They are hoping to feed many in need.
Over the weekend, thousands of volunteers came together to help a New Jersey-based megachurch, Liquid Church, package over 1.2 million meals to be distributed to those in need abroad during the holiday season. This effort was part of the church’s annual “Christmas Outreach” event, which took place across its multiple campuses in the state.
According to Brooke Stempert, the church’s Communications Manager, more than 6,000 volunteers participated in this large-scale initiative, coordinated with Rise Against Hunger. Stempert expressed gratitude for the volunteers, stating, “We simply couldn’t have done this without an army of incredible volunteers” and noted the strong community response to the event from both church members and local New Jersey residents. Each of the church’s seven campuses hosted meal-packing stations to help reach the ambitious goal of over 1 million meals.
The meals will be shipped to Zambia, where Liquid Church is already engaged in a project focused on providing clean water. Stempert emphasized the spirit of giving during the Christmas season, saying, “Serving others is what the Christmas season is all about,” and that the volunteers should feel a sense of pride in their contributions to the cause.
This year’s total of 1.2 million meals surpassed the previous year’s total of 1 million, making it the largest number of meals packed in the event’s history. Liquid Church, founded in 2007 by Pastor Tim Lucas, has grown from a small group of Christians meeting in a church basement to a prominent church with a strong emphasis on serving others, communicating the Bible’s teachings, and fostering community engagement.
The church values authenticity, love, and serving others selflessly, with its website highlighting the belief in grace as central to the Christian faith. It also emphasizes sharing the timeless message of Scripture in ways that are relevant and engaging to today’s culture.