The day before Thanksgiving, members of God’s Tabernacle could be found giving out boxes of food for the less fortunate to have a nice Thanksgiving meal. This Christmas Eve they will return to the Howard Johnson parking lot to make sure those same people have a meal to enjoy on Christmas.

Evangelist Carrie Bell and Luther Bell Jr. founded God’s Tabernacle in 1965. Although tabernacle has many definitions, their ministry focuses on “moving habitation,” and the word crusade, which they define as “fighting for a cause.”

Evangelist Bell spent 40 years devoting and dedicating her life to God, while bringing the lost to Christ through her love. When she passed away in 2014, Edwina Pearson took over the ministry and focused on the mission Evangelist Bell had already set out.

During Evangelist Bell’s time at God’s Tabernacle she realized that food is a commonality everyone shares, so she began to use food as a way to introduce people to Christ. She owned and operated God’s Tabernacle Food Bank, where she would often wake up early and cook delicious, homemade, love-filled meals, Sierra Pearson said. She spent years praying, fasting and serving to give an example of the Christian lifestyle.

The annual food box drive for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve are how God’s Tabernacle now continues her work.

This year’s Christmas Eve boxes will include meat, stuffing, vegetables, fruit snacks and more. God’s Tabernacle will also be giving away wrapped toys to the families with kids and grandkids.

The Tabernacle not only does this to not only continue in Evangelist Bell’s mission, but to fill their own mission statement and calling from Luke 14:12-14.

“Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Pearson hopes these boxes send a statement to the world that Jesus loves all and desires that all live for Him.

The boxes will be on a first come first serve basis. All that God’s Tabernacle is asking is that those who are fortunate enough to afford holiday groceries give those who can’t a chance to experience this blessing.

The drive will be December 24 at the Howard Johnson on Tallahassee Highway at 10 a.m. The boxes will be free, but they will accept any donations to continue their mission for years to come.