For the last eight years, I have had the great fortune to be associated with the (IFC) Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, an organization that has served the poor and needy in Orange County since 1963. IFC consists of three departments:

Recently, a colleague discovered that I volunteer at IFC and asked me why I got involved. At the time, I didn’t have a very good answer—something about working for the greater good of society. Having had time to reflect on this question, it now occurs to me that working with the IFC is my response to Christ’s commandment to love your neighbor. The New Testament is full of references as to what this commandment might mean. I think the one that speaks to me most is in Matthew 25: 34-35a where Jesus says “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me. Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

One day, as I was leaving the IFC Shelter and Kitchen after helping serve the evening meal, I stopped to talk to one of men that had just eaten there. I discovered that he had no family and had recently lost his job. He said that he had no home and no place to go. However, he was surprisingly optimistic about the future. He told me that IFC had given him hope, not only about his situation, but about people in general. As I started to walk toward my car, he asked where I was from. For a second, I didn’t know what he was asking, and then he asked if I represented a local church. I said that my team members and I were from the Chapel of the Cross Church on Franklin Street. He then said “Well then, God bless you and God bless the Chapel of the Cross.” Support for IFC is indeed a blessing, for those that need the IFC and for us who volunteer there. Interested in knowing more about the IFC? Call 919-929-6380 or go to IFC’s Web page at www.ifcweb.org.