Multi-church ministry in Winchester going strong after 18 years
By Eric Thomas
Great ideas begin with a conversation. The Winchester Ministerial Association started dialogue in the early 2000s. That dialogue gave birth to “Free Lunch Mondays” for the high schoolers that began during the 2007-2008 school year.
The first year of this special outreach to the youth started with serving the meal the last Monday of each month. Many of the students lived outside the immediate community and couldn’t walk home for lunch. The idea was to serve them lunch so they could get back to their next class. This would not only help the parents but also give the volunteers an opportunity to let the kids know that the churches were a good place, and they cared about them.
During the next year, they expanded to nearly every Monday during the school year.
At the time when Free Lunch Mondays began, the Baptist, Methodist, Catholic and Christian churches in the area pooled their resources to provide this ministry to the students.
Sue Metcalf was the pastor at First Baptist Church in Winchester at the time of the program’s inception. “To be able to pray for them, greet them and be a small part of their lives is so important,” remarked Metcalf. “I am so happy this wonderful ministry is still going on and reaching hundreds of students every week.”
For the past three years, they have implemented a “Free Lunch Mondays” leaders meeting when they arrange the schedule for all churches and groups involved.
During this meeting they will also discuss any challenges and/or changes for the coming year. Also, they plan an “All-Staff Appreciation Luncheon” to be served one day during the school’s staff planning days prior to student attendance.
Several churches and organizations take part in providing and serving the meals. Those in Winchester include Cornerstone Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Grace Baptist Church, St. Mark’s Catholic Church, United Methodist Church, Sandbridge Baptist Church, the Winchester Ministerial Association, Kiwanis Club of Winchester and Royal Neighbors. Other churches involved are Manchester Baptist Church, Alsey Baptist Church and Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. All the aforementioned churches and organizations are in the Winchester Community School District and participate in some way.
The meals are all served in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, which is located one block from the Winchester High School. On average it will take 10-12 volunteers to serve the meals. They will serve on average 90 students. In the history of the program, the largest number of students served was 130.
“The Free Lunch Monday is a great program which brings together our local high school students in a Christian atmosphere,” mentioned Brenda Dahman, a volunteer with the program. “The students are always so well-behaved and appreciative of the food prepared for them by our community churches.”
The menu varies. The entrée could include grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, mostaccioli, walking tacos, pulled pork, pizza, chicken and noodles, or sloppy Joes. Sides will vary with the entrée but could include salad, green beans, chips, corn and peaches. Royal Neighbors is indispensable in providing half or more of the desserts. The sponsoring organization for the meal is responsible for bottles of water and flavor packets. “We are not only feeding them food to nourish them physically, but we also are given the privilege to encourage them, pray over them, share Scripture with them and just send them the message that we care about them,” shared Debra Rhoades, a volunteer. “[Free Lunch Mondays] is not only a blessing to the students, but also to all those who have the privilege to serve them.”
“The Winchester Ministerial Association provides the plates, bowls, napkins and plasticware. First Baptist provides the facility and storage space for supplies,” mentioned First Baptist Church Pastor Bill Baughman, who is also president of Winchester Ministerial Association. “Each organization is responsible for setup and cleanup.” There is usually enough leftover food left for the volunteers to enjoy lunch together as well.
Free Lunch Mondays are financially supported by generous donations. “The biggest and most obvious are the expenses that each group has in providing the lunches,” Baughman concluded. “Gifts come in on a regular basis to The Ministerial Association, which are used for the supplies.” Some of the churches also take up offerings for various ministries in the community such as Free Lunch Mondays.
If anyone wishes to support this local ministry, people are encouraged to pray. Financial gifts may arranged by sending donations to: and if anyone wishes to support them financially you may arrange for your gift through your Winchester area church or by sending your donations to: Winchester Ministerial Association, c/o First Baptist Church, 30 W. Cross St., Winchester, IL 62694.
