John and Melissa Fitzwater (Fitz & Lis) are the Directors of Loaves & Fishes Ministry in Lynch, KY. They are the parents of two daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren. John and Melissa were called to serve after returning home from a short term mission trip to Lynch, KY in October 2007 and moved to Lynch in February of 2008 to begin their service. In 2006 John spent two weeks in Cambodia with International Commission on an evangelical mission trip. Melissa has been on three short term mission trips to Mexico in the 90's and, more recently, three trips to Lynch (2005, 2006 and 2007). They have been accepted to serve as self funded, full time, Mission Service Corps Missionaries under assignment through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Pray with and for John and Melissa
- Pray for establishing relationships with the locals and opportunities to tell them about Jesus.- Pray for revival  in Lynch, Benham and Cumberland, Ky.  - Pray for spiritual wisdom and strength and Godly vision for John and Melissa.- Pray that God will provide for their physical and financial needs.


          Ministry needs to distribute 200 boxes of groceries once a month:
                                             400    15 oz size cans of corn                                                    
                                             400    15 oz size cans of green beans
                                             200    15 oz size cans of mixed vegetables                                 
                                             200    15 oz size cans of carrots
                                             200    15 oz size cans of peas                                                        
                                             200    15 oz size cans fruit
                                             200    Boxes of cereal                                                                     
                                             200    Quart size packets of dried milk
                                             400    Cans of soup                                                                       
                                             200    1 lb bags of pinto beans
                                             200    1 lb bags of rice                                                                  
                                             200    1 16 oz packages of spaghetti 
                                             ​200    24 oz cans of spaghetti sauce                                            
                                             200    Jars peanut butter
                                             200    Jars jelly                                                                               
                                             200    Cans of baked beans
                                             400    Boxes of mac-n-cheese                                                     
                                             200    Canned tuna or chicken or meat.                                                                                                                 
Please check private food donations for expiration dates.


Other pantry needs: flour, sugar, coffee, tea bags, corn meal , laundry soap, dish soap (large containers are divided into 1 lb bags).

Meals Ministry needs to prepare and deliver hot meals three days a week: Donations for fresh meat, chicken, pork, vegetables, spices, etc. NO LONGER in need of #10 cans of vegetables, fruit or desserts.

 Hygiene Packs: Packs are badly needed and handed out with our food every other month. Each large zip lock bag includes: Bar soap, shampoo, deodorant, 2 toothbrushes, toothpaste, 2 disposable razors, face cloth, and a comb or brush. Please...no sample sizes.                                                                    

Containers needed:  Dart styro foam w/lids.  16 oz squat (item 16MJ32) w/ Lids (item 32JL) and 4 oz  squat (item 4J6) w/ lids (item 6JL). Also need larger plastic containers for leftovers to take out to needy families. These do not have to be new. Save your empties for us !                                                     

Packaging Tape needed:  Two inch quality packaging tape. Prefer 3M, Scotch or Duck brands. Our boxes get quite heavy and we need a strong quality tape when we put them together.                                        

Commercial Size Dumpster needed for our pantry.  Ours rusted out and we are borrowing one at this time.

Common Ground for Ladies. . . a place for women of the community to come and talk about God, His Word, and faith.  Being led by the Spirit, Lis began this ministry March 22, 2011.  They meet every Tuesday morning.  God is growing this ministry and there are currently 7 ladies coming regularly. NEEDS ... coffee, large print study Bibles, folding chairs, and most of all ... PRAYER.

Call us if your church or organization would like to partner with us in prayer, with a food donation or a food drive  (606-894-0014). We will make ourselves available to come and speak to your church or organization to tell you about our ministry designed to tell people about Jesus. Consider a pre-trip visit to come meet us and see our ministry and the needs in this part of SE Kentucky. You (up to 6) can stay in our Little House ministry house. We also have numerous projects for 2011-12 we are praying about at this time. Completion of the Little House Project and repairs and upgrades to our main house where we prepare meals are needed.  See 2011 Project Page and the new Yellow House page on this website or call us for more information 606-894-0014.

Unrelated ministry prayer request: Medium to large humane dog cage trap for catching strays and taking them to our shelter.  95% of dogs entering the shelter are shipped out to big cities for adoption. Also a vintage stereo receiver/amplifier/tuner to play music at the pantry.

"But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing."  2 Corinthians: 14 & 15


Meet 
John and Melissa Fitzwater
Loaves and Fishes Ministry
....more than just a meal, groceries and a place to stay