Mike King

Holy Week Food Packaging Party - "I was hungry and you gave me something to Eat." Jesus Christ

Holy Week Packing Party

 

Two days before Jesus was crucified he said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat... whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me."

 

Bring meaning to this same Wednesday of Holy Week and put Jesus' instructions into action by preparing meals that will be shared with local, food insecure families. Join us for Something to Eat's Holy Week Packing Party with your family and friends.

 

 

Holy Week Packing Party

April 12 | 6:30 pm | Indian Creek Community Church

 

1 Out Of 5 KIDS Suffers From Hunger in Kansas City. Let's DO Something About This!

 

Also, donate here if you would like to help us package more than 50,000 meals. For only 25 cents per meal, you can help us provide more than 50,000 meals to your neighbors right here in Kansas City.   A very special thanks to our sponsors for making this event possible:   If you are a business and would like to sponsor this event,  please contact Sara Kline at [email protected].

Youthfront Justice Initiatives - Get Involved.

ARGENTINE, KANSAS CITY, KS

Argentine has a lot going for it with new efforts at revitalization, but like many under-resourced, urban neighborhoods, it has familiar problems. Connect with young people who are joining God's mission to restore beauty in Argentine. Hands-on work during a Youthfront Missional Journey in Argentine will include painting, clean up and minor home repair.

CROC, MEXICO

Our after-school program in Croc has more than 14 years, and is currently run by a local team. It provides kids with activities and classroom time where they can learn their place within God's mission. On a Youthfront Missional Journey in Croc, your will host a summer camp for local kids, prepare games, workshops, and classes. You'll work alongside a local team to give kids a quality education in subjects like math and Spanish, and also to better understand themselves, one another, and the world around them.

I WAS HUNGRY & YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT

Something to Eat is a learning experience where we equip youth to discover the systems that produce hunger. A pulsating spirit sweeps over our events where youth package meals to help families both locally and globally. As they draw closer to the struggle that is faced by nearly 1 out of 6 kids in the US, they also draw closer to God and to one another.

Jeremy Affeldt's Retirement

A little over a decade ago, I had the privilege of speaking on a panel to a group of youth workers. My fellow panelists that day were Royals great Mike Sweeney, youth worker Dana Nearmyer and Royals' pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. From that moment on, Jeremy invited me into his life as a pastor, theological conversation partner, spiritual guide and most of all, friend. We have been through a lot together with lots of valleys and mountain top experiences. I helped Jeremy with his first book, To Stir a Movement and welaunched an initiative called Something to Eat, which has provided nearly 4million meals to those struggling with hunger.

A year and a half ago, Jeremy started talking a lot about retiring. It wasn't because he was struggling with his performance. (I should have pressured him to retire at All Star break last year and then he wouldn't have pitched against my beloved Royals and getting the win as a pitcher in game seven.) He talked of retirement because he loves his family and grew increasingly sad about missing time with them. His three boys are growing up quick and he hates not being with them more. There were a couple of times earlier in the season that he thought about quitting abruptly.

In late July, Jeremy told me that him and Larisa had come to the tearful decision of calling this season his last. Three days ago the decision went public. Check out these links to see videos and articles.  Retirement Press Conference       Sports Illustrated Article         Joe Posnanski's Article           Chris Rose and Kevin Millar from MLB, fun interview where his personality really comes out.

A couple of weeks ago the Giants front office called and asked if Vicki and I would come to be a part of a special ceremony honoring Jeremy at today’s Giants’ game. I am honored to be here and grateful to the Giants for spending the money to bring family and some friends to San Francisco to pay tribute to Jeremy who helped them win three World Series Championships since 2010.

I look forward to what God has in store for Jeremy and Larisa in the years ahead. It has been a highlight of my life to watch Jeremy develop as a player (just look at his postseason stats, putting him in the company of legends like Mariano Rivera and Babe Ruth), even more, to see him grow as a follower of God in the way of Jesus. He is committed to come along the “least of these” (Matthew 25) and to stand up as a leader to call a thing what it is. Perhaps most of all, Jeremy has become more than a friend. The Celts had a phrase to describe what I’m talking about. Anam Cara, is Gaelic for “soul friend” and that’s what Jeremy is for me.

 

Testimony from Food Pantry about Something to Eat.

Recently our Something to Eat initiative worked with a youth group and church in Idaho to package 50,000 meals to respond to food insecurity needs in the area. Today we got this message from the food pantry director who received the meals.

"Thank you, Youthfront and Something to Eat for coming to Idaho and working with our youth to provide these meals for us, allowing us to better serve our clients with nutritious meals. Now that we have been giving them out for a while, we are getting return opinions from the people we serve. They love the Something to Eat meals. They have told me that they are an excellent base for a great meal. We've also heard they work good in a crock pot. As a food pantry we are very proud to have these meals to give to those who need them. Most often the food that is donated is not the most nutritious (donuts, canned food, cakes, and a lot of sugar) so thank you again for standing for better health around the world." 

I love this. Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat." Matthew 25

Instead of Black Friday, how about PACK FRIDAY.

 

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:2).

The reason the three wise men journeyed so far to see the Messiah was to worship Him, the King of Kings. They did so with their hearts, time, and gifts. Worshiping Christ should also be our goal as we celebrate Christmas!

Join Youthfront as we begin the Advent season with Pack Friday, the act of worshiping by serving one another. Add meaning and blessing to your holiday weekend by helping us package meals to feed 50,000 of our brothers and sisters right here in Kansas City. Pack Friday is an opportunity for your family, friends, neighbors, youth groups and churches all over Kansas City to come together and set our hearts on Christ this Advent season.

What: Pack Friday Something To Eat™ Meal Packaging Event

When: Friday, November 28th from 1 pm - 3 pm

Where: Something To Eat™ Warehouse 1200 South 5th Street, Kansas City, KS

Why: Because serving others is a great way to worship!

To register or find our more information.

Strike Out Hunger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come join us for a special brunch featuring San Francisco Giant's pitcher

Jeremy Affeldt. Jeremy was drafted by the Kansas City Royals right out 

of high school. After several years with the Royals, Jeremy was traded 

to the Colorado Rockies. For the last six years Jeremy has pitched 

for the Giants and played a major role in winning two World Series 

Championships. This is the first time back to play at Kauffman Stadium 

since Jeremy was traded. Joining Jeremy will be our good friend Ryan 

Lefebvre, the voice of the Royals. Both Jeremy and Ryan have been moved 

by Jesus' words "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat..." Hear 

their passion to strike out hunger through Youthfront's

Something to Eat ™ initiative.

 

Saturday, August 9, 2014, 10:30 am  

Plaza III Restaurant 

4749 Pennsylvania Ave, KCMO - Country Club Plaza 

$25 per person

 

A limited number of tickets are available so call Youthfront
at 913-262-3900 or go online and register at 

youthfront.com/strikeouthunger

 

Great Father's Day Gift - To Stir a Movement

My friend Jeremy Affeldt, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, just celebrated his 35th birthday, which coincided with back to back wins on consecutive days. Jeremy has won two World Series Championships with the Giants and factored significantly in the titles. He was his team's 2011 nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award and was voted MLB Setup Man of the Year in 2009. Affeldt was also recognized for his anti-slavery efforts with a nomination for the Jefferson Award for Public Service. So far this year Jeremy is once again showing that he is one of the premiere relievers in the major leagues, pitching in 24 games with 19 strikeouts, 9 holds and a 1.71 ERA. And, I might add, the Giants are the hottest team in baseball with a 41-21 record.

All that to say, Jeremy is a better human being than he is a baseball player. Baseball player doesn't define Jeremy, his faith in Jesus Christ does.

That is the introduction to say, if your father hasn't read Jeremy's book To Stir a Movement, do something special for your father on Father's Day and give him this book. Then you can read it after he is done. It is interesting, inspiring and informative. Act now, and you will have it in time.

ORDER HERE

 

First Time For Getting a Mention on The 700 Club...

Jeremy Affeldt, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and author of To Stir a Movement, gave me a nice shout out on the 700 Club of all places. :-)

We have been able to work closely together to grow Something to Eat™ into something unique that not only provides food for those who are hungry but challenges young people to lean into the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25.  

The best part of this video is that it features Larisa, who is much better looking than Jeremy and the dynamos in their relationship.

 

I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Something to Eat

In Matthew 25, Jesus shares a parable in which he says, "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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."  The righteous ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?..."  And the King replied, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

This teaching of Jesus fires my imagination and provokes a response.  What are we doing in this to literally minister to Jesus himself by serving others? Desiring to shape young people formationally as disciples of Jesus in the context of this teaching we started Something to Eat™ several years ago.  By the end of this year young people will have raised money and packaged well over two million meals for those lacking proper nutrition in Haiti, Africa, Central America, the Philippines, and also throughout the USA where millions of people are dealing with food insecurity everyday.

We have developed amazing collaborative partners such as FH and Generation Alive. We've had incredible support from foundations, donors and others who believe that it's not only part of God's mission to "give them something to eat" but who are also passionate about discipling a generation of young people to follow obediently in the way of Jesus.  

This weekend, I'm working with my dear friend Jeremy Affeldt, who has provided deep vision and passion for Something to Eat™ , to package 250,000 meals.  The cool thing is that the teenagers packaging the meals are from East Palo Alto.  Most people know Palo Alto as the home of Google, Facebook, the Silicon Valley, the wealthy land of the innovator and Venture Capitalist.  On the other side of the highway is East Palo Alto, a place that many people have written off.  But that is not the story that these young people are embracing.  Through the opportunities provided by organizations like Able Works, these young people are leaning into a different story, a story that mirrors the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25. Pray for us this weekend. 

Pray for young people who want to not only give something to eat to those who are hungry but also want to stand up for the stranger and push for immigration reform; shine a light on the naked and end the scourge of sex trafficking; and cooperate with God's mission in the world in hundreds of other ways that bare witness to the reality that a day is coming when restoration will be completed and God will get God's way on Earth as in Heaven.  This is a generation of young people that according to some of the latest research by Barna are more faithful than any other age group to speak up for Jesus and the Gospel.

In Matthew 25, Jesus was not giving an exhaustive list of the things we should be about in order to come alongside the "least of these."  What are ways that you can minister to Jesus directly by serving the least of these? Listen deeply and allow God's Spirit and your imagination to open up the possibilities all around you.