The food pantry at Abundant Life serves thousands of people in the Kansas City community each year and the Christian testimonies that come out of this ministry are examples of the power of being living proof of a loving God to a watching world.
Read on to learn about Bryan’s testimony of God’s blessing and provision through the food pantry.
I spoke with Bryan every week since the launch of the Abundant Life campus at Tipton Correctional Center. During the first few months of meeting at Tipton, I grew more comfortable reading the body language and nonverbal communication among the people of our Tipton Campus church body. One particular Sunday Bryan approached me and I noticed immediately that there was something different in his eyes. He began sharing his testimony and told me that, at his lowest point, drugs had led him into a place of isolation that separated him from all the family and friendships he once had. He went on to explain that, at rock bottom, he was sleeping in the back of a stolen truck hidden out of sight from the police and the public. He said that when he had no one and nothing, he found a food pantry where people not only fed him, but loved him and treated him with dignity.
Bryan began to choke up a bit as he shifted his stance—trying to maintain that air of physical readiness that men often carry in prison. He shared that as he watched one of Abundant Life’s sermons online, he saw a familiar building in the video. It was the same building where he received love and grace, even though he knew he didn’t deserve it. Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks as he said, “It makes sense,” he said, “that this is the same church that comes in here and ministers to us [in prison] every week.” He paused, looked down at the floor, and, choking back emotion, said, “I lied to everyone there I talked to…everyone. And I’m sorry.”
The Power of Forgiveness—A Christian Testimony Begins
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” —2 Corinthians 9:8
“Bryan, you are totally forgiven,” I replied with a huge grin, placing my hand warmly on his shoulder to match the smile on my face. His response rocked me. He looked up and said, “I think for the first time in my life, I really believe that.” This marked the beginning of Bryan’s Christian testimony—one of transformation, renewal, and faith in Christ.
Discipleship and Community at Tipton Campus
Over the next several months, Bryan and I, along with a few other Tipton Campus Team members, formed a close discipleship group. Together, we discussed faith, serving, evangelism, and discipleship. Prayer became a regular part of our lives—for family, other people at Tipton, and even for the staff.
In August, Bryan, along with 31 other men, chose to publicly rededicate his life and profess his faith during our first baptism service inside Tipton. Every Sunday at that campus, Bryan was one of the first to arrive and the last to leave, soaking up every moment in spiritual conversation with his brothers and sisters from Abundant Life.
Finding Support Through Community
Bryan was released from prison in late Fall. The very next day, he rolled into church at the Abundant Life Lee’s Summit Campus. After spending the previous seven months at Abundant Life’s Tipton Campus, Bryan felt right at home at church in Lee’s Summit. He enjoyed free coffee, warm smiles, and plenty of greetings. He also joined the Cracked Pots Community Group, where he met godly men who committed to loving him and helping him grow in his faith.
On Monday, he connected with brothers at Re:Generation, who could walk with him through this next season of life. Together, they dug into the Word of God and supported one another in their journeys of transformation and the development of their Christian testimonies.
On Tuesday, it was time for discipleship. Bryan met more friends at a Men’s Ministry event called Base Camp as they studied Scripture and learned to apply it to their daily lives.
Generosity in Action: A Food Pantry Miracle at Lee’s Summit
The following Sunday marked Bags by the Bumper at the Lee’s Summit Campus, a monthly opportunity to bring food donations directly to the Abundant Life food pantry. This helps support families and individuals in our community with essential groceries. When Bryan arrived at church, he thanked the Food Pantry Team for living out the vision of being living proof of a loving God when he was at his lowest point. He shared his testimony with the team, and helped sort over 14,000 pounds of donated food—living out our core value of generosity.
One of the team members said that God must want to show Bryan how much He loves to bless His people, because the Food Pantry received more than four times the normal amount usually brought on a first Sunday. Bryan smiled and described his life change through Jesus as nothing short of a miracle—a true Christian testimony of God’s love and redemption.
Thank You to the Food Pantry Team and Abundant Life Community
Thank you to the Food Pantry Team, the Tipton Campus Team, the Sunday Worship Team, the Cracked Pots Community Group, the Re:Generation Team, the men of Base Camp, and everyone who brought groceries to feed our community. Your service through the food pantry helps meet physical and spiritual needs, reflecting God’s call to generosity and care for our neighbors.
Living Proof of a Loving God
Paul wrote to the Romans:
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”—Romans 12:4–8
Evangelism. Discipleship. Generosity. Serving. Community. Worship.
When we live these out together, the world gets to see living proof of a loving God—and we get to be part of that. Will you join us in our mission to see lives changed by Jesus?