Local Church in Chile Feeds Migrants with Support from the Youth and ADRA

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a long tradition of extending kindness to people in need by distributing food and other basic necessities. Across South America, millions are in dire need, a fact that has spurred various aid organizations to action. The Adventist Church is not an exception, thanks to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and other organizations focused on helping those who need it most.

Hot Meals for Migrants

In southern Chile, members of the Pueblo Nuevo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Temuco responded to the needs around them by opening a soup kitchen that offers hot meals to hungry people. The initiative is especially focused on migrants who have moved to the region in search of better opportunities.

Church members serve hot lunches at 1 p.m., from Monday to Thursday. Organizers say the soup kitchen is part of a three-month project in the district of Temuco North. 

“It is our contribution to the migrant community that has had to face major challenges, especially when families and young children are involved,” local Adventist pastor Carlos San Martín said. “It is something that will make their resettlement easier, and will help them save part of the costs.”

Caleb Project in the Area

The initiative happened due to the tireless efforts of a Caleb Project. Across South America, groups of Adventist young people known as “Caleb” teams spend weeks and even months in various volunteer outreach and community projects. In Temuco the local Caleb team is not only supporting the soup kitchen but also distributing food boxes to people in need. ADRA Chile also provides support by funding a portion of the initiative, leaders said.

Organizers revealed that individuals who benefit from this initiative also receive an invitation to attend a Bible class and later, the special programs planned for Easter week.

Bread of Life

Church leaders said that their members expect to keep working together to develop similar initiatives. “Our goal is not only to bring a loaf of bread to the table of those who need it but also to share the Bread of Life with each person who wishes to accept Jesus as his [or her] Savior,” they said. “The Adventist Church in Chile will keep on working so that more people may get to know Jesus and His wonderful promises.”

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Spanish-language news site.