Helping Hands: Amy Dietrich (second from the right) and her Wednesday team for The Pantry take a break before opening the door for ministry.

 by Tim Merrick

Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines benevolence as the "disposition to do good." It is a noble intention. Yet God teaches us that merely wishing someone well is ultimately of little good. We are called to go beyond good intentions to meet the physical needs of those in need. Vineyard Boise is meeting many of these needs through several benevolence ministries under the direction of Amy Dietrich.

Amy has been with Vineyard Boise for 10 years, the last two as a full-time member of the staff. She set aside her college studies in Social Work for a real-world education in making a difference. But involvement in benevolence outreach is nothing new for Amy. From an early age, she was involved in sharing Christ's love in practical ways. Amy grew up in a local Assemblies of God church with a strong women's ministry. At the core of this ministry was a heart of benevolence. The WM's, as they were known, were always reaching out beyond themselves. Amy's grandmother, who was an active WM, passed on this heritage, making sure that Amy learned the importance of putting her faith into action. This childhood experience helped form a deep compassion in Amy for the hurting, the lonely, and the disadvantaged.

Amy found a home for that compassion at Vineyard Boise. "I love what I do," she says. "I get to do the two things I love the most: helping people and serving the Lord." 

The church has always had a benevolence outreach of some kind, beginning with The Pantry when Vineyard Boise was founded 11 years ago. The Pantry was originally set up to meet the emergency needs of those who had followed God's call to plant the Boise church. Today The Pantry provides food boxes for 50-60 low-income families and individuals each week. But the volunteers participating in The Pantry offer more than just boxes of groceries. These participants take the time to relate to those who come in for help. "We get a chance to connect with them and build relationships," Amy says. It isn't unusual to find the people who have come in for food sitting with a worker and getting prayed for. The Pantry is open three days a week, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings, from 10:00 until noon. 

The church seeks to meet other practical needs as well. This fall, the Compassionate Health Clinic opened in the Barnabas Center. Already, the clinic is busy serving uninsured, low-income people. "They're hoppin'," Amy laughs. In the next few months, the Vineyard Law Center will open to offer free legal services to those who might not otherwise be able to afford them. Both ministries need volunteers, particularly Spanish-speaking interpreters. 

Vineyard Boise also has a particular calling to minister to the city's homeless. Each Sunday, volunteers make sure that those finding shelter at the Boise Rescue Mission and Community House have transportation to Sunday services. Five years ago, Rocky Ketchum and Mike Longhi started Feeding God's Children. Now overseen by Tim and Tempe MacFarlane, this ministry sets up each Sunday afternoon in Julia Davis Park after church. Depending on the weather and the time of year, 100-200 people show up for a hot meal, free Bibles, and a chance to talk and pray with volunteers.

Two other ministries are focused on providing food to the needy. G.I.F.T., or Going Into the Fields Together, is a group that gleans produce from the fields of participating farmers. The church also has its own garden plot that has moved from location to location and grown in size each of the last three years. The church garden now has a permanent location on the Vineyard Boise campus. The produce from the garden goes to The Pantry for distribution. Amy is also partnering with the University of Idaho Extension Office to provide classes on gardening this spring. Those classes mark a new move in Vineyard Boise's benevolence ministries: from giving to meet immediate needs to educating people on how to meet their own long-term needs. 

"We want to help people break out of the cycle of poverty," says Amy. "Our goal is to give them the tools they need to do this."

"We really want to recognize common problems and provide services to help people overcome them," Amy explains. "We are looking at offering financial counseling, health education, and employment skills that will help them become more marketable." Classes will provide everything from organizing a budget, maintaining proper nutrition, and even writing an effective resume. Amy sees these new educational outreaches as a way to make lasting differences in people's lives. And that is the ultimate goal. "It's really exciting when we can invite the Lord into the personal challenges these people face on a daily basis. We've seen Him move in ways that are just amazing." 

Amy has nothing but praise for the many volunteers that make the Vineyard's benevolence ministries happen. Naturally, there is always a need for more helping hands. The work takes a lot of planning and organization, but the personal rewards are often as deep as the benefits received by the needy. Remembering her own early exposure to helping others, Amy sees wonderful opportunities for families to grow through benevolence. "I think it's very important for parents to teach their kids the joys and rewards of service," she says. Along with helping others, Amy has a deep desire to see Christ's compassion formed in the hearts of His people, and for that heritage to be passed along to each new generation. 

To get involved in any of the benevolence ministries of Vineyard Boise, contact Amy Dietrich at the church, 377-1477, or e-mail her at linda.perry@vineyardboise.org. The experience is guaranteed to change lives-including your own.