A flood at a soup kitchen in Alor Setar was a silver lining, as groups of people came to help an organisation that had comforted and provided care for them.
The Fun Gates Soup Kitchen that is located at 23 Jalan Putra, Alor Setar has been a great helping hand of Trinity Baptist Church to reach out to the underprivileged and needy of the community. Open to the public, it provides lunches which are free to the homeless as well as the poor in this urban community.
This is in regards to Christ’s command in taking care of the needs of the underprivileged.
James 1:27
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Regardless of social status whether office workers, businessmen, or even Datos, all are welcome, to come for lunch, to mingle with the needy and poor, as the main purpose is to remove any negative stigma and give them a sense of dignity, whereby they are accepted by the community at large. Open on Sunday-Thursday at 11.15am – 1.30pm, the Soup Kitchen welcome everyone.
Matthew 25:35-40New International Version (NIV)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
However on September the 21st Friday, this establishment went through a harrowing time, as a flood struck the state of Kedah and the town of Alor Setar. Due to recent heavy rains that fell around the area, there was an overflow of waters from the nearby river, which then overflowed into the town area.
It was about that time that George Huang, head of the soup kitchen was informed about water seeping into the soup kitchen around noon. By the time it was evening, the waters had already flowed into almost all the parts of the building. This was worrying indeed as the Soup Kitchen collectively fed about 400 people daily. But praise be to God as there was not much damage, since the water did not go above knee-high level.
Word had gotten out of this disaster and very soon help was sent to clear up the area. People from all walks of life had come over to help the Soup Kitchen that had comforted and supported them. Among them were even those who had special needs, coming from Rumah SuperHope.
Despite having disabilities since birth, such as Down Syndrome, and some learning disabilities, it did not stop them from coming to help clean the place. Working hand in hand, the group managed to get everything functioning again on Saturday.
“It was not just the strength of man, but thanks be that the Lord had sent help in the speedy receding of the flood as well as the protection of the premises,” a member of the Soup Kitchen shared.
The support shown from the community has an important and encouraging Biblical lesson whereby we are supposed to carry one another’s burdens.
Galatians 6:2New International Version (NIV)
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
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Chris Quah
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