When Decatur First UMC's visioning team set out in early 2023 to learn more about the needs of neighbors in DeKalb County, they expected to hear about affordable child care. Instead, they heard something else again and again: food insecurity.
That listening led to the launch of two transformative ministries at the church.
"I was as surprised as anybody, and judging by how much these ministries have taken off, the need is real,” said Rev. Dalton Rushing, pastor.
Addressing Food Insecurities in the Community
To begin developing a mission plan for the coming years, vision team member Carrie Davis and associate pastor for mission Rev. Laura Rappold reached out to a church member with experience in hunger outreach. From that conversation, they learned about Urban Recipe—a food co-op that emphasizes care, responsibility, courage, and community.
The co-op offers a bi-weekly distribution of frozen and non-perishable food, produce, and home goods, fostering a supportive community.
By April of that year, Decatur First UMC was hosting an Urban Recipe Food Co-op at the church.
Families and individuals facing food insecurity are eligible to join the co-op. Every other week, those co-op members gather at the church for about two hours. A truck from Urban Recipe (with food from Atlanta Community Food Bank) arrives and the members unload it together. They sort the food into bins—frozen items, dry goods, and produce, plus extras that might include anything from Halloween decorations to skincare products to diapers.
After the bins are prepared, each family receives the number of bins to match their family size.
The church's role is threefold. The congregation provides the space, funds the co-op (through its Christmas Eve Offering), and provides four to six trained volunteers from the congregation.
Decatur First's program began with eight families. In 2024, Decatur First co-op members received 21,617 pounds of food through the program. And in 2025, between January and October, co-op members received 28,694 pounds of food.
Addressing Homelessness in the Community
In addition to food insecurity, homelessness is a growing struggle in the Decatur area.
After an earlier attempt at offering a shower ministry failed, a church member read about the non-profit Flowing With Blessings. The church reached out to learn more, and both organizations agreed this was a good fit.
Today, Flowing with Blessings brings two buses to the church parking lot every other month—one outfitted with showers, the other with washers and dryers.
While guests shower and do laundry, the organization serves hot meals and the church provides grab-and-go snacks in the gym. Tables full of clothing from Goodwill mean guests can pick out clothes and, as a bonus, they can wear those while their clothes are being washed. Barbers who have built relationships with Flowing With Blessings provide haircuts at no cost.
About 80 guests attend each event. The church provides space, volunteers, and financial support to cover Flowing With Blessings' expenses. And volunteers of any age can participate.
Your Generosity Helps Others
By supporting your local congregation’s outreach ministries, you impact lives of your surrounding communities and those around the world. No matter what part of the world we live in, your generosity can reach across oceans and help churches like Decatur First UMC help those that are less fortunate.
excerpt from a story by Sybil Davidson, Conference Communicator, North Georgia Annual Conference
This story represents how United Methodist local churches through their Annual Conferences are living as Vital Congregations. The overarching purpose of The United Methodist Church is to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." A vital congregation is one that is effectively engaged in this mission. Together, we become a powerful force for healing, growth, and transformation—living out the Gospel in every corner of the globe.
