been a great year to be a Bradford City supporter. For several years we’ve fallen just short of promotion, but this year, in the dying seconds of the final game, we did it. But even more exciting, something else is happening in Bradford that is having a serious impact on many lives. TLG (The Lighthouse Group) was set up by my friend Tim Morfin among local churches in Bradford. I saw what they were doing when they first started – I loved it then and I love it now, as I watch what God has done through something birthed in a Pentecostal church. I caught up with Rob Stevenette as we chatted about how Elim churches could be really good news by the simple act of making lunch.

Everything at TLG (Transforming Lives for Good) begins with the local church. When TLG first began in 1999, we were working with one church responding to the needs of struggling children in the local community – today we are equipping more than 200 churches of all shapes and sizes.

TLG enables churches to run ‘Make Lunch’ clubs, offering children and families hot, nutritious food, alongside fun activities and supportive friendships. TLG Make Lunch clubs offer families support when it’s needed most, operating during school holidays and building relationships all year round with the local church family.

We’re delighted to have the support of Stuart Blount who is on our Advisory Council. Here’s what he has to say: “I am thrilled to be able to endorse the work of TLG which is serving across the UK in partnership with local churches, and making a difference in the lives of young people daily. The remarkable Make Lunch project is mobilising local churches to impact children’s lives in school holidays by providing healthy food, activities, and friendship for not just children but also their families.

“This kind of community action is happening in so many of our Elim churches and I encourage you to consider how working with TLG can help you impact the lives of children in your town, city, or village.”

We’re so grateful for our church partners. Here’s what Andrew at Dundee Elim has to say about Make Lunch: “Make Lunch has been a great way of connecting and serving our community. We have people attending repeatedly, several of whom are new to us. As we connect with these families, we have the opportunity of relationally sharing God’s love.

“Being part of a larger organisation is useful, both in the resources provided and also the sense of trust in the event itself by the wider community. As a result of being part of Make Lunch, we have been able to advertise in our local primary schools, nurseries, and community centres, building up links with them.

“I would recommend Make Lunch as an effective tool to serve the community, share God’s love, and build the Kingdom one life at a time.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.