About 200 people can have their fill of free barbecued chicken here Friday evening and hear the gospel.
Joe Neal will provide the chicken and side dishes for the 6 o’clock event.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Neal said of the event, which will include witnessing by him, Tom Bevard of Freedom Ministries and David Moore, pastor at Carlyle Presbyterian Church. “Jesus used meals to draw people to Him and my hope is that this free meal with draw people to hear about Jesus.”
The event will have no denominational affiliation.
In addition to evangelistic elements, Bevard and son Randy, in their 13th year of their prison outreach program Freedom Ministries, will provide music.
“Our crew from Lawrence that goes into the prisons with us will cook the chicken,” Bevard said. Some of Neal’s friends also will help out.
Neal, a 17-year employee at Gates Rubber, said he doesn’t see a role for himself in formal ministry, although “I do like to teach God’s word.”
He has had practice, in Sunday school classes, Bible study and for some time now going to the Beto Junction chapel, north of Burlington along U.S. 75, to visit with truckers once a week.
“I think what Joe’s trying to do is great,” Bevard chimed in. “He’s making an effort to help people.”
Free chicken meal, sermons offered Friday evening
