Bread of Life#
By William Neff
Proverbs 22:9 teaches us, “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his
bread to the poor” (KJV). The members of the Living Water Fil-Am and Las Vegas Abundant Life churches must then be blessed as they have worked tirelessly with their Bread of Life Ministry for years.
Founded in 2019 by Oneil Madden, then-pastor of Abundant Life, and Ginger Underwood of
Living Water, the Bread of Life Ministry has collected and distributed nearly 250,000 loaves of bread, thousands of chips, and what the volunteers refer to as “sweets” to the needy of Sin City.
Using connections she had made in the community as a former board member of The Salvation Army, Underwood reached out to a local bakery in Las Vegas. She negotiated an agreement with the bakery, and the Bread of Life Ministry was born. Starting small with only a few racks of bread each week and no equipment with which to move them, the ministry slowly grew over the years to what it is today. Covid brought the giving to a halt in 2020, but the ministry came roaring back when restrictions were lifted. In 2022, the Nevada-Utah Conference purchased a large box truck for the ministry, and the bakery stepped up its donation.
Each Friday morning around 11:00, the big truck backs up to the dock behind the bakery as volunteers gather to unload the empty racks from last week’s bounty and begin loading another week’s blessing. The crew has been doing this a while, and by 11:15 the truck is loaded with bread, sweets, and chips and headed back to Living Water Fil-Am church. Just inside the front door of the Living Water Fil-Am church each Friday morning are stacks and stacks of racks with bread, chips, and sweets. At one o’clock, the door is opened for distribution.
The Salvation Army, a care facility, and two homeless shelters, along with a Catholic church and several Seventh-day Adventist churches, send their own volunteers to collect the gifts and then pass them along to those in need. One recipient, Shari, said, “Thank you for helping God. You have made a big difference in my family.” Joy, another beneficiary, said, “You guys help me so much all through the year.”
Matthew 14:13-21 tells of Jesus’ miracle of feeding five thousand with only five loaves of bread and two fish. The lesson here is that we can always do more with what we have than we think. As we enter into a new year, the fate of the Bread of Life Ministry is in doubt. New management at the bakery is questioning the value to the bakery of continuing with such a large donation. The Bread of Life Ministry will surely change dramatically, but the mission will not.
Work will soon begin on a new look for Bread of Life Ministry. Prayers are requested for the continued success of the ministry in whatever form it takes.
News Across the Conference From the Education Department
By Heidi Jorgenson
Schools across the Nevada-Utah Conference were actively showing examples of what love, community, and faith look like through various initiatives in December.
Creative giving at Summit Christian Academy
Students at Summit Christian Academy were challenged to collect as many cereal boxes as they could. The students gathered 317 boxes and created an assembly line to move them to the gym. The boxes were used to create a giant domino run before being donated to charity to follow Jesus’ example of feeding those in need.
Christmas traditions at Bishop Adventist Christian School
Bishop Adventist Christian School took a global approach to the season. Students explored Christmas traditions from around the world and shared their findings in a cultural fair. They also visited the local Christmas festival.
Riverview Christian Academy: Giving gifts of love
Riverview Christian Academy shared Jesus’ love by working with a local agency to “adopt” a family for Christmas. They were given the names and ages of the six children, and they collected and wrapped gifts for everyone. Their efforts brightened the holidays for a family in need and reinforced the importance of serving others.
Susanville’s growth and community spirit
What began as a small enrollment of six students at the one-teacher Susanville Adventist School blossomed into 11 students, thanks to positive promotion and a commitment to Adventist education values. The school, in collaboration with the local church, performed a Christmas program for a packed congregation, uniting the community in celebration and worship.
A call to action: Pray, promote, and provide
Every member of the Nevada-Utah Conference can contribute to the success of Adventist education. Through daily prayers for students, staff, and schools; by promoting events and programs; and by providing time, talent, or financial gifts, the ministry of Adventist education can continue to thrive. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of these young learners.
Adventist education is about more than academics—it’s about shaping hearts and minds to follow Jesus. Whether through acts of service, cultural exploration, or community celebrations, these schools try to embody the mission of growing loving followers of Jesus.
