It was 1996, 22 years ago, I walked into Dick Jordahl’s office. At the time, he was head of Outreach and Twin Lakes Church (TLC) in Aptos, CA. (Aptos is a suburb of Santa Cruz). My interest was to start a food bank. I had no idea what or how this would happen, but he said they’d find a space and they did. It was a teeny storage area in the back of the church. Our ministry became the People’s Pantry. Do you know what?
It’s blossomed!! Funny, our goal was to reach 5000 by 2000 (we had t-shirts made), and now they feed thousands per week and over a million meals in one year (they have partnered with a local food bank). Each week, they also deliver the gospel before they serve. Wow.
Well, more on Dick and Marilyn. They moved here in 1999 after retiring from TLC. When I returned back to Phoenix in 2000, we connected and they mentored me. They also became my spiritual parents. They saw me through some of my darkest times. Now, sadly, they moved back to Santa Cruz (lucky for TLC sad for me).
Marilyn emailed me and said they’d be in town and if I’d like to meet with them. Tatum and I JUMPED at the chance to spend a lunch with them.
They will always be so very special to me. Now they are serving abundantly to so many. There’ll be a special place in heaven for these two.