Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion – Sara Miles

I mentioned in my August 28th post that I had interviewed for a part time administrative position with a United Church of Christ (UCC) in Central Ohio. I was very excited about the possibility of getting that position and I sincerely hoped I was chosen.

As I’ve also mentioned previously, I was brought up Catholic and, when I married my now ex-husband, I converted to Lutheran. I struggled mightily with coming out as gay and, in the process, I became frustrated with the church. Though I still have faith, I felt the faithful weren’t interested in having me. I knew nothing until a month ago about the UCC and its open and accepting policy with regards to people from all walks of life but especially to the LGBT community.

Guess what? I got the job! I started two weeks ago. The reason I wanted the position so badly had a bit to do with finding a church home for myself but even more because this particular church, St. Paul United Church of Christ, truly exhibits what we called in the military a “boots on the ground” mentality. They don’t just minister to the souls inside their walls but they take it to the streets where the help is needed. “They” marched at Pride in June. I stood and watched them go by marveling at the churches that had the guts to march in a Gay Pride Parade. “We” operate a food pantry that, last month, serviced more than 1,200 people (even though there are only 40 or so souls in the pews on any given Sunday), We’re participating in the AIDS Walk – Central Ohio on October 8th. You can donate a single dollar and support me here: AIDS Walk. In November, we’ll again be feeding Thanksgiving Dinner to the homeless…I’ll have to tell you the story I was told about last years dinner in another post. You won’t believe it!

My personal story brings me to this book, Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion, by Sara Miles. Oh, our situations are a bit different in that she is a radical, liberal, lesbian that came from atheist stock and she converted to Christianity almost on a whim where I was raised Christian but never really found the place where I felt I belonged. But they are the same in that we both have an activist mentality and a strong desire to help those that are less fortunate.

Sara, against a lot of opposition, started a food pantry in her church…basically at the foot of the alter. She has gone on to establish many more. She saw a need that she could fill and she did. The opposition she faced was in no small part because the needy and indigent far outnumbered the “respectable” parishoners…much like they do at St. Paul. There, she fought the “establishment” and she changed hearts and minds.

Her book tells the incredible tale of her conversion and of her life’s mission to feed the hungry. It’s a great read whether you’re Christian or not.