TBM tops 100,000 meals prepared in Israel

A third Texas Baptist Men volunteer team is serving meals in Israel and doing so at remote locations.

TBM volunteers—nine from Texas and one from North Carolina—prepared and served 1,300 meals Nov. 29 near the Egyptian border, said Gary Finley, TBM’s volunteer coordinator in Israel. The team set up the mobile kitchen in a tent outpost after traveling two hours by van and truck to reach the site.

In October and November, the first and second TBM teams prepared food at a central location and sent the food out for delivery. The third team—eight men and two women—arrived in Israel Nov. 28.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the beginning of the war, TBM and Israeli volunteers combined have served more than 100,000 meals using equipment designed by TBM.

More mobile kitchens are being outfitted, Finley said. TBM has purchased two commercial-size generators to power the kitchens. Electricians and other workers are finishing work on the other kitchens as they await the arrival of the generators.

The first two TBM teams primarily prepared falafel sandwiches. This time, the team is “cooking different foods,” including more hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken kabobs, Finley said.

The third team is scheduled to return to the United States Dec. 8. A fourth team is on standby for possible deployment, Finley said.

“The situation in Israel has required a great deal of coordination with our Israeli partners and with volunteers,” said John-Travis Smith, TBM associate executive director, who coordinates TBM ministry in Israel. “God has positioned TBM, through its established relationships, to provide an amazing level of support to anyone in need as this war unfolds.

“I do not know of any other Christian organization that has such a well-established and fruitful ministry situation in Israel right now. We believe God has opened this door of service through TBM, and we are seeking to be faithful in responding.”