Pastor Jamal Bryant Redirects Church Offerings to Feed Families During Federal Shutdown
As millions of Americans battle food insecurity amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia has made headlines for his bold act of compassion — redirecting church offerings into food donations for struggling families.
Instead of the usual tithes and offerings throughout November, Pastor Bryant urged members of his congregation to bring canned goods, dry foods, and pantry staples every Sunday. The donations go directly to the church’s King’s Table drive-through food program, which distributes free groceries to households most affected by frozen SNAP benefits and rising unemployment.
“We’re going to perform miracles while the government is shut down,”
Bryant told his congregation during a recent service.
“It wouldn’t be right to ask people for offerings when so many don’t know how they’ll feed their kids or pay rent.”
Bryant explained that the initiative was driven by both faith and social responsibility, citing troubling data showing that more than 42 million Americans are facing SNAP cuts and over 300,000 Black women have lost their jobs since March.
The New Birth Church pastor added that faith must translate into tangible help, especially when economic hardship hits the most vulnerable.
“The Church isn’t just a place to pray — it’s a place to provide,”
he said.
Beyond the food drive, Pastor Bryant also directed struggling families to platforms like findhelp.org and whyhunger.org, both of which connect individuals to free local food banks, community kitchens, and support networks.
His decision has sparked widespread praise online, with many describing it as a timely reminder of how churches can serve as a source of real help in times of crisis. Others have called it a model for faith communities to follow, especially when traditional tithes might be better used to meet immediate needs.
“This is what ministry should look like in real time,” one social media user commented.
Pastor Jamal Bryant’s gesture is not only an act of generosity but also a statement on how faith communities can respond to economic pain with empathy and action — proving that compassion is sometimes the best sermon of all.
