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STONECREST, GA—Sometimes, patience pays off. And for DeKalb County resident Priscilla Ward, patience paid off big on Saturday, Oct. 15.
Unbeknownst to Ward, she became the 1 millionth person New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has provided food since the church and its partners began giving away free food boxes to the local community since the global pandemic began two and a half years ago. Ward received $1,000 cash for being the 1 millionth person. The cash give away on Saturday was part of the celebration that the church held to mark the huge milestone in providing assistance to those in need.
“At the dawn of the pandemic, we didn’t know if we would reach 1,000; 10,000 wasn’t even a daydream; 100,000 was not even a concept and so for us to reach the 1 millionth mark says to us the scripture is true–that God will do more than what you can dream, more than you can think, more than you can imagine…,” said New Birth’s pastor, Dr. Jamal Bryant.
The cash giveaway was a surprise part of the celebration, church representatives said. New Birth also is planning to release a documentary on how the church and community partners have consistently helped the local community in the wake of the global pandemic.
Ward said Saturday’s event marked the second time that she had attended one of the food distributions. She and her sister were waiting in the drive-through and were in the middle part of the vehicle line on Saturday. Volunteers began passing out the food boxes around 10:15 a.m. and by 10:54 a.m., Ward’s gray Infinite was identified as the 1 millionth car that pushed the church and its partners have served since the global pandemic began two and a half years ago.
Volunteers were cheering as Ward pulled up in her car and became the 1 millionth person, the church has served. The two sisters were stunned and overjoyed as they were ushered to the podium where New Birth’s pastor, Dr. Jamal Bryant, presented the cash and other gifts to Ward.
New Birth Church One M milestone
For more on the story, see the video coverage and photos by Glenn L. Morgan/ocgnews.com.