Church program to feed hungry will continue:City concludes distribution effort is not 'grocery store'

Christ Church of the Heartland will continue distributing discount food to the needy in Cape Girardeau, Mo., after a decision by city officials who concluded the effort is not a "grocery store." {{{{The church came under city investigation after neighbors alleged the not-for-profit food distribution program actually was a commercial enterprise, and the church didn't have a permit for a commercial business.}}}}(sigh....)The church, a nondenominational, full Gospel church of several hundred members, has been used as a location for food distribution under the Angel Food (1)program for about four years with no previous problems, pastor Zach Strong told WND.But the city attorney had called to explain a special use permit was needed because neighbors had complained that the discounted food program was a "grocery store," which would be a commercial operation not allowed in the residential neighborhood where the church is located."I'm personally of the opinion, pending comment, there is no special-use permit required," Mayor Jay Knudtson told council members at a recent public meeting. Council members a short time later agreed, voting 5-0 in favor of the church's position.Council member John Voss expressed disappointment about the church's construction of a parking lot in an area once filled with woods, but concluded the work is a ministry, and made the motion to exempt the food distribution program from the permit requirement.Councilman Matt Hopkins seconded the motion, and Knudtson and council members Debra Tracy and Loretta Schneider joined in agreement. Two other members were absent.Schneider told other council members her own church participates in the food distribution program.The mayor said other options for the council were to affirm a zoning commission decision not to allow the church a permit or approve the permit.But Knudtson said the dispute encompasses for than just the food program, because [[[some neighbors had been upset about the church's building project, which has been approved by the city and is adding a 1,500-seat auditorium to the existing facilities."There is clearly some ill will," he told WND, relating to the impact of the church construction project. "I think that's part and parcel of these complaints being leveled."]]][[[One neighbor told the Southeast Missourian his home is next to the parking lot where the food distribution is done, and since he opted to pay more for a home in the city's most restrictive R-1 zoning, he felt the city had not kept its implied promise.]]]Church officials posted a statement of gratitude for the decision.
"Thank you for your support to help continue our Angel Food Minsitry," the church said on its website. "We appreciate everyone who contacted the mayor and city officials. Your voice made a difference."Pastor Strong told WND he had been convinced from the beginning of the church's proper standing on the issue of food distribution.The decision, he said, gives members security they will be allowed to move forward with various programs as the church grows and reaches into the community.{{{{"I think a lot of times the public is just a little ignorant concerning the law, what the law says a church can do and can't do. There still are people who think a church has a right to do absolutely whatever they want. The fact of the matter is we can't. There are things we abide by," he said.}}}}Christ Church of the Heartland is a nondenominational, full Gospel church of several hundred members.Angel Food is a registered nonprofit that provides food in bulk packages at reduced prices. It began 11 years ago in Georgia and now distributes from 1,200 locations across dozens of states.The program charges about $25 for a medium-sized box of food that has an approximate retail value of $50. Generally, one box of food feeds a family of four for a week, or a senior citizen for a month. The November package, for example, contained four pounds of chicken, a pound and a half of ribs, a pound of ground beef, two pounds of chicken tenders, pork chops, ground turkey, stuffed manicotti, smoked sausage, potatoes, green beans, carrots, onions, beans, rice, blueberry muffin mix and waffles.Strong told WND that on distribution day a truck pulls into the church parking lot, is unloaded and volunteers package the goods into boxes. Then about 180 families or so, who have prepaid for the food, pick it up.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58651
PS:It seems to me that there was definite "ill will" against the church.May be the building projects...For some people any mention of God around them gets them upset.Even if it is a church a large one...
(1)The Angel Food Ministry is largely spread all over our city and even my mother in law had gotten a box one time just to try it.She payed $25 for it and it was full of goodies.....we even ate the chicken with her and it was pretty good.
I think there is a lot of ILL WILL and IGNORANCE in the upset neighbours and of course this story has a happy ending....
I know of churches that had faced a whole lot more than this,just because people don't like to have christians around....
By the way if you want to visit the site or look for one Angel Food distribution center near you go to:
http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

As in the days of Noah...