Luke 14:12, a year-round ecumenical feeding program for the hungry in the Nashville community, has been in operation for over 20 years. Sponsored by individuals, faith communities, businesses, and agencies, Luke 14:12 is staffed by volunteers who prepare and serve meals to approximately 100 individuals at noon every Tuesday and Friday.  The feeding program was begun in 1982 by Miss Laura McCray, who began by simply offering a bowl of soup to a hungry stranger. Known by all as "Miss Laura," this extraordinary woman exemplified practical spirituality. Her life was featured on "A Lifetime of Sharing," an NBC-TV documentary which aired in August 1997. In this broadcast she was held up as an example of an African-American woman who had worked through church and community structures to further the causes of civil rights, hunger relief, African-American education, and Christian service. In addition, she was featured on "Passages," a 90-second radio series produced cooperatively by United Methodist Communications and Presbyterian Media Mission. She remained active in community outreach into her 90s and was quoted as saying: "You never stop trying to do the best you can so that you can help someone else to be the best that they can be."

Nashville songwriter Radney Foster spoke of Miss Laura in his song, "Everyday Angel." On his website, www.purespunk.com we read:

" In 'Everyday Angel,' he (Foster) fixes his gaze on ordinary folks who make their marks on the world by helping those in need. Three real examples of altruism are offered in the lyrics; one is the late Laura McCray, an Alabama woman who started a program to feed the poor at Luke 14:12 in Tennessee. McCray had been an active part of the civil rights movement, Foster says, as well as an instrumental figure in the early career of the Commodores at Tuskegee Institute. She offered the musicians a place to practice and use of a piano when such things were precious commodities to the fledgling group. Foster says the Commodores never forgot Miss Laura's kindness, and would send a limousine to fetch her to a front-row seat whenever they performed near Nashville.

McCray's spirit soothed Foster and his oldest son when they encountered her at church during the tangled divorce years. She must have had a similar impact on others, Foster says, because more than 500 people showed up to memorialize McCray and remember her good deeds at her funeral. "In the music business, they talk about star quality, that indescribable charisma someone has," Foster says. 'Usually it's someone young and beautiful. She was elderly, movin' slow and peaceful. But when she walked into a room, she lit it up.' " (Mary Colurso, The Birmingham News)

Initially the program focused solely on feeding the homeless and was one of the few programs of its kind in Nashville. Currently the clients include both homeless men, women, and children, and local individuals on fixed incomes. Transportation is provided by the program (in the Luke 14:12 van) from downtown Nashville to Luke 14:12, where a hot nutritious meal is served, then persons are provided transportation back to downtown. For its entire history, the Luke 14:12 program has had the local reputation of a place where persons are welcomed, well fed, and treated with hospitality and respect.

For more about Miss Laura go to http://umns.umc.org/News97/may/glifetim.htm