Chester DeJong shares the history and story of Nightwatch Canteen with Ben Clare UMC. Photos courtesy of Ben Clare UMC.

Serving like Jesus served is the mission of the Nightwatch Canteen. The Nightwatch Canteen brings food to the people where they are on a day when a free meal can be hard to find. The mobile food service depends on dedicated volunteers. Volunteers who prepare hot food, load the food into a vehicle, and venture out Sunday and Monday evenings with nourishment and open arms.

Since 2007, United Methodist congregations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, have fed God's people through a mobile food truck called Nightwatch Canteen. Today, the Nightwatch Canteen serves free meals on Sunday evenings at two downtown locations, on Mondays next to Hayward Elementary School in northwest Sioux Falls and on Tuesdays in northeast Sioux Falls.
 
 Nightwatch has grown from the involvement of seven United Methodist churches as an informal organization to 12 multi-denominational churches, community organizations, and a non-profit 501(c) organization. 
 
 Today, the Nightwatch Canteen serves free meals on Sunday evenings at two downtown locations and on Mondays next to Hayward Elementary School in northwest Sioux Falls.

A board meets quarterly with representatives from the seven churches that started the mobile hunger ministry, plus five additional members. Board members are from Asbury UMC, First UMC, First Lutheran, Gloria Dei Lutheran, Good News Church, Harrisburg UMC, Hilltop UMC, St. John Lutheran, Sioux Falls Thrive, Southern Hills UMC, Sunnycrest UMC, and Wesley UMC, all in the Sioux Falls area. 

Each church is scheduled to serve on Sunday evenings in one of the two locations: Raven Industries parking lot, First UMC, or Monday nights at Hayward Elementary School.

"We are always looking for volunteers to make and serve meals," said Chester De Jong, a leader with the Nightwatch Canteen. "We schedule church teams with at least three or four people to serve. It is great to have more volunteers to interact with people."

During their Sunday worship service, Chester recently visited Ben Clare United Methodist Church near Valley Springs, South Dakota. During the service, he shared how Jesus served others who had a need. 

"I told them about the history of Nightwatch Canteen and shared a couple of scriptures about Jesus serving the people," said Chester, a member of Hilltop UMC in Sioux Falls.

People attending the worship service were given a tour of the Nightwatch van and learned how the mobile meal service prepares and serves the meals. 

"It is a great way for people to see how Nightwatch works," said Chester. When people see how it works and hear the stories of people who receive the meals, they want to be involved.

During Chester's message, stories were shared about the mobile food pantry's impact on those who receive a hot meal and those who serve. One evening, when the Hilltop UMC youth were serving a meal, a boy from Hilltop recognized one of his classmates from school. The middle school student walked with two younger siblings to get a meal. 

Members of Ben Clare UMC check out how meals are served with the Nightwatch Canteen van.

"It was a humbling moment for the youth to know that one of his friends and family members needed a hot meal," said Chester. "It left quite an impression with the youth-serving that evening."

DeJong spoke about a young girl who came to get a meal and was served two hot dogs. "Everyone received two hot dogs as part of the meal. This young girl got her hot dogs. She returned to the serving window and said, 'I am sorry, you gave me too much.' We explained to her that everyone got two hotdogs. She said, 'Thank you so much. You gave me my breakfast, too.' It touched all of us serving that evening."

Rev. Krista Ducker, pastor at Ben Clare UMC, was encouraged and inspired by Chester's presence at the worship service. 

"He was so positive. I am grateful he took the time to come to our small, rural congregation," said Pastor Krista. "People asked questions and experienced what the mobile van was like. Chester's infectious spirit has us thinking about the possibilities."

The congregation is exploring partnering and collaborating with other churches to serve at the Nightwatch Canteen.

"It is nice to know that there are options for small churches. We are exploring a connection with Wesley UMC in Sioux Falls," said Pastor Krista. "The power of connection multiplies what we can offer and do together.