I am looking for information about an organization called “ANGELFOOD MINISTRIES.” There is a congregation of the Lord’s body about 30 miles from us that are involved with this. As a result we have a member who has ask us elders to start it in our congregation. From our research we believe it is something that the church should not be involved with. This member is convinced it is something that would open doors for study as well as be a great benevolent work. He has researched to find out that we can remove their literature and replace it with ours. That being done, we feel it is still working with an organization in addition to the church to accomplish a work of the church. We need as much information as possible to support our decision. …can you offer any opinion on the subject? ~ Thanking you in advance, Dwight Kibby
As of September 7, 2011 at 10:00 a.m., Angelfood Ministries is at least temporarily nonfunctional, according to the following statement on the ministry’s site.
We regret to inform you that Angel Food Ministries (AFM) will not be holding a food distribution for the month of September. Full refunds are now being processed to those who have already placed orders for the September distribution. Like the thousands of businesses in America that have endured one of the worst recessions in the past 100 years, we too have faced operational and financial challenges. We have every intention to continue offering great food at great prices in the coming months and are considering ways to reorganize or restructure our Ministry. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to the hundreds of thousands of customers who have come to rely on us every month, to our Host Sites and to the thousands of volunteers who join us in serving God by helping those in need. Please check this website often for the latest information. Thank you for your understanding and May God Bless. (https://www.angelfoodministries. com/)
Therefore, at least for the interim until such time or if the ministry resumes, participation in Angelfood ministries is a moot question – participation is not possible at this time.
However, we will attempt to answer the original question anyway. First, for the church to assist others benevolently is biblically substantiated (Acts 11:27-30; Romans 15:25-27), and this benevolence from the church ought to extend toward non-Christians as well, with a special emphasis and priority first toward members of the church (2 Corinthians 9:13; Galatians 6:10).
Second, it is not a new thing among contemporary churches of Christ to operate food pantries and for the boxes or bags of food that are distributed to include religious pamphlets. While benevolence is not the thrust of what Jesus Christ has entrusted the Lord’s church to do, benevolence can work well with the Christ-given mission of the church – to evangelize the world with the Gospel of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).
Third, though Angelfood Ministries claims to be “non-denominational,” in reality, it is an “inter-denominational” religious organization. It was begun by husband and wife denominational “pastors” and it primarily functions through denominational church distribution points. From its name with the words “Angel” and “Ministries” to its public face in the denominational church buildings, there is plenty of reason to harbor doubts about the propriety of associating with such an organization. However, in another sense, Angelfood Ministries is essentially a retailer of food which is purchased for distribution; as such, on that level, there would be little difference than purchasing food from a warehouse club or the local grocery – other than the real and implied denominational associations. In my opinion, neither should the churches of Christ participate in Angelfood Ministries, nor is it necessary to do so in order to obtain food – even at discounted prices – for a local benevolence program.
Therefore, in the fourth place, Sam’s Club, etc., Wal-Mart, etc. and local markets may be some of the resources to which a local congregation can turn to stock a church pantry for a community benevolent program. In addition, in many parts of the country, there are community food banks from which a congregation can purchase food at discounted prices, and these pantries are not associated with religious groups; they are funded by businesses. One of these networks can be examined at https://feedingamerica.org/; there are others, too.
Fifth, Angelfood Ministries sells boxes of food to recipients at discounted prices. The local church becomes the marketer to the community, collecting the advance money for the food and providing the facilities from which the purchasers take possession of the boxes of food monthly. The local church collects the money from participants with which it purchases the food; this essentially turns the local church into the newest neighborhood grocery store. Historically, the churches of Christ have paid for their own benevolence through items or money donated by its members for free distribution to the needy.
In summary, it may not be good judgment for a local congregation of the Lord’s church to align itself with Angelfood Ministries, but it is not sinful to do so as long as (1) it is used solely as a retailer from which to acquire food and (2) denominational literature and references are not distributed. There are better resources, because they are not inter-denominational, from which food can be acquired for benevolent distribution. Finally, the churches of Christ provide benevolent services without fees attached, which is not the same as the Angelfood Ministries where the recipients purchase the monthly boxes of food at discounted prices.
