New Covenant Full Gospel Church on Aurora’s East Side offered a different kind of outreach ministry recently in an attempt to help those in need in the city.
The congregation recently sponsored a food pantry distribution from its parking lot at 1029 Kane St. The church is in a residential neighborhood and occupies a building that once served as an American Legion Hall.
“Whenever you help a person in need, it may encourage them to return to church,” New Covenant Pastor John Thompson said.
The church arranged to have the Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank mobile unit provide 9,143 pounds of frozen meat, fresh salad, bread and cereals as well as nonperishable canned goods to those in need in Aurora.
Thompson said the food distribution helps fill a need.
“We want to help people in the community,” he said.
Recipients received a box of groceries that could provide food for up to a week, organizers said.
“We’re happy to provide families and individuals with food. If we can feed their soul, that’s even better,” Thompson said.
Ricky Rodgers is the church’s director. He is founder of the African American Men of Unity group.
“Pastor Thompson has a great vision for the church. Part of the mission of the church is to feed the hungry,” Rodgers said.
One of the bonuses of the mobile food pantry event was a chance to meet a few of the members of the newly-formed Aurora Knights basketball team, a professional Christian basketball team.
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The team is part of the Height International Basketball Association. Thompson, who started the Aurora Knights, said there already is an eastern conference and the goal is to expand into the Midwest region to include Waukegan, Aurora, Bolingbrook and Joliet.
“We wanted to start a basketball team but we wanted a Christian team. Anyone can play basketball. Anything I am involved in has to have God at the forefront,” the pastor said.
The roster has 10 members ages 18 to 30.
“It doesn’t mean everyone on your team is a born-again Christian. It means our events involve a level of integrity, morality and family atmosphere,” Thompson said. “These players aren’t going to be on the court quoting Bible scripture. They’ve got to put the ball in the basket. We want to make sure the atmosphere is Godly.”
The team’s first game is 6 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora.
Thompson, 44, began his Christian ministry in Aurora a year ago. His predecessor is the late Bishop Charles R. Phillips. Church leaders began a search for a new pastor shortly after Phillips died in 2016.
Phillips organized the church in 1988. Thompson, who was voted in last year, began serving in Christian ministry in 1998 at churches in Maywood and Bolingbrook.
Phillips was president of the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance in Aurora. Thompson said Phillips’ community outreach in particular inspired him.
“God pushes us into the path of different people along the way for a purpose,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the church is doing well and is growing.
“We have a lot of young people, which is encouraging. It means we can inspire them the same way Bishop Phillips inspired us through Biblical teachings,” Thompson said.
The pastor said the vision of New Covenant Full Gospel Church is basic.
“Bring as many people as we can to Christ, nurture them to Christ-like maturity and equip them for the work God has assigned them. It’s simple, show them the love of God,” Thompson said.