Agape Innercity Christian Assembly coordinated over 75 lay people and clergy to serve 800 people

Over 75 lay people and clergy from nine churches worked together to provide a hot meal and entertainment for 200 shut-ins and 600 residents and homeless in Charleston’s Eastside on Saturday November 21, 2009. This annual event, called Feeding of the Multitude has been coordinated since its inception in 1995 by the Eastside Men’s Breakfast Club. The Rev. Matthew Jeffcoat, Pastor of Agape Innercity Christian Assembly organized this year’s event working closely with the Rev. Dallas Wilson, Vicar, St. John’s Chapel; and the Rev. Shay Galliard, Rector, and Mr. Mark Prince, member of Church of the Good Shepherd.

At the same day and time, an identical Feeding of the Multitude event was taking place on John’s Island under the leadership of Episcopal and other area churches for their second year. In 2010, the Rev. Galliard and Mr. Prince in cooperation with 10 churches of different denominations will open a third Feeding of the Multitude in West Ashley on the same day and time as the Eastside and John’s Island events.

The Praise and Worship Group from the Church of the Holy Cross, headed by Mr. Tray Trulock; and the Youth Praise Dancers, Victory Church of God in Christ provided entertainment. Mr. Matthew Franz, Church of the Good Shepherd, who serves as the Assistant Head Chef at the Citadel, prepared much of the food. The Hon. Wendell G. Gilliard, Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District number 11 (Charleston County), was present.

The venue for the Eastside Feeding of the Multitude was Mall Park. On February 20, 2010, it was renamed the Philip Simmons Park in memory of one of Charleston’s greatest artisans. Feeding of the Multitude demonstrates how the Body of Christ works together to serve the poor.