Pastor Jamal Bryant is shifting the focus at New Birth Church in Georgia from tithes to tangible help.
As the government shutdown continues to affect families across the country, Bryant announced that his congregation will skip monetary offerings for the entire month of November. Instead, he’s asking members to bring canned goods to support the church’s King’s Table food drive.
“We have a responsibility,” he said in his sermon on Sunday. “Our history is going to record that this president is the very first president in American history to starve his own citizens. On November 1st, SNAP benefits are cut in this country, impacting 42 million Americans. That is, ladies and gentlemen, one out of every seven people. One out of every seven people in this room is on food assistance. One out of seven who are watching online are on food assistance.”
Bryant added, “We’re gonna perform miracles while the government is shut down. Every Sunday in November, bring canned food items to church. Clean out your cupboards, go to the supermarket—Publix, Costco, Walmart—just don’t go to Target,” he joked.
The King’s Table drive-thru food distribution program at New Birth will provide groceries to anyone in need, especially families impacted by the loss of SNAP benefits and rising unemployment. The church will also use funds from other programs, such as group therapy and morning prayer, to keep food supplies running.
“The Holy Spirit arrested me in prayer,” Bryant shared. “I didn’t feel right asking people to give thousands of dollars when they don’t even know how they’re going to feed their kids or pay rent.”
Bryant also mentioned how the crisis has especially hurt Black women, government workers, and contractors who have gone weeks without pay.
“Since March, 300,000 Black women have lost their jobs,” he said. “This is the highest unemployment rate for Black people in over 15 years.”
Beyond New Birth’s food distribution efforts, Bryant encouraged those in need to seek help from national resources such as findhelp.org, whyhunger.org/find-food, and the hotline 1-800-5-HUNGRY.
To end his sermon, he made it clear that financial giving will resume only once the government reopens.
“I want us all to give with clean hands and a clear conscience,” he said. “No one should be made to feel bad about not giving.”
New Birth Church’s move stands as a reminder of how faith communities can step in to fill the gaps when federal support falls short.
