Thank You, Jesus! A Moment of Gratitude and Commitment
We are deeply grateful for the recognition that our leadership at Trinity United Methodist Church received from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on March 27th. The recognition came from their program working to fight food insecurity on campus, “The Shop”. It was an unexpected surprise, and we give all the glory to God!
We know that awards or recognition are not the reason why we serve. We serve because we believe that love must be expressed not only in words but also in actions. Still, when our community is recognized in this way, it is a beautiful reminder that God sees what we do in faith and multiplies it. It also reminds us that the small things we do, with love and consistency, can impact lives.
At Trinity, we have been blessed to share free lunches with students from TCNJ once every semester during exam week. This is a hard and stressful time for students. We know that many of them struggle to afford meals. Some skip lunch to save money, some go through the whole day with very little to eat, and many carry that stress quietly. As a church, we cannot ignore that reality. We believe Jesus calls us to respond with compassion, hospitality, and justice.
We are also very thankful for the support of Pennington United Methodist Church, who have partnered with us in this ministry. Their help has been a blessing, reminding us that when churches work together, we can do more and reach more. We are one Body in Christ, working side by side for the good of our neighbors.
Our Methodist roots teach us this. John Wesley spoke strongly about something called Social Holiness. That means holiness is not only about our personal relationship with God, but it is about how we live in community, how we treat each other, and how we care for the most vulnerable. Wesley believed that faith and love must be seen in acts of mercy. Feeding the hungry is not an “extra”, it is part of our discipleship.
One of Wesley’s most famous quotes is: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
That quote stays in our hearts and hands as we prepare those lunches and welcome the students to get them.
This is why our lunch program is not just about giving food. It is a way to say to students: “You matter. You are loved. You are not alone.” We don’t ask for anything in return. We don’t force anyone to come to church or listen to a sermon. We simply offer a warm meal, a listening ear, and an open heart. And somehow, the Spirit of God moves through that space. Relationships begin. Stories are shared. Trust grows.
So, receiving recognition on March 27th was a moment to stop and say, “Thank you, God.” It was a reminder that our ministry is not in vain. It was also a reminder to keep going. Food insecurity is still a real issue, not only on college campuses but across our cities, even among children and elders. As followers of Jesus, we are called to continue this work.
Let us be clear: we do not do this work alone. We thank every person who gives time, resources, or prayers to make this ministry possible. We thank our student friends who honor us with their presence. We thank Pennington UMC and our partners at TCNJ for walking with us in this shared mission. And most of all, we thank God, who gives us strength and vision.
To God be the glory! May we continue to love boldly, serve humbly, and act justly. Amen.
Warmly,
Rev. David Gaitan
