Joseph's Storehouse is blessed with large truck loads of food each month to be a blessing to many in the community.
Cars begin lining up early before our gates open at 8:30 on giveaway day, which last until 11:30. There is plenty of food for everyone who comes during those times.
It is with a very heavy heart that I write, amidst the tears... tears of sorrow and tears of joy. Bro. Bob Evans, who founded this ministry along with his wife, Peggy, back in '99, has left this world behind and is now rejoicing in heaven with the angels. For all of us who knew and loved Bro. Bob, we are sad at his passing, for he will be missed; however we also are happy for him, knowing how happy he is to meet Jesus face-to-face. Up until these last few years of his life (suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases), Bro. Bob lived a full life. As a general rule, he was always full of joy... and energy. Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength, and Bro. Bob certainly knew that well. It was that strength that kept him going and allowed him to accomplish all that he did for the Lord.
The Bible also teaches us that we can live an abundant life here on earth, and Bro. Bob truly did. His abundance didn't come from worldly riches, but he had an abundance of blessings that money can't buy. He had been married to his high school sweetheart for over six decades, and they were blessed with three beautiful daughters, as well as grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. They also had a son who went to heaven as a baby. I imagine that Russell was with Jesus as they welcomed Bro. Bob home.
He spent his life serving the Lord, including founding two churches as well as this ministry. Bro. Bob and Sis. Peggy would both agree that It wasn't always easy (serving the Lord usually isn't), but it was always rewarding. He truly lived what he believed, and as a result, Bro. Bob always had a heart for giving to others. He lived by God's Word, especially the one upon which he founded Joseph's Storehouse, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me." (Matt. 25:40) He never met a stranger, and he was no respecter of persons. It didn't matter if someone was rich or poor, clean or dirty, he loved everyone the same. God put a heart of compassion in him and called him to "feed His sheep." Through the years, the Lord spoke to Bro. Bob many times in visions to help guide him into the next phase of his ministry, including a vision of heaven. No doubt the real thing doesn't even begin to compare. I'm sure that before he gets through hugging and shaking hands with everyone there, those of us who have also accepted Jesus as our personal Savior will join him around the throne. I firmly believe there will be thousands of people in heaven that will be able to thank Bro. Bob and Sis. Peggy for being their "spiritual parents." I, for one, could never thank them enough for loving me like their own.
Please keep Sister Peggy and the family in your prayers, and please let them know you're thinking of them. The official obituary from Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home is below.
BRO. BOB EVANS
Funeral services for Rev. Bob Evans are scheduled for 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at West Hills Baptist Church, Lebanon, TN. Visitation will take place at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home on Monday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm and on Tuesday after 11:00 am at the church. A private family burial at Wilson County Memorial Gardens will follow the service.
Bro. Bob Evans, 82, of Lebanon, went to be with his Lord on Friday, March 9, 2018.
The son of the late George and Allie Evans, Bro. Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Peggy Bellar Evans, daughters Laurie (Terry) Taylor, Lisa (Benny) Nolen, and Susan (Marc) Huddleston; five grandchildren, Carrie Beth Taylor, Jeremy (Christy) Taylor, Benjamin (Callie) Nolen, Bethany (Kyle) Speck, and Anna Huddleston; and eight great-grandchildren, Cayden Champion, Isabelle and Hudson Taylor, Asher, Levi, and Samuel Nolen, and Nolen and Nathan Speck.
Preceding him in death was his son, Robert Russell Evans.
Bro. Bob Evans, born in Baltimore, MD, moved to Lebanon at the age of 10 years old. He attended Lebanon High School and graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in 1954. He also attended Tennessee Tech University.
Bro. Bob was a Lebanon business man, working at Bellar Furniture Co., and owner/manager of Town and Country Home Furnishings, both in Lebanon, for 22 years. He surrendered and served in full-time ministry for 39 years which included music ministry at College Heights Baptist Church, Gallatin, and Fairview Baptist Church, Lebanon. He founded and pastored two churches, Love One Another Church, and Love’s Way Community Church, both of Lebanon. Desiring to show God’s love to hurting people, he and his wife founded Joseph Storehouse Food Ministry in 1999, which provides food to those in need in Wilson and surrounding counties. Bro. Bob also was involved in foreign mission endeavors in Russia and Haiti.
In 2012, the Lebanon Rotary Breakfast Club awarded Bro. Bob the Bernie Bass Community Service Award.
In 2014 the Tennessee House of Representatives passed a Joint Resolution to honor Bro. Bob for his work in ministry and community service.
Bro. Bob was a past member of the Lebanon Jaycees and Rotary Clubs, and the Gideon’s International.
Active Pallbearers include: Bobby Joe Reich, Joe Varossa, Kyle Speck, Terry Taylor, Jeremy Taylor, Robert Billings, and Fred Vanhook.
The service will be conducted by Rev. Benjamin Nolen and Benny Nolen.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Joseph Storehouse Food Ministry, 1960 SE Tater Peeler Road, Lebanon, TN 37090 and the Gideon’s International.
Thanksgiving will be here in less than a month, and we have a lot to be thankful for this year. We are thankful for people like you that donate your time and your resources to help us keep the doors open. Without your generous gifts, we wouldn't be able to feed the multitude of less fortunate families in middle Tennessee.
In every face that comes through our doors, there's a story. Most people would prefer not to have to come to a food ministry to get help, but they find themselves in situations that necessitate it. Before even talking with them, their faces tell us a story. We see the worried looks of a young mother trying to feed her children on her own, and then the tears and thankfulness when she's offered a listening ear, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, and a big yellow wheelbarrow full of food, toiletries, household items, as well as toys & trinkets for the kids. We see the wrinkled, hagard faces of the elderly, many living alone and having to choose between buying medicine and buying food each month. Most of them tell us they couldn't make it through the month without our assistance. We see the faces that are distorted with pain, sickness and disease that have aged people beyond their years, and we are thankful we are here to help them through another month. We see the downtrodden faces of the men who have hit hard times and are now unable to provide for their families. Many are embarrased to have to lay down their pride and ask for assistance, but then they are thankful to find that there's no judgment for needing help. We are here to love the people with the love of God by feeding them, one soul at a time.
For all of you that help us in any capacity, we thank you.
"Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me."
Joseph's Storehouse warehouse manager, Robert Billings, coordinated efforts to collect and ship much-needed food, water and paper goods to areas ravaged by the fierce storms this month.
Joseph's Storehouse Food Ministry co-founder and Executive Director, Peggy Evans, expressed her appreciation for the faithful supporters and volunteers who, "donated their time and effort to help send life-saving food, water, and other items to several locations which have suffered such devastating and unimaginable damage from the monstrous hurricanes. We shipped a total of 12 pallets weighing over 16,000 pounds, including: 4 pallets of MREs (meals ready-to-eat); 3 pallets of canned goods; 2 pallets of bottled water; 1 pallet of hygiene products; 1 pallet of cookies and 1 pallet of assorted snacks and other goodies. The Bible tells us anyone who gives even a cup of cold water to one of these in Jesus' name will be rewarded. We are so appreciative of the people in this area who have assisted us in helping those who are in such desperate need."
While Joseph's Storehouse is known for feeding hundreds of middle Tennessee families each month, it isn't commonly known that we provide disaster relief assistance beyond our local service area. Victims of hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, and Irma, as well as victims of the Haitian earthquake and the Great Flood of 2010 have also been assisted through JSFM.
We couldn't do what we do without the faithful support of our donors. Thank you so much for your generosity.
JOSEPH'S STOREHOUSE FOOD MINISTRY IS PARTICIPATING IN THE BIG PAYBACK.
The Big Payback annual giving day is returning on Wednesday, May 3, and JOSEPH'S STOREHOUSE is excited to take part in this monumental event for the FIRST time.
The Big Payback, hosted by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, is a community-wide giving day that celebrates Middle Tennessee’s spirit of generosity and supports the life-changing work of area nonprofits.
Kicking off at midnight on Wednesday, May 3, the 24-hour online giving day helps organizations, like Joseph's Storehouse Food Ministry raise much-needed funds and bring awareness to pressing needs in our community.
Gifts made to Joseph's Storehouse during The Big Payback are amplified by incentives and awards and may help us qualify for special prizes and bonuses throughout the day.
Since its inception in 2014, Middle Tennessee’s annual day of giving has raised more than $6.75 million for nearly 800 area nonprofits, including schools and religious institutions. We hope to benefit from it this year.
We hope you’ll support JOSEPH'S STOREHOUSE FOOD MINISTRY and our mission to feed the world, one soul at a time, on Wednesday, May 3 during The Big Payback.
For more information, contact us or visit www.TheBigPayback.org. Thank YOU for your support!
As many of you know, our Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Bro. Bob Evans, has been struggling with Parkinson’s Disease for a while now. Sadly, his health has now deteriorated to the point he has had to retire from Joseph’s Storehouse Food Ministry. His daily presence here will be missed, but his legacy will continue on. His wife, Co-Founder, and Co-Executive Director, Sis. Peggy Evans will continue as Executive Director and daily operations will continue as they have been. Please keep Bro. Bob and Sis. Peggy in your prayers.
As I was listening to Tim McGraw sing his hit, “Humble and Kind” during the CMA’s the other night, I couldn’t help but think of Tony Bates.Tony has been a faithful supporter of Joseph’s Storehouse for many years now, and we praise God for the Bates Ford sponsorship funds we receive that help us feed the less fortunate in the community.
I sat down with Tony earlier this week and we exchanged testimonies of how God has blessed us more than we could deserve. Tony shared he’d gone from humble beginnings to where he is now, all to the glory of God. He told how, in his younger years, he had been so focused on working and making money that he had lost sight of the more important things in life.Then he had an epiphany and realized he’d rather be broke than be miserable, a point that he emphasized again and again. Humble and kind.
When I asked about Bates Ford, he told me he started working for Mr. Burchett back in February of 1990.Tony would have left in ’94, but Mr. Burchett offered him a partnership with rights to buy him out.So Tony stayed on, and in 2007, after Mr. Burchett’s passing, Tony exercised his option to purchase the remaining stock, and the business became Bate’s Ford.Now Tony also owns two tractor dealerships. God has truly blessed him, and Tony is quick to tell you why. It isn’t because he is something special, he’ll tell you, but because he’s a giver.
Tony gives a minimum of 10% of the profits from his business, plus he gives personally.Then he gives into the community as well. He supports schools, many programs at the fair, local ministries, and of course, Joseph’s Storehouse Food Ministry. He is our largest single supporter, but he doesn’t pat himself on the back about it.He said God told him several years ago, “it ain’t about me.”So Tony began putting money into ministries, and God has poured out His blessings on him.
Folks around Lebanon may know that Bates Ford supports the fair every year, and they may know he supports the schools. In fact, anyone needing funding for any school project will generally knock on his door. However, people may not realize all the extras he does for individuals in need; I won’t share any of his secrets here, but I will say it is amazing all he has been able to do.Tony didn’t share some of those stories with me to toot his own horn- he was giving glory to God.He’s quick to say that he does it because it’s a miracle he is where he is today, and that God has blessed him to be able to do it.God gives it to him so that he can bless others with it.You can’t out-give God. The more you give; the more He blesses you.Tony is living proof of God’s blessings, and he stays humble and kind.
It is that same humility and kindness that has graced Bob & Peggy Evans, Joseph's Storehouse Food Ministry founders, to continue to serve the Wilson County community all these years. God gave Bob a vision to feed the hungry, and He has blessed Joseph's Storehouse with people, like Tony Bates, who hook up with the vision to help those less fortunate than themselves. If you are not already a part of our ongoing support here at Joseph's, let me encourage you to consider partnering with us so that you, too, can enjoy the blessing of giving.
Praise God! We were blessed this month with a $10,000 check from Famous Footwear of Lebanon. One of their employees is a supporter of Joseph's Storehouse and nominated us for the donation. The funds were much needed. Our costs to freight in the truckloads of food have increased $200 per truckload, and utilities are also on the rise. As you know, the price of groceries themselves have gone up as well. So we are very appreciative to Famous Footwear and all of our donors who help us feed the community. We couldn't do it without all of your help.
Meet Jean Wigington. We were so blessed to have her join our staff in May of 2015. Here she shares her story of how JSFM has impacted her life.
"I was so tired and weary when Joseph’s Storehouse came into my life. See, I had been working outside my home for 39 years, along with nursing my sick mother for the last 7 years of her life. Things in this life are not always physically a blessing, but as God’s daughter, I held on to His Word in Proverbs 3:5-6: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' In March of 2015, my mother’s home became heaven, and I found myself unemployed and my day with no demands. For the first time in my adult life I could chose to spend my day doing whatever I wanted. So I chose to come and be a part of learning more about the Holy Bible and what God’s plan for my tomorrow might be. The refreshing, uplifting Overcomers Bible Study class with Brother Leonard Diebold and friends (held on Tuesday mornings at 9 AM here at JSFM) allowed me to see the families with needs in our community. The Joseph’s Storehouse Food Ministry staff and volunteers are putting into action God’s commandment to 'love one another.'
"This opened the door for me to become a part of the daily operations at Joseph’s Storehouse Food Ministry using my giftings and talents for our Lord. My tired and weary days are now encouraged and uplifted being a part of helping others who need HOPE. We all have something to give. Please ask your heart, 'what am I to give?' Together with the Lord we can all make a difference."
Around this time of year we become like little children, but instead of asking, "are we there yet?" we are asking, "is it spring yet?" We are ready for the cold, dark winter to be replaced with the warm sunshine of spring. While that is so true in the natural, it also holds true for the spiritual. When we've been in a cold, dark place, going through the hard times, the dry spells, we sometimes wonder when, if ever, we will see the sunshine again. Unfortunately, so very many of the people that come to us for food are in a spiritual winter. Before they can even get to spring, many of them have to be encouraged and given hope that the sun will shine again... they do not have to stay in the cold forever. Here at Joseph's Storehouse, we offer that hope, that encouraging word; we show them there is light at the end... the sun will shine again. We provide physical food for their bodies and spiritual food for their souls, for those who want it. The vast majority of the people tell us that the prayer and encouragement are worth as much, if not more, than the food. We follow God's commandment to love one another by being that hope and enouragement and meeting the needs of the people. It does no good to share the love of God in word and not follow it with deed for those in need. Please open your heart and help share the sunshine with those who are stuck in a cold, dark winter. We operate on donations, so please ask the Lord if He would have you help support the less fortunate in the community and bring hope to their lives. "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me."
We were so blessed to have an abundance of turkeys to give away during December... just in time for Christmas dinner. Many local businesses also conducted food drives among their employees to help out for the holidays. I could tell you with words about our December giveaway, but a picture is worth a thousand words so we'll show you a video instead.
