Diversity Magazine Southern Indiana 2023 | Page 20

Delivering Recognizing

Faith & Hope

Church community addresses hunger , mentoring , other needs

STORY BY CALEB AMICK PHOTO PROVIDED BY DOYLE MOORE
ABOVE : FROM LEFT , MELVIN BUSH , REV . DOYLE MOORE , KOJAK FULLER , LARRY MCCLENDON AND TECO JOHNSON ( NOT PICTURED ) FORM BIG HOMIES , A GROUP DEDICATED TO ENDING VIOLENCE AND PROMOTING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY . what many say – that faith without works is dead – some Madison County churches are putting their faith to work in communities of color .
Both the Old and New Testaments contain commands to care for the poor and fight for justice . One passage that sticks out in the Rev . Marilynn Collier ’ s mind is Psalm 146:6-7 , especially , “ He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry .”
It ’ s been noted that Anderson ’ s west side is a food desert , meaning there ’ s no place to get healthy or nutritious food . As Collier points out , the west side has a liquor store , a Dollar General , a pharmacy , but no grocery store .
Some might wonder , “ Doesn ’ t Dollar General sell food ?” Collier says . The answer is yes , she notes , but selection is limited and prices are too high for some .
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