Gobble Walk Dishes 100 Turkeys During Third Annual Gobble Walk

MARTINSBURG – In keeping with the Thanksgiving spirit of charity, members of the three congregations that make up One Hope Ministries International went door to door Sunday handing out free Thanksgiving turkeys to communities in Martinsburg as part of the third annual Gobble Walk.

One Hope Ministries International consists of the congregations of the Abundant Harvest Christian Center, Worship Life and the 365 Church.

Together, churchgoers loaded about 100 donated turkeys into their cars before setting out on the road to hand them out to residents of two communities in Martinsburg.

“I think it’s great. It’s a way to give back to the community and to just help people that may be in need. It seems like these days that everybody is in need. It doesn’t matter what your income level might be, everybody could use a little help every now and again,” said the Rev. Donald Wilson, pastor of the Abundant Harvest Christian Center.

Wilson came up with the idea for the Gobble Walk three years ago. The idea behind the community service project is to reach out to those who might be in need this Thanksgiving holiday but at the same time allow them to have a meal of their own making.

“One of the things that we were doing was we were doing turkey dinners, giving boxes of food away, but we noticed that a lot of people really wanted to do their own thing, so we thought why not provide them with a turkey and then they can fix the meal themselves,” Wilson said.

The Rev. Carl Q. Hickerson, who shepherds the Worship Life congregation, said he could feel the energy in the room before church members set out on their mission. He said that Gobble Walk was an excellent opportunity for One Hope Ministries International to connect with the community, especially some of the less fortunate members who might not be able to afford to put a turkey on the table.

“You can feel the energy in the room for this opportunity to meet people at their point of need. and to hopefully encourage them in the season of Thanksgiving with a beautiful Butterball turkey,” he said. “A lot of times when things are given away, people are asked to come to get it, but to be able to go out beyond the four walls of a church building and make a connection between Christ and the community through us is a fulfilling experience.”

His wife, Carmen Hickerson, was similarly excited and appreciated the opportunity to be able to do something for the community as part of the church’s ministry.

“It’s an awesome experience, and I’m just so glad that the Lord gave me the opportunity to share with someone else, so I’m very thankful for this opportunity and this chance. Everybody is so excited to be able to give from their heart and to share the love of Thanksgiving with others,” she said.

Rounding out the trio of church leaders overseeing Sunday’s event was the Rev. Ron Larson, pastor of the 365 Church. He said events like Sunday’s can do a lot to dispel notions in popular culture that the church only wants something out of people.

“I believe that our whole philosophy is to give back to the community. I believe that that deposit does something to change people’s perspective about the church,” Larson said. “They realize that the church just isn’t here to take something from them, but to give something of value to them and that makes them more open to God’s love.”

Those churchgoers who participated in the Gobble Walk also said they walked away fulfilled with the day’s work of good deeds.

Kena Walker, a nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Martinsburg, brought her young niece, Larkin Walker, to help hand out turkeys at Adam Stephens Apartments in Martinsburg.

“I think it’s really great that she wanted to come along. It’s just nice to know that for those of us that do have that we can make a difference by giving to people that normally wouldn’t be able to have a Thanksgiving,” she said.

Others like Renee Marshall used Sunday’s Gobble Walk as an opportunity to repay the kindness from strangers she experienced at one point in her life.

“I think it’s a really nice thing. It feels real good because at one time somebody had to help me, and so I’m helping somebody else. God wants you to serve, so I’m doing my duty,” she said.

- Staff writer Edward Marshall can be reached at 304-263-8931, ext. 182, or emarshall@journal-news.net