GCC Updates
A Tradition of Service
by Rev. Kyle Brown
Traditions are the guideposts embedded deeply in our subconscious minds, shaping who we are and how we connect with the world around us. Over the past nine years, I’ve had the privilege of participating in the Season of Giving tradition at Geist Christian Church. During this time, we have served countless families across three holiday seasons, ensuring they have food on the table, gifts under the tree, and the comforting reminder that they are not alone. This is a tradition I hold dear as a pastor, but today, I want to highlight a different tradition—one that exemplifies the heart of our mission in a deeply personal way.
For years, I’ve witnessed a remarkable tradition between a father and daughter. Dave and Taylor Burket have made it a priority to participate in delivery days together. Even when Taylor went off to college, she continued to come home for this meaningful work, building on the foundation they began when she was a child. They are just one of many driver teams ensuring families struggling with food insecurity receive what they need during the holidays. While drivers may come and go, the steadfast presence of families like the Burkets has been a constant, and watching their tradition unfold has been one of the greatest joys of my ministry.
Let me share a story Dave recently told about a delivery they made this past Thursday:
“At our first stop, Taylor and I were warmly greeted by the head of the household. We explained a mix-up with the turkey, offered a gift card, and asked if there was a Kroger nearby. She confirmed there was. I asked if she could make it there to pick up a turkey for her Thanksgiving meal, and she assured us she could. Just to be certain it wouldn’t burden her, I offered to go to Kroger and pick it up for her. She kindly declined, saying it was only a 20- to 30-minute walk and, with no snow on the ground, it would be no problem.
To me, that walk would be a burden, so I offered again. But her response was the same—‘It’s only a short walk,’ she said, ‘and one I will make joyfully.’
Joyfully. Wow. Her gratitude and spirit left me in awe. She was so thankful for what we’d shared with her that she would gladly make the journey, not as a hardship, but with joy.
It’s moments like these that make these deliveries my favorite holiday tradition. Not every delivery comes with an encounter like this, but the ones that do leave an eternal mark on my heart.”
This story reminds us why traditions like these matter—not just for those we serve, but for the ways they transform us, shaping our hearts and drawing us closer to the spirit of giving that defines this season.