We Make Our Plans — But God Guides Our Steps
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” — Proverbs 16:9
Some Tuesday evenings at Hope's Kitchen are remembered for the meal. Others are remembered for a particular guest, a conversation, or a moment of grace. And then there are evenings like last Tuesday—evenings we will carry in our hearts for the rest of our lives, because from the first devotion to the final note of worship, the Holy Spirit was unmistakably, profoundly present.
We came in with a plan. A good one.
By the end of the night, we understood that God had a better one.
A Word About Wisdom
Our evening began, as it always does, with devotions at the volunteer meeting. Mike Mancuso shared from his heart—not a tidy lesson, but an honest one. He told us about a family he and Chris had walked alongside, and about the strange mixture that so often accompanies ministry: the joy of being able to help, and the ache of disappointment when things do not turn out as we hoped.
Out of that experience, Mike offered us a word we needed to hear. He pointed us to the instruction Jesus gave His disciples: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." -Matthew 10:16 Jesus, Mike reminded us, never called us to be naïve. He called us to be loving—and there is a difference.
Love without wisdom can be exploited. Wisdom without love can grow cold. Christ calls us to both. We can keep our hearts open while keeping our eyes open. We can extend grace while practicing discernment. We can help people without abandoning accountability and love others without taking responsibility for the choices only they can make.
The devil, Mike said, would love for hard experiences to make us cynical—to make us stop trusting and close our doors. But Christ calls us to remain compassionate. Christ calls us to be wise. And Christ calls us to keep opening those doors.
“This family taught us some hard lessons,” Mike said. “Yet they also reminded us why Hope's Kitchen matters.”
Every Tuesday night, we have the opportunity to offer what so many people desperately need: a warm meal, a welcoming smile, a listening ear, and the love of Christ. That is our calling. And if we keep faithfully walking in it, God will use us to change lives.
It was the kind of devotion that settles into a room and stays there—the type that lingers long after the closing prayer.
When the Plan Changed
Guests and volunteers alike had been looking forward to worship that evening. Kelly Gabriele, Associate Pastor at Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, was scheduled to lead, and there was real excitement in the air.
Then, early Tuesday morning, Cheryl learned that Kelly was under the weather and would not be able to be with us.
After a quick prayer for guidance, Cheryl reached out to Michelle Funderburk and asked whether she might be willing to lead worship that night. Ever the faithful one, Michelle did not hesitate. She simply said yes.
What happened next has stayed with everyone who witnessed it.
As Michelle coordinated with Dave Cooper and the tech team, she admitted honestly:
“I'm not sure what I'm going to do.” Dave's answer was as simple as it was Spirit-filled:
“We're going to open up two microphones, and you move between them as the Holy Spirit directs you.” And that is exactly what happened.
Michelle stepped into a moment she had little time to prepare for, with no script and no rehearsal—only a willing heart and the leading of the Spirit. She lifted her voice in Amazing Grace a cappella, and the room fell still as that timeless hymn filled the space with nothing but pure praise.
She moved between those two microphones, and the Holy Spirit moved through her.
Her message drew from the words of Jesus in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
It was a fitting message for the evening. Every plan we had made apart from Him had fallen away, and what remained was the fruit only He could produce.
Michelle closed with Abide, a quiet echo of that same call to remain in Christ. Guests and volunteers alike felt it. What might have been remembered as a disappointment due to Pastor Kelly's absence became one of the most moving times of worship we have ever shared at Hope's Kitchen.
The Volunteers God Sent
Even before the evening began, we knew we would be short on regular volunteers. Several had conflicting schedules that night. By every ordinary measure, we were running thin.
But God had already made provision. He sent a roster of new volunteers who jumped in right where they were needed, serving alongside our veterans, who guided and encouraged them every step of the way.
New hands and seasoned hands worked side by side, and the ministry ran not in spite of the gap, but right through the middle of it. What we had counted as a shortage, God had already filled.
Let Go, and Let God
Looking back, last Tuesday is a portrait of what our 2026 theme—Open Doors, Open Hearts—really means. We opened our doors with a plan we held tightly, and one by one, God gently loosened our grip.
The worship leader we expected couldn't come—so the Spirit led another.
The volunteers we counted on weren't all there—so God sent others.
The certainty we wanted to walk in was replaced by something better: trust. Mike asked an honest question in his devotion. If he had known in January what he knows today, would he have made the same decision? “Honestly,” he said, “I don't know.”
But he knew this much for certain: he would still walk through the doors of Hope's Kitchen on Tuesday night, serve a meal, share God's love, and trust God to do the work that only God can do. That is the heart of it. We may have a plan, but God guides our steps.
Last Tuesday, we let go—and let God—and He gave us an evening none of us will ever forget.
Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Keep your hearts open and your eyes open.
And keep opening those doors.
Christ is already on the other side.
Weekly Schedule
Monday Morning
Setup: 8:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Tuesday Evening
News & Notes
Worship Leadership – June 16
On June 16, we welcome the dedicated trio of Larry Jones, Susan Trexler, and Donny Trexler to lead our time of worship. We appreciate their faithful commitment to sharing the Gospel at Hope's Kitchen each month.
State Farm 3 Degree Guarantee
During the month of June, Callie and Wyman Wise of State Farm Insurance have selected Hope's Kitchen as the recipient of the monthly 3 Degree Guarantee.
When Frank Johnson of WBTW-TV predicts the daily forecast within three degrees, Callie and Wyman donate $50 to Hope's Kitchen. We thank them for supporting the work being done in our community.
Summer Food Drive Opportunity
Summer slows many things down—but hunger never takes a vacation.
As the season opens up, why not let it open your heart to action? Consider hosting a food drive for non-perishable items and toiletries right where you already are:
What feels small to you—a few cans, a tube of toothpaste, sunscreen—becomes dignity and nourishment on a Tuesday night at Hope's Kitchen. Gather your people, fill a few bags, and bring summer's abundance to a neighbor who needs it.
Prayers & Praises
Praise Reports
Prayer Requests
Hope's Kitchen Mission
Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church
410 6th Avenue South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Email: hopeskitchenmission@gmail.com
Website: oceandrivechurch.org/hopes-kitchen
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” — Proverbs 16:9
Some Tuesday evenings at Hope's Kitchen are remembered for the meal. Others are remembered for a particular guest, a conversation, or a moment of grace. And then there are evenings like last Tuesday—evenings we will carry in our hearts for the rest of our lives, because from the first devotion to the final note of worship, the Holy Spirit was unmistakably, profoundly present.
We came in with a plan. A good one.
By the end of the night, we understood that God had a better one.
A Word About Wisdom
Our evening began, as it always does, with devotions at the volunteer meeting. Mike Mancuso shared from his heart—not a tidy lesson, but an honest one. He told us about a family he and Chris had walked alongside, and about the strange mixture that so often accompanies ministry: the joy of being able to help, and the ache of disappointment when things do not turn out as we hoped.
Out of that experience, Mike offered us a word we needed to hear. He pointed us to the instruction Jesus gave His disciples: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." -Matthew 10:16 Jesus, Mike reminded us, never called us to be naïve. He called us to be loving—and there is a difference.
Love without wisdom can be exploited. Wisdom without love can grow cold. Christ calls us to both. We can keep our hearts open while keeping our eyes open. We can extend grace while practicing discernment. We can help people without abandoning accountability and love others without taking responsibility for the choices only they can make.
The devil, Mike said, would love for hard experiences to make us cynical—to make us stop trusting and close our doors. But Christ calls us to remain compassionate. Christ calls us to be wise. And Christ calls us to keep opening those doors.
“This family taught us some hard lessons,” Mike said. “Yet they also reminded us why Hope's Kitchen matters.”
Every Tuesday night, we have the opportunity to offer what so many people desperately need: a warm meal, a welcoming smile, a listening ear, and the love of Christ. That is our calling. And if we keep faithfully walking in it, God will use us to change lives.
It was the kind of devotion that settles into a room and stays there—the type that lingers long after the closing prayer.
When the Plan Changed
Guests and volunteers alike had been looking forward to worship that evening. Kelly Gabriele, Associate Pastor at Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, was scheduled to lead, and there was real excitement in the air.
Then, early Tuesday morning, Cheryl learned that Kelly was under the weather and would not be able to be with us.
After a quick prayer for guidance, Cheryl reached out to Michelle Funderburk and asked whether she might be willing to lead worship that night. Ever the faithful one, Michelle did not hesitate. She simply said yes.
What happened next has stayed with everyone who witnessed it.
As Michelle coordinated with Dave Cooper and the tech team, she admitted honestly:
“I'm not sure what I'm going to do.” Dave's answer was as simple as it was Spirit-filled:
“We're going to open up two microphones, and you move between them as the Holy Spirit directs you.” And that is exactly what happened.
Michelle stepped into a moment she had little time to prepare for, with no script and no rehearsal—only a willing heart and the leading of the Spirit. She lifted her voice in Amazing Grace a cappella, and the room fell still as that timeless hymn filled the space with nothing but pure praise.
She moved between those two microphones, and the Holy Spirit moved through her.
Her message drew from the words of Jesus in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
It was a fitting message for the evening. Every plan we had made apart from Him had fallen away, and what remained was the fruit only He could produce.
Michelle closed with Abide, a quiet echo of that same call to remain in Christ. Guests and volunteers alike felt it. What might have been remembered as a disappointment due to Pastor Kelly's absence became one of the most moving times of worship we have ever shared at Hope's Kitchen.
The Volunteers God Sent
Even before the evening began, we knew we would be short on regular volunteers. Several had conflicting schedules that night. By every ordinary measure, we were running thin.
But God had already made provision. He sent a roster of new volunteers who jumped in right where they were needed, serving alongside our veterans, who guided and encouraged them every step of the way.
New hands and seasoned hands worked side by side, and the ministry ran not in spite of the gap, but right through the middle of it. What we had counted as a shortage, God had already filled.
Let Go, and Let God
Looking back, last Tuesday is a portrait of what our 2026 theme—Open Doors, Open Hearts—really means. We opened our doors with a plan we held tightly, and one by one, God gently loosened our grip.
The worship leader we expected couldn't come—so the Spirit led another.
The volunteers we counted on weren't all there—so God sent others.
The certainty we wanted to walk in was replaced by something better: trust. Mike asked an honest question in his devotion. If he had known in January what he knows today, would he have made the same decision? “Honestly,” he said, “I don't know.”
But he knew this much for certain: he would still walk through the doors of Hope's Kitchen on Tuesday night, serve a meal, share God's love, and trust God to do the work that only God can do. That is the heart of it. We may have a plan, but God guides our steps.
Last Tuesday, we let go—and let God—and He gave us an evening none of us will ever forget.
Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Keep your hearts open and your eyes open.
And keep opening those doors.
Christ is already on the other side.
Weekly Schedule
Monday Morning
Setup: 8:45 AM – 10:30 AM
Tuesday Evening
- Meal Preparation & Final Setup: 4:00 PM
- Volunteer Meeting: 4:45 PM
- Doors Open to Guests: 5:30 PM
- Worship Service: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Dinner Served: 6:30 PM
- Cleanup, Storage & Organization: 7:15 PM
News & Notes
Worship Leadership – June 16
On June 16, we welcome the dedicated trio of Larry Jones, Susan Trexler, and Donny Trexler to lead our time of worship. We appreciate their faithful commitment to sharing the Gospel at Hope's Kitchen each month.
State Farm 3 Degree Guarantee
During the month of June, Callie and Wyman Wise of State Farm Insurance have selected Hope's Kitchen as the recipient of the monthly 3 Degree Guarantee.
When Frank Johnson of WBTW-TV predicts the daily forecast within three degrees, Callie and Wyman donate $50 to Hope's Kitchen. We thank them for supporting the work being done in our community.
Summer Food Drive Opportunity
Summer slows many things down—but hunger never takes a vacation.
As the season opens up, why not let it open your heart to action? Consider hosting a food drive for non-perishable items and toiletries right where you already are:
- Your neighborhood
- Your circle of friends
- Your civic group
- Your congregation
- Your Bible study
- Your Sunday school class
What feels small to you—a few cans, a tube of toothpaste, sunscreen—becomes dignity and nourishment on a Tuesday night at Hope's Kitchen. Gather your people, fill a few bags, and bring summer's abundance to a neighbor who needs it.
Prayers & Praises
Praise Reports
- Vicki Schwartz reports that Baby Henry is doing well and his surgery was very successful.
- Daniel received a good doctor's report.
- Beth's brother has been cleared to drive following his liver transplant.
- Dr. Kent celebrates the arrival of John Luke, his second great-grandchild.
- Charles reports that Jeffrey is back in Myrtle Beach and has both a job and a place to stay.
- Alan shares that Legacy Nursing Home donated food to the pantry in honor of a resident's birthday.
- Opal's youngest granddaughter welcomed her first child, Opal Jade (10 lbs., 22 inches). Opal is also feeling better while wearing a heart monitor.
- Jim baptized three people this week—two in the ocean and one in the hospital.
- Carol Woodard's surgery was successful.
- Carla H. has only two more weeks in her boot and can drive again.
- Arnold and Cheryl are getting out and about.
Prayer Requests
- Jonathan asks for prayer. God knows the need.
- Keisha requests prayer for her son to be able to communicate his needs and for housing.
- JoAnn asks for prayer regarding employment opportunities, her IRS refund, and a teaching position in Brunswick County Schools.
- Pray for Bonnie's granddaughter.
- Continue to pray for Chris Cox during cancer treatments.
- Pray for Roberta Cremans, Butch's wife, who is undergoing cancer treatment.
- Continue praying for Duff and Zorica as they grieve the loss of Duff's father.
- Remember Barbara as she undergoes knee surgery this week.
- Pray for the 62 young people from ODPC attending camp this week, as well as Nolan and all those at Camp Caswell.
- Pray for Grant's son to grow closer to God.
- Pray for a daughter to remain active in church and for a mother facing chronic health issues.
- Continue to remember Chris Phillips in prayer.
- Pray for Danika as she prepares for back surgery.
- Pray for the family of Maurine, who passed away last week.
- Pray for Alison and her family, especially her mother, who is receiving cancer treatment at MUSC.
- Continue to pray for Jim's friend Arnie as he recovers from a golf cart accident.
- Pray for Tom following surgery for cancer in his jawbone.
- Continue to pray for Mac and Linda and for Mac's upcoming surgery.
Hope's Kitchen Mission
Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church
410 6th Avenue South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Email: hopeskitchenmission@gmail.com
Website: oceandrivechurch.org/hopes-kitchen
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